Spatio-Temporal Analysis on Channel Migration of the Jiadhal River Basin Using Geospatial Techniques

Jiadhal is one of the most notorious rivers of Assam, flowing through the northern bank of the river Brahmaputra. The river is mostly known for its frequent bank line shifting andcreating floods, particularly in the Dhemaji district of Assam. Channel migration in the Jiadhal River is a common phenomenon. A spatio-temporal change inthe river has been revealed by the analysis of Landsat TM imagery over 26 years in the GIS environment. In order to examine the temporal channel migration, 59.30 km of the river's total length was divided into 11 parts by taking cross-sections at equal intervals of 6 km. Uneven rainfall patterns, embankment construction, sand mining, and the development of dams, barrages, and roadways all have an impact on the river's hydrological system.It is noteworthy that human activities aggravating the morpho-ecological changes of the river are the main reasons for river channel migration, independent of natural hydrological processes.The riverbed's unevenness and undulation have significantly increased as a result of this. Therefore, the present paper analyses the spatio-temporal variations of channel migration in the lower Jiadhalbasin using geospatial techniques.