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Identifying potential sources of sediment contribution based on hillslope characterization
  • Arkaprabha Sarkar,
  • Vimal Singh
Arkaprabha Sarkar
University of Delhi

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Vimal Singh
University of Delhi, New Delhi
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Abstract

Hillslopes are responsible for the production and transport of sediments within a landscape (Gilbert 1877). Since the hillslope gradient and morphology tend to vary across a landscape, it is expected that the erosion and sediment delivery would also be non-uniform. In this study, we explore the probability of the flux at a particular point in the catchment reaching the river mouth using connectivity and the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) in the Pranmati river catchment (a small 3rd order Himalayan river catchment within the Ganga River system). Methodology involves characterising the hillslopes of Pranmati river catchment centered on land use and land cover units. Using RUSLE, the sediment yielding capacity of various land cover units are estimated based on which potential source areas are marked. The sediment connectivity within the basin is also calculated by generating a sediment connectivity map of the area using method given by Borcelli et al. (2008). The catchment is categorized into four classes – (A) Highly connected zones with high sediment yielding capacity (B) highly connected zones but low yielding capacity (C) poorly connected zones but high yielding capacity (D) poorly connected zones and low yielding capacity. The area is then mapped on the basis of the defined classes and potential areas of erosion and storage are identified. Our results show that about 62% of the catchment area has low connectivity implying sediment flux generated in these zones have a low probability of leaving the catchment. Only 11% of the catchment area has sediment yield greater than the mean yield per hectare. The sediment generated from this small area of the catchment contributes 93% of the total sediment production of the catchment. References Borselli, L., Cassi, P., & Torri, D. (2008). Prolegomena to sediment and flow connectivity in the landscape: a GIS and field numerical assessment. Catena, 75(3), 268-277. Gilbert, G. K. (1877). Geology of the Henry mountains (pp. i-160). Government Printing Office.