Assessing Wetland Landscape Dynamics in the Deepor Beel of Brahmaputra Basin Using Geospatial Tools

Nayan Sharma*, Georg Janauer, Md. Surabuddin Mondal, Oinam Bakimchandra, R D Garg

Abstract

This work assesses wetland landscape dynamics in the Deepor Beel of Brahmaputra basin using multi-temporal satellite imagery. An attempt has also been made to link the wetland changes with the turbidity pattern observed from satellite imagery. In addition, this paper also highlights application of rule-based decision tree classification of satellite remote sensing data for monitoring and assessment of fluvial landscape dynamics. The wetland landscape has rapidly shrunk from 33.5% in 1990 to 21.1% in 1997 and 19.4% in 2007. The aquatic vegetation growth is very fast during 1990 to 1997, whereas it is relatively steady from 1997 to 2007. High turbidity in almost the entire study area was recorded in 1997 as compared to 1990 and 2007. In 2007, the spatial extent of Deepor Beel wetland area had decreased while at the same time the pattern of low and medium turbidity had increased. The significant shrinking of the wetland area clearly indicates an imperative need for restoration of the landscape.

Keywords: Wetland, Turbidity, Remote Sensing, Rule-Based Decision Tree classifier, Landscape Dynamics.

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