Landscape and land cover dynamics in the Karnali Floodplain


This excercise is divided into two parts and requires the use of LEOWorks.
 
Part 1
  
Floodplain Land Cover Dynamics

Floodplains are the most dynamic landscapes on Earth. The seasonal flood cycle and erodible alluvial soils of the rivers determine the physical character and vegetations of the floodplain region over time and space. Sedimentation on the inside bends and erosion at the outside bends of meanders, causing the main channel to migrate across the floodplain. The Karnali River originates from the high Himalayas and flows largely through the very steep gorge in the mountain, enters into the Terai at the town of Chisapani, and flows along the western boundary of the Bardia National Park. In the lowland of the Terai, the river diverges into two main branches: the Geruwa and Kauraha. Each of these branches is further sub-divided into a number of channels, making different islands between these channels. The Geruwa branch contains the greater flow, is bordered on the east, and partially included within the Bardia National Park.

The main seasonal discharge ranges from 346 M3/sec in low water season to 3564 M3/sec in high water season. The peak discharge has been recorded to be over 15 000 M3/sec in high flood time.

Through the course of time, floodplain grassland has been succeeded by Acacia catechu and Dalbergia sissoo forest, Riverine forest, Terai mixed hard wood forest and climax Sal forest (Shorea robusta). The moderate level flood is useful in delaying succession and maintaining the floodplain's biodiversity. The floodplain is the most productive and dynamic ecosystem.

In this exercise, we will analyse land cover status and dynamics of the Karnali floodplain area using false colour combinations of the Landsat TM 1990 and Landsat ETM 2002 images. These images are compressed in the 'bardia.zip' file.

In the Main Menu of LEOWorks, click on Tools>Image Animation and select Bardia_landsat_2002_band_453_120m and (pressing the CTRL-key) Bardia_landsat_1990_band_453_120m. Click Open and regulate the Animation Speed to its minimum (about 2sec per frame).

1. Study the dynamic changes of the river courses and describe them briefly. Look for other changes as well, especially in the mountainous areas. Try to explain the colours of the images by comparing the true colour image with the false colour one, and describe how the colours have changed.


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Last update: 16 April 2013


Bardia National Park

 •  Introduction (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Eduspace_Global_EN/SEM67NKRQJF_0.html)
 •  Location (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Eduspace_Global_EN/SEMVZNKRQJF_0.html)
 •  Geology and soil (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Eduspace_Global_EN/SEMH5OKRQJF_0.html)
 •  Weather and climate (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Eduspace_Global_EN/SEMNGPKRQJF_0.html)
 •  People and settlements (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Eduspace_Global_EN/SEMF3Q6UWJF_0.html)

Exercises

 •  Worksheet introduction (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Eduspace_Global_EN/SEM5HQ6UWJF_0_ov.html)
 •  Overview - working on paper prints (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Eduspace_Global_EN/SEM4JQ6UWJF_0.html)
 •  Bardia Region Overview - Image processing (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Eduspace_Global_EN/SEMH8T6UWJF_0.html)
 •  Habitat suitability evaluation for rhinoceros in Bardia (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Eduspace_Global_EN/SEM5LX6UWJF_0.html)

Eduspace - Software

 •  LEOWorks 3 (http://esamultimedia.esa.int/multimedia/LEOWorks3.exe)
 •  ArcExplorer (http://esamultimedia.esa.int/multimedia/eduspace/ae2setup.zip)

Eduspace - Download

 •  bardia.zip (http://download.esa.int/multimedia/eduspace/bardia_v2.zip)
 •  bardia_paperprints.zip (http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/eduspace/bardia_paperprints.zip)

Resources

 •  Useful links (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Eduspace_Global_EN/SEMEIY6UWJF_0.html)