Climate Change and Anthropogenic Interferences for the Morphological Changes of the Padma River in Bangladesh

Abstract

This research aims to identify the morphological changes of the Padma River due to the effects of anthropogenic climate change. The morphological changes were measured by aerial satellite images and their historical comparison, terrestrial survey, sedimentation in the riverbed, water flow, water discharge, siltation, and erosion along the river, etc. The Padma River has been analyzed over the period from 1971 to 2020 using multi-temporal Landsat images and long-term water flow data. The climatic parameters data related to temperature and rainfall were collected from 21 metrological stations distributed throughout Bangladesh over a 50-year period (1965-2015) to evaluate the magnitude of these changes statistically and spatially. The Padma, traditionally considered as a dominantly meandering river, is switching over into a braided river due to its highly susceptible nature of erosion and deposition. Results reveal that the tidal range is high during the dry season and increases from upstream to downstream of the river. Climate change may bring changes upstream by changing rainfall intensity, flood severity, and extreme temperature. More inundation can occur due to sedimentation, and more bank erosion can occur at the same time. An exponential increase of morphological activity with increased river flow, water discharge, bank erosion might substantially increase in the future. The changes in the flow introduced by climate change would impact the morphology of the Padma River of Bangladesh during the monsoon. A major change has been observed in the location of the bank and channel, as well as bars, along with their geometry and morphology over time. It is also observed that the bank line is not stable and migrated continuously. The overall width of the Padma River is varied significantly during the last 50 years. Maps and Landsat images represented that the river channel is shifting abnormally. Both climatic parameters and anthropogenic activity play an important role in fish biology and production. From this study, it is hypothesized that this assessment’s findings might help understand the overall hydrodynamic and morphological nature of the Padma River. It will suggest possible future developmental works that might be implemented on this river.