Structural and geomorphological analysis of mature delta of Bangladesh through remote sensing and geographic information system Md.

Sabber Ahamed Sabbers@gmail.com Department of Geological Sciences Jahangirnagar University Savar, Dhaka -1342. Bangladesh Abstract: Remote sensing and GIS is being used in geological studies to reveal its mystery. Time series Landsat images were used to analyze structural and geomorphological interrelationships of mature delta which is more towards the central part of the southern section of Bangladesh. An extensive erosion zone has been identified in Old Ganges floodplain lies to the north of the present channel of the Padma. A lineament map was prepared using Convolution algorithm to correlate with this zone and this map shows the same directional trend as the zone shows. Drainage network map of every part of delta has been prepared to get a view of its morphology and to predict its subsurface structure and material distribution in surface. Rose diagram of each part shows the relationship of lineaments with drainage pattern. Digital Elevation Model and 3d Visualization model were built from Global Land surveys 30m resolution file to understand the landform and those models revealed that the Old Ganges floodplain is comparatively less elevated than other floodplains of mature delta. Field work and laboratory analysis have also been done to verify those observations. Keywords: Bangladesh, The Padma, Remote sensing, GIS, Convolution. Introduction: The Ganges-Brahmaputra delta is one of the physiographic units of Bangladesh. The average elevation of the delta in Khulna, Barisal, the southern part of Faridpur and the eastern part of Noakhali district is less than 2m. Mature delta is the subpart of the Ganges delta. Rashid (1991) divided the mature delta sub region into four units on the basis of physical features and drainage pattern. Those floodplains are the Old-Ganges floodplain, the Podda-Madhumati floodplain, the non-saline tidal floodplain and the saline tidal floodplain. But Brammar (1996) subdivided the mature delta (Rashid, 1991) into three broad units; those are The Ganges tidal floodplain, the Gopalganj-Khulna beels and the Ganges river floodplain instead of Rashids (1991) four floodplains. The objective of the study is to interpret and characterize the landforms and structures of the mature delta on the basis of satellite image. Materials and Method: Geomorphic interpretation of satellite images combined with field observation helps to delineate and classify different landforms. Time series remote sensing data (Landsat TM, Band 5 and 7 of 2009 & Landsat TM, Band 5 and 7 of 1989), Topographic maps, DEM (Digital Elevation Model) of 30 m resolution of Global Landsat Survey (GLS) of 2006 have been interpreted.

The work was carried out by four different stages. First the preparation of satellite images through digital image processing using Erdas Imagine 9.1, Second the geomorphic features were identified by visual interpretation (briefly described in satellite images interpretation section) of satellite images using ArcGIS 9.2. Field verification forms the third stage of the study. Finally the morphological and structural components were mapped and statistical analyses were done. Geology of the study area: The old Ganges floodplain lies to the north of the present channel Padma and receives flood water from both the river Jamuna and ans the Padma (Rashid, 1991). Padma(Rashid, This floodplain mainly consists of four types of deposits (Alluvial sand, alluvial silt, alluvial silt & clay and chandina alluvial) (Alam et al.2001) (Fig.). 1). The (Fig. PoddaPodda-Madhumati floodplain Madhumati occupies a number of lowlying areas between the Ganges river floodplain and the todal river floodplain tidal river (Brammar, 1997). According 1997). Accorting to Alam et al, 2001, this floodplain is dominated by marsh clay and peat deposits (Fig. 1) followed by tidal (fig.) followed by tidal deltaic deltaic and deltaic deltaic depositsdeposits andsilts. On silts. On hand tidal deltaic the otherthe other hand tidal deltaic deposits are predominantare deposits in Fig. 1: Geological and location map of mature predominant floodplain. non-saline tidalin the nondelta (Modified from Alam et al. 2001; Rashid, Alam et al. 2001; Rashid saline tidal floodplain. the This unit differs from This 1991). a- Old Ganges floodplain, b- The Poddaa- The Old Ganges floodplain, b- The unit differs from the previous previous one because of the Podda-Madhumati floodplain, non-saline tidal Modhumati floodplain, c-The c-The non-saline one because of the strong strong tidal effect (Rashid, floodplain, d-The saline tidal floodplain tidal floodplain, d-The saline tidal floodplain. tidal effect (Rashid, 1991). 1991). In the saline tidal floodplain tidal effect is much stronger than the non- saline tidal floodplain. The area is mostly covered by tidal deltaic deposits and then by Marsh clay and peat deposits (Fig. 1) (Alam et al., 2001).

Fig. 2: 1) Landsat TM images of 1989 of the study area 2) Landsat TM image of 1989 after radiometric convolution cross edge enhancement for Lineament identification a- The old Ganges floodplain, b- The Podda-Madhumati floodplain, c-The non-saline tidal floodplain. Satellite image interpretation: Image interpretation is defined as the extraction of qualitative and quantitative information in the form of a map, about the shape location, structure, function, quality, condition and the relationship between object (Siraj, 2002). Landsat TM images of 2009 & 1989 of band 5 have been processed through digital image processing (Radiometric correction, Geometric correction, Image enhancement and image classification).After processing, each image was linearly stretched so that features within the image are more readily recognizable and for better visualization. Background value of each image was set to zero (0). The most basic principles for interpretation of different geomorphic features were location, size, shape, shadow, tone, texture and association of image. Such as, active rivers were identified from linear shape, dark gray tone, and smooth texture. But abandoned rivers were identified from linear shape but medium to light gray tone and rough texture. Lineaments of the study area were identified by convolution filtering which is the processing of averaging small sets of pixels across an image. It is used to change the spatial frequency characteristics of an image. Geomorphological analysis: Satellite image interpretation has become a very reliable and useful tool for identification different landforms and to judge their optimum potential uses. It is widely used for proper development of an area. Considering morphological characteristics (Satellite image shape, tone, texture, size and association), elevation (from DEM), drainage system, different landforms were identified.

a) Landform analysis: Channels are narrow long depression having permanent water flow. These are identified by dark grey tone and smooth texture. Most channels of mature delta show meandering nature. In the nonsaline tidal floodplain river bending sinuosity decreases from upstream to downstream. Point bars are the most conspicuous geomorphic features of a meandering stream. These are generally more elevated land formed under the

Fig. 3: Geomorphological map b-The Podda-Madhumati floodplain, c- The nonsaline tidal floodplain. influence of past fluvio-tidal effects of the rivers in the area (Azeem and Khalequzzaman, 1994). Point bars are distinctly identified by white to light gray tone on the image. The shape of the point bars of the mature delta were from rounded to elongate and roundness from 0.26 to 0.79. Natural levees are linear to irregular asymmetrical ridges along the riverbanks. In floodplain areas natural levees are widely used most economically for human settlement, road linkage and other infrastructures (Ali, 2002). More swamps are identified (dark grey tone spots like features) in the Podda-Madhumati floodplain followed by the nonsaline tidal floodplain and the old Ganges floodplain. In the non-saline floodplain area of swamps varies from 3944.91sq.meter to 654446.86 sq. meters. These swamps are economically important for fisheries. Crevasse splays are more observed in the old Ganges floodplain. This facet can widely be used for human settlement and sites for different types of construction.

b) Digital elevation model analysis: A Digital Elevation Model(DEM) is a digital representation of ground surface topography or terrain .DEM's are increasingly used for visual and mathematical analysis of topography, landscape and landforms as well as modeling of surface process(Bishop & Shorder, 2000). DEM played an important role for the analysis of structural and geomorphological features of mature delta.

Fig. 4: Morphometric parameters of Mature delta and adjoining area deriving from Global Land Survey (GLS)s DEM .1) Aspect 2) Hill shade 3) Slope 4) Curvature 5) 3D Visualization model of the mature delta. a-The old Ganges floodplain b-The Podda-Madhumati floodplain, c-The Nonsaline tidal floodplain.

The DEM and the 3D visualization model of mature delta (Fig. 4) have been generated from Global Land Survey's (GLS) DEM file using spatial analysis extension of ArcGIS 9.2. Both the DEM and 3D visualization model show that the Old Ganges floodplain is comparatively less elevated (Fig. 4(5)) than other flood plains of mature delta. Topographic map and google earth elevation justified this observation. Morphometric parameters such as elevation, aspect, slope angle, vertical curvature were analyzed. Slope variations are much observed in the non-saline tidal floodplain. Topography can be generalized into eight aspect (the directional component of the gradient vector) classes (Fig.

4(1)) and this may also help to identify geomorphic features. Differences in aspect may be an indicator of valley asymmetry. Analysis of aspect data show that the mature delta's steepest down slope directional trend towards south to south-east. Structural analysis: Various structural modifications have occurred in the Bengal Basin (Sesoren, 1984) The structural development of the Bengal Basin or of parts of it involved several major phases during the course of which significant changes in source areas, basin configuration , means of transport, depositional environment (Reimann, 1993) .Sesoren, 1984 revealed a Zone of weakness from Landsat image analysis which is passed between the MadhupurTippera surface and following the Meghna river at the northeast and cutting the Ganges tidal floodplain(The saline and The nonsaline tidal floodplain). The confirmation of this interpretation was explained by the same author from three tidal rivers (A, B, C) of saline and non saline tidal floodplain. These three tidal rivers make several angular bends over a distance of 26 to 28 Km from the lower Meghna River in the direction of N700-800 obviously parallel to each other (Sesoren, 1984).

Fig. 5: Structural map of mature delta and the adjoining area (Modified after Chowdhury, 2004; Sesoren, 1984). AC: three tidal rivers.

Several faults are identified (Chowdhury, 2004) from Landsat images all of floodplain of mature delta. The directional trend of some faults (1-7) (Fig. 5) ranges from N 700-750 (Rose diagram in Fig. 5)that is almost parallel to the direction of three tidal rivers (A, B, C) (Fig.-5).Lineaments of mature delta were mapped (Fig. 2(2) ) considering features, those are 1) long straight or curved natural linear 2) a linear feature produced by sudden tonal change and 3) a full or interrupted, short or long linear feature that aligned with a river course or courses or caused an angular bend or bends in river courses. Conclusion: Satellite image interpretation and with GIS technique is great combination for analyzing for any types of landforms and their morphometric evolution. Different forms of landforms that are characteristically different in many aspects were identified from image tone, texture, shape and associations. Fundamental statistical parameters were derived using GIS technique. 3D

Visualization model was constructed and various geomorphological elements (Elevation. Aspect, slope, curvature) were computed and analyzed. Integrating both Remote Sensing and GIS for mature delta the mutual interrelationship between different landforms and structures were correlated and can be established in any region as well. Acknowledgement: The author acknowledges the kind cooperation and valuable suggestions of S.M. Mahbubul Ameen, Assistant professor, Department of Geological Sciences, Jahangirnagar University. A.K.M. Khorshed Alam, Director of Geological Survey of Bangladesh (GSB). The author also gives thanks to Shamnaz Ahmed and Mahfuza Sultana for their valuable comments and reviewing the paper. References: Alam, Md. Khurshid ; Hasan, A.K.M.Shahidul; Khan, Mujibur Rahman; 2001; Geological map of Bangladesh; Bangladesh Geological survey. Ali, Reshad Md. Ekram, 2002, Terrain Evalution of tala Upazila, Satkhira district, Bangladesh, Bangladesh Journal of Geology, Vol. 21, P. 99-107. Azeem, Md. Anwarul; Khalequzzaman, Md.; 1994; geology of the southern parts of Khulna and Bagherhat districts, Bangladesh, geological Survey of Bangladesh, V-3, part-3. Bishop, M.P. and Shroder, J.F. (2000): Remote sensing and geomorphometric assessment of topographic complexity and erosion dynamics in the Nanga Parbat massif. In: Kamp, Ulrich; Bolch ,Tobias; Olsenholler, Jeffery ; 2003; Dem generation from aster satellite data for Geomorphometric analysis of cerro sillajhuay, chile/bolivia ; ASPRS 2003 Annual conference proceedings. Brammer, Haugh; 1996; the geography of the soils of Bangladesh, University press limited, P. 64-65. Chowdhury, Sifatul Quader; 2004; Reverse fault/thrust fault; National encyclopedia of Bangladesh, Online edition. Rashid, Harun Er; 1991, geography of Bangladesh; University press limited, Second revised edition, P. 33. Reimann, Klaus-Ulrich; 1993; Geology of Bangladesh, Gebruder Borntraeger, Berlin-Stultgart, P. 77. Sesoren, Atila, 1984, Geological interpretation of Landsat Imagery of the Bangladesh Ganges delta, ITC Journal, Vol. 1984-3. Siraj, Tareqe Bin; 2002; Application of Remote sensing in structural geology, MSc. thesis, Jahangirnagar University, P. 3.