Faculty Publications

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://idr.nitk.ac.in/handle/123456789/18736

Publications by NITK Faculty

Browse

Subject: search.filters.subject.land cover

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 31
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Modelling soil moisture under different land covers in a sub-humid environment of Western Ghats, India
    (Indian Academy of Sciences, 2011) Venkatesh, B.; Nandagiri, L.; Purandara, B.K.; Reddy, V.B.
    The objective of this study is to apply and test a simple parametric water balance model for prediction of soil moisture regime in the presence of vegetation. The intention was to evaluate the differences in model parameterization and performance when applied to small watersheds under three different types of land covers (Acacia, degraded forest and natural forest). The watersheds selected for this purpose are located in the sub-humid climate within the Western Ghats, Karnataka, India. Model calibration and validation were performed using a dataset comprising depth-averaged soil moisture content measurements made at weekly time steps from October 2004 to December 2008. In addition to this, a sensitivity analysis was carried out with respect to the water-holding capacity of the soils with the aim of explaining the suitability and adaptation of exotic vegetation types under the prevailing climatic conditions. Results indicated reasonably good performance of the model in simulating the pattern and magnitude of weekly average soil moisture content in 150 cm deep soil layer under all three land covers. This study demonstrates that a simple, robust and parametrically parsimonious model is capable of simulating the temporal dynamics of soil moisture content under distinctly different land covers. Also, results of sensitivity analysis revealed that exotic plant species such as Acacia have adapted themselves effectively to the local climate. © Indian Academy of Sciences.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Analysis of observed soil moisture patterns under different land covers in Western Ghats, India
    (2011) Venkatesh, B.; Lakshman, N.; Purandara, B.K.; Reddy, V.B.
    An understanding of the soil moisture variability is necessary to characterize the linkages between a region's hydrology, ecology and physiography. In the changing land use scenario of Western Ghats, India, where deforestation along with extensive afforestation with exotic species is being undertaken, there is an urgent need to evaluate the impacts of these changes on regional hydrology. The objectives of the present study were: (a) to understand spatio-temporal variability of soil water potential and soil moisture content under different land covers in the humid tropical Western Ghats region and (b) to evaluate differences if any in spatial and temporal patterns of soil moisture content as influenced by nature of land cover. To this end, experimental watersheds located in the Western Ghats of Uttara Kannada District, Karnataka State, India, were established for monitoring of soil moisture. These watersheds possessed homogenous land covers of acacia plantation, natural forest and degraded forest. In addition to the measurements of hydro-meteorological parameters, soil matric potential measurements were made at four locations in each watershed at 50 cm, 100 cm and 150 cm depths at weekly time intervals during the period October 2004-December 2008.Soil moisture contents derived from potential measurements collected were analyzed to characterize the spatial and temporal variations across the three land covers. The results of ANOVA (p<0.01, LSD) test indicated that there was no significant change in the mean soil moisture across land covers. However, significant differences in soil moisture with depth were observed under forested watershed, whereas no such changes with depth were noticed under acacia and degraded land covers. Also, relationships between soil moisture at different depths were evaluated using correlation analysis and multiple linear regression models for prediction of soil moisture from climatic variables and antecedent moisture condition were developed and tested. A regression model relating near-surface soil moisture (50 cm) with profile soil moisture content was developed which may prove useful when surface soil moisture contents derived from satellite remote sensing are available. Overall results of this study indicate that while the nature of land cover has an influence on the spatio-temporal variability of soil moisture, other variables related to topography may have a more dominant effect. © 2010 Elsevier B.V.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Soil water fluxes under different land covers - A case study from Western Ghats, India
    (2011) Venkatesh, B.; Nandagiri, L.; Purandara, B.K.
    Knowledge of soil water fluxes is essential in hydrologic studies related to infiltration, runoff, ground water recharge and water uptake by vegetation. Previous studies have investigated the role played by soil and atmospheric factors on soil water fluxes in the unsaturated zone, but few studies have investigated the role played by vegetation or land cover. The present study was taken up understand the effect of land cover on soil water fluxes through long-term field measurements made in three experimental watersheds located in Western Ghats mountain ranges covering a portion of Uttara Kannada District, Karnataka State, India. Soil and climatic conditions were the same for the selected watersheds but they possessed different land covers - natural forest, degraded forest and acacia plantation. In addition to measurements of hydro-meteorological parameters, soil matric potential measurements were made at 4 locations in each of the watersheds up to a depth of 150 cm at an interval of 50 cm. Measurements were made for a period of 2 years (2007-2008) at weekly time intervals Depth-wise soil matric potential measurements were used to estimate soil water fluxes using Darcy's equation for unsaturated porous media. The estimated values of soil water fluxes were analyzed for their temporal distribution and stability. Results indicated that there is an improvement in soil moisture holding under the acacia plantation in comparison to degraded watershed. The estimated deviation of the soil water flux from the field average values indicate that the points located on milder slopes are representative of watershed mean soil water flux. Results also indicated the temporal persistence of soil water fluxes. © 2011 CAFET-INNOVA technical society. All right reserved.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Land-use land-cover changes in east singbhum mineralized zone: A case study
    (2011) Kashinath, P.; Deb, D.; Vardhan, H.; Mangalpady, M.; Samanta, B.
    Remote sensing images and techniques are widely used for environmental monitoring, climate changes, forest management and for water resource management. In the present work, identification of land-use land-cover (LULC) changes was studied based on Landsat Satellite (MSS) and IRS Satellite (LISS-III) images by Maximum Likelihood Classification (MLC) method. The study finds that the areas of water bodies and dense forest have decreased by more than 11 % and 6 %, respectively, while area covered by vegetation and habitats have increased by 16 % and 5 %, respectively. It was also found that dense forest was increased by 30 % around Norwapahar mine site area.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Hierarchical clustering algorithm for land cover mapping using satellite images
    (2012) Senthilnath, J.; Omkar, S.N.; Mani, V.; Tejovanth, N.; Diwakar, P.G.; Archana Shenoy, B.
    This paper presents hierarchical clustering algorithms for land cover mapping problem using multi-spectral satellite images. In unsupervised techniques, the automatic generation of number of clusters and its centers for a huge database is not exploited to their full potential. Hence, a hierarchical clustering algorithm that uses splitting and merging techniques is proposed. Initially, the splitting method is used to search for the best possible number of clusters and its centers using Mean Shift Clustering (MSC), Niche Particle Swarm Optimization (NPSO) and Glowworm Swarm Optimization (GSO). Using these clusters and its centers, the merging method is used to group the data points based on a parametric method (k-means algorithm). A performance comparison of the proposed hierarchical clustering algorithms (MSC, NPSO and GSO) is presented using two typical multi-spectral satellite images - Landsat 7 thematic mapper and QuickBird. From the results obtained, we conclude that the proposed GSO based hierarchical clustering algorithm is more accurate and robust. © 2012 IEEE.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Vegetation dynamics in a tropical river basin inferred from MODIS satellite data
    (2013) Laxmi, K.; Nandagiri, L.
    The objective of this study was to analyze temporal and spatial dynamics of vegetation and land use/land cover (LU/LC) characteristics in a humid tropical river basin originating in the forested Western Ghats mountain ranges using the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite data. Both intra-annual and inter-annual variations in the parameters related to vegetation were analyzed in the Netravathi river basin (3314 km2) which is located in Karnataka State, India. MODIS data products on Land Surface Temperature and Reflectance were used as input to map the pixel-wise variations in albedo, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Fraction of Vegetation (Fr) and Land Surface Temperature (LST) for two dates each (summer and winter) during the years 2002 and 2006. The fact that 2002 experienced a relatively wet summer followed by a relatively dry winter and 2006 experienced opposite conditions, proved useful in interpreting variations as influenced by wetness conditions. Overall results indicated significant variability in the parameters for major LU/LC classes of evergreen /semievergreen forest, scrub forest and agriculture. While albedo values appeared quite sensitive to wetness conditions, NDVI (and Fr) exhibited significant seasonal changes for some LU/LC classes but remained largely unaffected by wetness conditions. LST values corrected for elevation effects (LST*) were influenced by both LU/LC and wetness conditions. Differences in LST* values were as high as 70K between summer and winter of 2006 for some LU/LC classes. Lowest temperatures were recorded for the evergreen/ semievergreen forest class. Similar inferences could be drawn when variations in parameters were analyzed for 20 selected pixels located at different elevations and possessing each of the eight LU/LC classes. The methodology proposed in this research may prove to be useful in regional scale monitoring and mapping of tropical forests and other LU/LC categories in a convenient and cost-effective manner. MODIS satellite data products used in this study provides information on surface characteristics at a reasonable resolution. This permits identification of not only differences in LU/LC classes but also on changes in surface characteristics as influenced by season and wetness conditions. © 2013 CAFET-INNOVA TECHNICAL SOCIETY.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Land use/land cover changes around Rameshwaram Island, east coast of India
    (National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research, 2014) Gowthaman, R.; Dwarakish, G.S.; Sanilkumar, V.
    Land-use/land cover changes are studied using the Indian Remote Sensing satellite (IRS-1C, IRS-P6) Linear Image Self-scan Sensor (LISS) III data of 1998 and 2010. Coastal land use categories such as sand, vegetation, coral reef and water have been identified using interpretation keys. Results of land-use/land cover assessment based on visual interpretation are presented. The study indicates water body of 178 and 177 km2, sand features of 32 and 32 km2, vegetation of 28 and 35 km2 and coral reef of 5 and 6 km2 respectively. © 2014, National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (NISCAIR). All rights reserved.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Streamflow response to land use-land cover change over the Nethravathi River Basin, India
    (American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), 2015) Babar, S.; Ramesh, H.
    Land use-land cover change (LULC) has considerable impacts on hydrologic response at the watershed level. Quantitative assessment of LULC impacts on runoff generations is vital for water resources development. The soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) model was used to study the effect of LULC change on streamflows. In addition to this, the present study proposed a newly developed flow-routing model called runoff coefficient routing model (RCRM). This new model is simple and requires limited data, such as precipitation, LULC and streamflows as compared to other models, which require meteorological and many more input data. The Nethravathi River basin was selected for testing the RCRM model with the SWAT model to study land use-land cover change on streamflows. The SWAT model and RCRM model have been calibrated for 2001-2005 and validated for 2006-2009 daily data. Results have shown that the simulated streams are well correlated with observed streamflows with a coefficient of correlation (R2) equal to 0.82 in calibration and 0.68 in validation period. Whereas, the RCRM model results have shown R2 of 0.81 and 0.66 in the calibration and validation period. Finally, the SWAT and RCRM results were compared. It is observed that the results of the RCRM model have shown a good agreement with SWAT model results of R2 equal to 0.99 and 0.98, respectively, in the calibration and validation period. The sensitivity analysis was also carried out based on Latin hypercube one factor-at-a-time (LH-OAT) method using the SWAT model and found 11 sensitive parameters out of 28 parameters. Model performance was carried out using the Nash-Sutcliffe model efficiency coefficient (NSE) and found 0.81 for calibration and 0.62 for the validation period in the SWAT model. RCRM has NSE of 0.79 and 0.63. The response of the streamflows for the year 2013 was simulated from the calibrated model. The results showed that the observed streamflows have shown good correlation with simulated streamflows with R2 values of 0.86 and NSE of 0.81. From the results, it is concluded that the runoff shows early response in the year 2013 compared to the year 2003. This is mainly due to changes in LULC, which shows the conversion of forest to agricultural area and increase in built-up area from 2003 to 2013. The effect of LULC change on the hydrological model parameters were calculated and observed a decrease in evapotranspiration (ET) of about 4.5%, an increase in runoff of about 0.9%, and an increase in groundwater of about 1.12%. In conclusion, the proposed RCRM in the present study simulates streamflows at par with the SWAT model with only few input data. Hence, the newly developed RCRM model would be used to study streamflows responses to LULC changes. © 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Hydrological effects of land use /land cover changes on stream flow at Gilgel Abay River Basin, Upper Blue Nile, Ethiopia
    (CAFET INNOVA Technical Society 1-2-18/103, Mohini Mansion, Gagan Mahal Road, Domalguda, Hyderabad 500029, 2016) Mulu, A.; Dwarakish, G.S.
    Water is the most important resource for the survival of living things and it is the most essential resource associated with land use/ land cover (LU/LC) changes. Therefore, it is very important to make evaluations of the expected impact on the hydrology and water resources due to expected changes. The main objective of this study is to assess the hydrological effect of land use/ land cover changes on stream flow at GilgelAbay river basin using Precipitation Runoff Modeling System (PRMS) model. System inputs are daily time-series values of precipitation, minimum and maximum air temperature, and parameter files which are generated from GIS Weasel. To identify effect of changes in LU/LC, vegetation type and vegetation density on stream flow, LU/LC, vegetation type and vegetation density data from 1990-2000 and 2001-2010 years were considered. This different period LU/LC, vegetation type and vegetation density with soil data and DEM were given to GIS Weasel to generate different parameters for PRMS model. These generated parameters together with time series data (daily minimum and maximum air temperature, daily precipitation and daily stream flow) feed to PRMS model to simulate stream flow for the years 1993-2000 and 2001-2008. From the time series data, climate changes (daily maximum and minimum temperature and daily precipitations) were kept the same as baseline period (1993-2000). The stream flow of 2001-2008 compared with baseline period (1993-2000) and the effect of LU/LC, vegetation type and vegetation density was identified using calibrated and simulated PRMS model. Hence, as LU/LC, vegetation type and vegetation density changed from 1993-2000 period to 2001-2010 period, stream flow increased from 7.8% (128.4 Mm3) to 25.3% (432 Mm3) and ET decreased from 4.2% (75 Mm3) to 20% (524 Mm3) from baseline period. For the whole simulation periods (2001-2008) stream flow increased by 10.9% (784 Mm3), but ET decreased 6.7% (43 Mm3) related to baseline periods. © 2016 CAFET-INNOVA TECHNICAL SOCIETY. All rights reserved.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Analysis of climate trend and effect of land use land cover change on Harangi streamflow, South India: a case study
    (Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2017) Anil, A.P.; Ramesh, H.
    Land use land cover (LULC) and climate change are considered to be driving factors contributing to the alteration of the hydrological regime. Therefore, an attempt has been made to study climate trend and the effect of LULC on streamflow in a basin covered predominantly by forest. The Harangi river basin is one of such basins located in the western ghats of South India. The LULC trend was carried out by considering temporal multispectral data for the years 1990, 2002 and 2008 obtained from Landsat-5TM and IRS 1C (Indian Remote Sensing Satellites). Climate parameters such as rainfall and temperatures were considered for the trend analysis in this study. The rainfall trend was studied using Man-Kendall and Sen’s slope method to understand the spatio-temporal variability. Rainfall shows the decrease trend at Suntikoppa rain gauge station in January and June months. Harangi and Madapura rain gauge stations also show a decrease of rainfall trend for only January month. Temperature trend show increase in maximum temperature for the month of April, May and November whereas increase in minimum temperature was observed in the month of November and December. Spatial extent of LULC found that 52.4% (220.014 km2) of the study area was covered with forest in 1990 which has considerably decreased to 43.9% (184.53 km2) in 2008. There was a rise in total area of plantation crops from 106.27 km2 (25.32%) to 138.20 km2 (32.9%) during this period. Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used to study the effect of LULC on streamflow. SWAT model was calibrated and validated using observed daily streamflow data. The coefficient of correlation (r2) was found to be 0.87 and 0.86 for calibration and validation, respectively. The results found the annual streamflow to increase by 0.77% from 1990 to 2008 whereas the mean monthly streamflow has increased by 9.46% during this period. This was mainly due to the reduction in forest area observed in LULC maps. © 2017, Springer International Publishing Switzerland.