Factors responsible for temporal and spatial variations in water and sediment discharge in Ramganga River, Ganga Basin, India | Environmental Earth Sciences Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Factors responsible for temporal and spatial variations in water and sediment discharge in Ramganga River, Ganga Basin, India

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Ramganga River flows from the mountainous regions of Kumaon Himalayas, through the forests of Jim Corbett National Park and the Ganga flood plains. It is the first major tributary of the Ganga River, carrying high sediment load causing frequent floods in major cities of Uttar Pradesh. The water discharge of the river is controlled by glacial melt as well as precipitation, making it a perennial river. This study is on the temporal and spatial variation of water discharge and sediment flux of the Ramganga River and identifies the factors which control them. In this study, 84 samples were collected from different locations over the 642 km stretch of the river and its major tributaries to observe the temporal and spatial variation of suspended matter in river water. In addition, daily water flow and sediment concentration data of two locations, e.g. Bareilly and Dabri, for a duration of 10 years were used to understand the variation in those parameters over an extended time period. An attempt was also made to relate meandering to the change in water discharge and sediment flux in the Ganga flood plains. Human activities also contribute to the sediment concentration. The results of this study showed that a significant amount of water flow and sediment flux (>75 %) were attributed to the monsoon months. However, in 2009, the results were not similar to other years, probably because of low rainfall due to the occurrence of an El Niño.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
¥17,985 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price includes VAT (Japan)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arnaud-Fassetta G (2003) River channel changes in the Rhone Delta (France) since the end of the Little Ice Age: geomorphological adjustment to hydroclimatic change and natural resource management. Catena 51:141–172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barichivich J, Sauchyn DJ, Lara A (2009) Climate signals in high elevation treerings from the semiarid Andes of north-central Chile: responses to regional and large-scale variability. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 281:320–333

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruinzeel LA, Bremmer CN (1989) Highland–lowland interactions in the Ganga Brahmaputra river basin review of published literature. ICIMOD Occasional paper no 11, Kathmandu, Nepal, p 136

  • Chakrapani GJ (2005) Factors controlling variations in river sediment loads. Curr Sci 88(4):569–575

    Google Scholar 

  • Chakrapani GJ, Saini RK (2009) Temporal and spatial variations in water discharge and sediment load in the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi Rivers in Himalaya, India. J Asian Earth Sci 35(2009):545–553

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang HH (1978) Minimum stream power and river channel patterns. J Hydrol 41(3):303–327

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen X, Zong Y, Zhang E, Xu J, Li S (2001) Human impacts on the Changjiang (Yangtze) River basin, China, with special reference to the impacts on the dry season water discharges into the sea. Geomorphology 41(2):111–123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chu PS (2004) ENSO and tropical cyclone activity. In: Murnane RJ, Liu KB (eds) Hurricanes and typhoons: past, present and potential. Columbia University Press, New-York, pp 297–332

    Google Scholar 

  • Coynel A, Schafer J, Hurtrez JE, Dumas J, Etcheber H, Blanc G (2004) Sampling frequency and accuracy of SPM flux estimates in two contrasted drainage basins. Sci Total Environ 330(1–3):233–247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CWC (2012) Environmental evaluation study of Ramganga major irrigation project, vol 1. Central Water Commission, New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • Dadson SJ, Hovius N, Chen H, Dade WB, Hsieh ML, Willett SD, Lin JC (2003) Links between erosion, runoff variability and seismicity in the Taiwan orogen. Nature 426(6967):648–651

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Das PK (1988) The Monsoon. National Book Trust of India, New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • Dash SS, Khatua KK, Mohanty PK (2013) Factors influencing the prediction of resistance in a meandering channel. International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, 4(5)

  • Ferguson R (1982) Sediment load of the Hunza River. In: Miller K (ed) The international Karakoram Project, vol 2. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 581–598

    Google Scholar 

  • Fleming SW, Sauchyn DJ (2013) Availability, volatility, stability, and teleconnectivity changes in prairie water supply from Canadian Rocky Mountain sources over the last millennium. Water Resour Res 49(3):64–74

  • Fu BJ, Wu BF, Lu YH, Xu ZH, Cao JH, Niu D, Yang GS, Zhou YM (2010) Three Gorges Project: efforts and challenges for the environment. Prog Phys Geogr 34(6):741–754

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gibbs RJ (1971) The geochemistry of the Amazon River system. Geol Soc Am Bull 78:1203–1232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gobena AK, Gan TY (2006) Low-frequency variability in southwestern Canadian streamflow: links to large-scale climate anomalies. Int J Climatol 26(13):1843–1869

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goswami PK, Pant CC (2008) Morphotectonic evolution of the Binau–Ramganga–Naurar transverse valley, southern Kumaun Lesser Himalaya. Curr Sci 94(12):25

    Google Scholar 

  • Gupta H, Chakrapani GJ (2005) Temporal and spatial variations in water flow and sediment load in Narmada River Basin, India: natural and man-made factors. Environ Geol 48:579–589

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta H, Chakrapani GJ (2007) Temporal and spatial variations in water flow and sediment load in the Narmada river. Curr Sci 92(5):679–684

    Google Scholar 

  • Gupta RP, Joshi BC (1990) Landslide hazard zoning using the GIS approach a case study from the Ramganga catchment, Himalayas. Eng Geol 28:119–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hansen J, Sato M, Ruedy R, Lo K, Lea DW, Medina-Elizade M (2006) Global temperature change. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 103:14288–14293

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hasnain SI, Thayyen RJ (1999) Discharge and suspended sediment concentration of melt waters, draining from Dokriani glacier, Garhwal Himalayas, India. J Hydrol 218:191–198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kattan Z, Gac J, Probst JL (1987) Suspended sediment load and mechanical erosion in the Senegal basin-estimation of the surface runoff concentration and relative contribution of channel and slope erosion. J Hydrol 92:59–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khan AU, Rawat BP (1992) Quaternary geology and geomorphology of a part of Ganga basin in parts of Bareilly, Badaun, Shahjahanpur and Pilibhit district, Uttar Pradesh. G.S.I

  • Khan MYA, Hasan F, Panwar S, Chakrapani G J (2015) Neural network model for discharge and water level prediction for Ramganga river catchment of Ganga Basin, India. Hydrol Sci J. doi:10.1080/02626667.2015.1083650

  • Khan MYA, Gani KM, Chakrapani GJ (2016) Assessment of surface water quality and its spatial variation. A case study of Ramganga River, Ganga Basin, India. Arab J Geosci 9(1):1–9

  • Kim W, Yeh SW, Kim JH, Kug JS, Kwon M (2011) The unique 2009–2010 El Niño event: a fast phase transition of warm pool El Niño to La Niña. Geophys Res Lett 38:L15809

    Google Scholar 

  • Lapp SL, St. Jacques JM, Barrow EM, Sauchyn DJ (2012) GCM projections for the Pacific Decadal Oscillation under greenhouse forcing for the early 21st century. Int J Climatol 32:1423–1442

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee HS, Yamashita T, Mishima T (2012) Multi-decadal variations of ENSO, the Pacific Decadal Oscillation and tropical cyclones in the Western North Pacific. Prog Oceanogr 105:67–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liquete C, Canals M, Ludwig W, Arnau P (2009) Sediment discharge of the rivers of Catalonia, NE Spain, and the influence of human impacts. J Hydrol 366:76–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu XX (2004) Vulnerability of water discharge of large Chinese rivers to environmental changes: an overview. Reg Environ Change 4(4):182–191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meybeck M, Vörösmarty C (2005) Fluvial filtering of land-to ocean fluxes: from natural Holocene variations to Anthropocene. Comptes Rendus Geosciences 337:107–123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miao C, Ni J, Borthwick AGL, Yang L (2011) A preliminary estimate of human and natural contributions to the changes in water discharge and sediment load in the Yellow River. Glob Planet Change 76:196–205

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milliman JD, Meade RH (1983) World-wide delivery of river sediment to the oceans. J Geol 91(81):1–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milliman JD, Syvitski JPM (1992) Geomorphic/Tectonic control of sediment discharge to the ocean: the importance of small mountainous rivers. J Geol 100:525–544

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Climatic Data Center (2010) 2009–2010 Cold season. NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center, Asheville

    Google Scholar 

  • Nilsson C, Reidy CA, Dynesius M, Revenga C (2005) Fragmentation and flow regulation of the world’s large river systems. Science 308:405–408

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piao SL, Friedlingstein P, Ciais P, de Noblet-Ducoudré N, Labat D, Zaehle S (2007) Changes in climate and land use have a larger direct impact than rising CO2 on global river runoff trends. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 104:15242–15247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ray P (1998) Ecological imbalance of the Ganga river system: its impact on aquaculture. Daya, Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • Roy N, Sinha R (2007) Understanding confluence dynamics in the alluvial Ganga-Ramganga valley, India: an integrated approach using geomorphology and hydrology. Geomorphology 92:182–197

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salinas EM, Castillo M (2015) Stream flow and sediment load assessment from 1950 to 2006 in the Usumacinta and Grijalva Rivers (Southern Mexico) and the influence of ENSO. Catena 127:270–278

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shams M, Ahmadi G, Smith DH (2002) Computational modeling of flow and sediment transport and deposition in meandering rivers. Adv Water Resour 25(6):689–699

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma M, Tobschall HJ, Singh IB (2003) Environmental impact assessment in the Moradabad industrial area (rivers Ramganga-Ganga interfluve), Ganga Plain, India. Environ Geol 43:957–967

    Google Scholar 

  • Siakeu J, Oguchi T, Aoki T, Esaki Y, Jarvie HP (2004) Change in riverine suspended sediment concentration in central Japan in response to late 20th century human activities. Catena 55:231–254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh P, Haritashya UK, Kumar N, Singh Y (2006) Hydrological characteristics of the Gangotri glacier, central Himalayas, India. J Hydrol 327(1):55–67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sinha R, Khanna M, Jain V, Tandon SK (2002) Megageomorphology and sedimentation history of parts of the Ganga-Yamuna plains. Curr Sci 84(5):562–566

    Google Scholar 

  • Sissakian VK, Jabbar MFA, Ansari NA, Knutsson S (2014) Meandering of tributaries of the Tigris River due to mass movements within Iraq. Engineering 6:712–730

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Southwest monsoon (2006) Indian Meteorological Department. http://www.imd.gov.in/section/nhac/dynamic/endofmonsoon.htm

  • Southwest monsoon (2009) Indian Meteorological Department. www.imd.gov.in/section/nhac/dynamic/endseasonreport09.pdf

  • Southwest monsoon (2012) Indian Meteorological Department. www.imd.gov.in/section/nhac/dynamic/endofseasonreport.pdf

  • St Jacques JM, Lapp SL, Zhao Y, Barrow EM, Sauchyn DJ (2012) Twenty-first century central Rocky Mountain River discharge scenarios under greenhouse forcing. Quatern Int 310:34–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Surian N (2006) Effects of human impact on braided river morphology: examples from Northern Italy. In: Sambrook Smith GH, Best JL, Bristow CS, Petts GE (eds) Braided rivers: process, deposits, ecology and management. IAS Special Publication, vol 36. Blackwell Publishing, New New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Susfalk RB, Fitzgerald B, Knust AM (2008) Characterization of turbidity and total suspended solids in the Upper Carson River. DHS Publication, Nevada, p 41242

    Google Scholar 

  • Syvitski JPM, Peckham SD, Hilberman R, Mulder T (2003) Predicting the terrestrial flux of sediment to the global ocean: a planetary perspective. Sed Geol 162:5–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vorosmarty CJ, Meybeck M, Fekets B, Sharma K, (1997) The potential impact of neo-castorisation on sediment transport by the global network of rivers. In: Walling DE, Probst JL (eds)  Human Impact on Erosion and Sedimentation, vol 245. IAHS Publ., pp 261–273

  • Walling DE (2006) Human impact on land–ocean sediment transfer by the world’s rivers. Geomorphology 79:192–216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walling DE, Fang D (2003) Recent trends in the suspended sediment loads of the world’s rivers. Global Planet Change 39:111–126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang H, Yang Z, Saito Y, Liu JP, Sun X, Wang Y (2007) Stepwise decreases of the Huanghe (Yellow River) sediment load (1950–2005): impacts of climate change and human activities. Glob Planet Change 57(3):331–354

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wasson RJ (2003) A sediment budget for the Ganga-Brahmaputra catchment. Curr Sci 84(8):1041–1047

    Google Scholar 

  • Wyżga BA (1997) Methods for studying the response of flood flow to channel change. J Hydrol 198:271–288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu JX, Ma YX (2009) Response of the hydrological regime of the Yellow River to the changing monsoon intensity and human activity. Hydrol Sci J 54:90–100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang S, Zhao Q, Belkin I (2002) Temporal variation in the sediment load of the Yangtze River and the influences of human activities. J Hydrol 263:56–71

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang Z, Wang H, Saito Y, Milliman JD, Xu K, Qiao S, Shi G (2006) Dam impacts on the Changjiang (Yangtze) River sediment discharge to the sea: the past 55 years and after the Three Gorges Dam. Water Resour Res 42:W04407

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

MYAK thanks all reviewers for suggestions that helped improved the manuscript. Special thanks to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi for providing research fellowship. Sincere thanks to Central Water Commission, Lucknow, Government of India for providing the data necessary for the present work, and Mohd Akbar Ali Khan, Ammar Khan, Faaiz Zakawat  and Tariq for their help during the sampling.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667, India

    M. Y. A. Khan, S. Daityari & G. J. Chakrapani

Authors
  1. M. Y. A. Khan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Daityari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. G. J. Chakrapani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Y. A. Khan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Khan, M.Y.A., Daityari, S. & Chakrapani, G.J. Factors responsible for temporal and spatial variations in water and sediment discharge in Ramganga River, Ganga Basin, India. Environ Earth Sci 75, 283 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-5148-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-5148-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation