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Department of Earth Sciences Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur |
Phd. Students >> Kanchan Mishra
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Kanchan Mishra Room: B104, Hall-VI (GH-2) |
| Thesis Title: | Sediment dynamics and sediment connectivity in the Kosi basin: implications for river hazards |
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Abstract:
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The Kosiriver in eastern India and Nepal has been documented as a dynamic river and several engineering interventions in terms of a barrage and embankments on both sides of the river during the last 5-6 decades have modified the river processes significantly. One of the most distinctive characteristics of the Kosiriver is its high sediment load (43 million tonnes/year), which is responsible for extensive sedimentation and associated fluvial hazards downstream. Though, it is well known that the tectonically active Himalaya is the main source of riverine sediment loads in the KosiRiver basin, the understanding of the contributions from different geologic/geomorphic units in the basin and their causal factors is fragmentary. For a sustainable sediment management, it is important to know the spatial distribution of different sediment sources and their temporal variability. In the absence of such knowledge, it is difficult to assess the controlling factors of sediment production and transport, which is crucial not only for managing any upstream storage as well as for irrigation schemes but also for reducing flood risk in the plains. My thesis aims to investigate the spatial and temporal sediment dynamics in the Kosibasin and to understand its relationship with several hazards resulting from river dynamics and floods. I plan to use a multi-disciplinary approach ranging from remote sensing and GIS, sediment transport modeling and geochemical signatures (trace element and radiogenic isotopic ratios) to understand sediment origin at the source, its transport and subsequent deposition elsewhere in the system. The results of this project will be useful for designing sustainable management plans for the KosiRiver and for mitigating the associated hazards. |