LANDSCAPE DYNAMICS ASSESSMENT USING GEOMORPHIC INDICES AND RUNOFF BASED EROSION ANALYSIS USING SPATIAL TECHNIQUES IN THE UTTARAKHAND REGION

Abstract

Landscape are shaped by tectonic movement and sculptured by denudational processes. In the Western Himalaya, climate, surface processes, and tectonics coupling results in complex topography that frequently records the topographic evolution over the last ~100 ka. Depending upon the erosional history of a particular landscape, geomorphic events can produce unique topographic properties that define the topography's spatial complexity. The Western Himalaya region is ecologically significant, characterized by highly diversified landscapes and rich in biodiversity. It is a critical area for impacting landscape dynamics and, thus, for associated environmental events. This makes a massive challenge for evaluating the range of climate-sensitive erosion and geomorphic changes in high-mountain areas. The increase in global temperature has led to altered precipitation patterns, with increasing and decreasing across the region. Thus, the important interrelated parameters which are Surface temperature variations, Topographic features and Hydrological processes, are affecting the landscape evolution and functioning of the ecosystem in this area. Uttarakhand is renowned with diverse and dynamic scenery in the Western Himalayas, with some of the world's highest peaks and most severe terrains. The Topography in this region plays an important role in its climate, hydrology, and geomorphology; thus, the area has a huge value for studying landscape dynamics. Hence by examining the interplay between temperature lapse rate, geomorphic indices and erosion processes, we hope to convey insightful information on mechanisms influencing landscape dynamics and their implications for sustainable development with environmental management in Uttarakhand Himalaya.