Remote sensing techniques in establishing geomorphic-soil relationships

Landform constitutes one of the important factors in establishing a firm relationship between soil development and pertinent morphological characteristics. Therefore, an understanding of the geomorphological processes helps to initiate studies in the characterisation of soil scapes. Landscape-soil relationships also assist in mapping soils rapidly and accurately. Remote sensing data products like aerial photographs and satelite imagery help in the recognition, delineation and satellite imagery help in the recognition, delineation and classification of landforms for genetical studies. Five sample areas selected from heterogeneous climatic environments distinctly reveal geomorphic-soil linkages. In the humid, highly weathered, sedimentary hilly terrain of Tripura, Udalfs, Ochrepts and Orthents are common while in the valleys Aqualfs, and Aquepts occur dominantly. In the arid and hilly terrain of Kutch, shallow Orthents and Orthids form the dominant soils but in the plains, deep Salorthids and Natrargids take a dominant place. The semihumid Malwa plateau and Nagpur consists of Ochrepts and Usterts.     

Study of alluvial and Talus Fans in the Garhwal Himalaya by remote sensing technique

Investigations were carried out in the Garhwal, with ranges of Lesser and Outer Himalaya. Alluvial and Talus Fans in this area are quite widespread and are generally coalescing in nature, covering linear zones almost parallel to the lesser and outer Himalyan Ranges. These fans and their deposits have been mapped and identified on the basis of the study of Landsat imagery and aerial photographs. They appear to be spreading outwordly from the escarpments often with divergent pattern of drainage. In all seven such zones of coalescing alluvial and talus fans have been identified. Zone 1 appear to be alluvial plain in front of the outer Himalayan Siwalik ranges. Zones 2, 3 and 4 may be infillings between the ranges. Whereas, zones 5, 6 and 7 may be pediplains within the Lesser Himalayan ranges. Based on the degree of their dissection, the fans in this area seems to be chronologically younger successively towards the outer parts of Himalaya.     

Hydromorphogeological studies around Pinjaur-Morni-Kala Amb area,Ambala district (Haryana), and Sirmur district (Himachal Pradesh)

Parts of Indogangetic alluvial plain and southern part of Simla-Himalayas were studied to evaluate the ground water potential zones through hydromorphogeological mapping using various remotely sensed data. Black and white panchromatic aerial photographs were mainly used to differentiate different lithounits whereas MSS and TM FCC were used to delineate the major trends of lineaments. IRS LISS-II CCT was used for digitally generating enhanced False Colour Composite, Principal Component and Filtered products for better correlative studies. Different rocks of Subathu and Siwalik groups form the structural hills of high to low relief which are mainly runoff zones. The alluvial fan forming piedmont zone has been further subdivided into upper and lower piedmont zones. In order to ascertain ground water movement and occurrence, the infiltration and discharge zones were established. Other local potential discharge zones were also considered. Ground water occurs under semi-confined to confined conditions and good prospects of potable water are present in the area.     

Use of remotely sensed data for soil mapping

Soil maps have been prepared hitherto by conventional ground surveys and by using aerial photographs. In this paper, the use of LANDSAT data for preparation of small scale soil maps upto association of sub-group level has been discussed. Typical spectral curves for various soils and landuse categories were given based on the mean spectral levels for each LANDSAT band obtained from Multispectral Data Analysis System (M-DAS). Soil characterization using the multispectral data could be done by both image oriented and numerically oriented approaches. The small scale soil maps thus prepared by using the satellite data could be used for regional planning and as map base for further detailed surveys.     

Resource constraint mapping and management in arid tract of Punjab

The arid tract of Punjab experiences various problems like thick sand cover (sand dunes) in large area, poor retention of water and nutrients in coarse textured soils, soil salinity and/or alkalinity, water logging and poor ground water quality. In the present study multidate remotely sensed data both in the form of aerial photographs and satellite imagery on 1:50,000 scale were interpreted visually to map physiography and soils. The ground water samples from tubewells distributed all over the area were collected and analysed to prepare ground water quality map. The soil and ground water quality maps were integrated to produce a resource constraint map of the area showing physical, chemical and hydrological constraints. The study revealed that alluvial plain suffers from hydrological constraints due to marginal to.poor ground water in 86% of the total area. The sand dunes show both physical and hydrological constraints due to coarse textured (sandy) soils and brackish ground water. The basins having soil salinity and brackish ground water cover 0.10% of the area. Keeping in view the type of constraint, locale specific measures like levelling and stabilisation of sand dunes, reclamation of salt affected and water logged areas followed by plantation of tree species which act as biopumps are suggested. The conjuctive use of surface (canal) and ground water is essential to prevent secondary salinization and sodification. The study demonstrates the potential usefulness of remote sensing technology in mapping natural resources and assess the nature, magnitude and spatial distribution of resource constraints.     

Hydromorphology of a part of Azamgarh and Ghazipur districts,Uttar Pradesh

Hydrogeological studies in the Quaternary alluvial plain of a part of Azamgarh and Ghazipur districts, using air photos on scale 1:60,000 indicate the presence of five hydromorphic units namely, Alluvial upland, older alluvial plain of Mangat-Besu, older flood plain of Ganga—Gomti, youngest terrace of Ganga—Gomti and present flood plain of Ganga-Gomti. From the groundwater point of view older flood plain of Ganga—Gomti is the most promising hydromorphic unit. Abandoned channel of river Ganga offers favourable site for deep groundwater exploration with high potentiality. Chemical quality of shallow and deep aquifers is suitable for irrigation and other purposes.     

Interpretation of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery for geological appraisal: A comparative study in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh

The paper describes the details of a comparative study of geological interpretations carried out from Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery, Landsat MSS (B & W) imagery and Aerial Photographs, covering 2100 sq km of area in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. The area comprises Peninsular—Gneissic Complex and rocks of Dharwar and Cuddapah Super Groups beside the Quaternary alluvial deposits along the Penneru river and its tributaries. Geomorphologically the areas is represented by denudational, fluvial and structural landforms. The study indicates that the details of the geological and geomorphological maps prepared from SAR imagery and aerial photographs are comparable despite the smaller scale of SAR imagery while the same are not exhibited in Landsat imagery mainly due to its low resolution. Although broad lithological units are possible to be discriminated on SAR as well as aerial photographs, some of the finer rock types viz. gabbroic dykes could be discriminated from the delerite dykes in the SAR imagery due to their different surface roughness. Stereoscopic coverage and enhanced micro-relief of SAR imagery gives better geomorphological details in comparison to aerial photographs. A detailed study of lineaments has also been carried out which shows that in SAR imagery there is over-representation of short lineaments due to enhanced micro-relief and radarshadow effects across the look direction and under-representation of lineaments along the look direction. Landsat imagery is perhaps the best for demarcating lineaments of regional magnitude while aerial photographs are good for depicting shorter lineaments. However, certain lineaments seen in SAR imagery are often not continuously seen on aerial photographs.     

Preparation of optimal land use maps for agricultural development using remote sensing techniques

Optimal land use map of Kanholi area, part of Nagpur district,Maharashtra have been prepared using Satellite imagery in 1:1000,000 and 1:250,000 and aerial photographs in 1:60,000 scale with adequate ground checks. The Satellite imagery proved valuable information about landscape characteristics, land use, hydrology and other environmental features. The aerial photographs were used to prepare comparatively large scale land resource association maps in scale 1:60,000 on geomorphology, landuse, soil hydrology. Soil irrigability, land irrigability and land capability maps are also attempted after interpreting soils information collected during field studies. The utility of this technique in preparation of optimal land use map with associated limitations due to scale have been discussed in the paper.     

Palaeogeomorphic reconstruction of quaternary delta in alluvial plains of West bengal and Orissa

In the vast alluvial plains of West Bengal and Orissa several deltaic plains exist, occurring in an off-lap sequence. These deltas were formed in the background of eustatic fluctuations during the Quaternary Period. They were built partly during rising sea level and pertly during stationary sea level stages. Landform analysis through aerial photographs as well as Landsat imagery interpretation, attested by field study, helped to establish the palaeogeomorphology of these Quaternary deltas. Possible mode of sedimentation during different phases of sea level fluctuations has been worked out     

Physiographic analysis for small scale soil and landuse mapping of Mewat area,Haryana, using LANDSAT imagery

Visual interpretation of LANDSAT imagery of 1∶250,000 scale (band 5 and 7) and 1∶1 M (FCC) covering 1611 km² in Mewat area, Haryana was carried out for delineating the physiographic units. The physiographic units viz. hills, piedmont plain, intermontane basin and Yamuna alluvial plain were identified and delineated using interpretation elements. Soils and land use in relation to the physiographic units were studied during the field visit and are described in the paper.     

Soil resource assessment and mapping using remote sensing and GIS

In this study digital image processing for physiographic analysis and soil resource mapping of Solani watershed was carried out using satellite remote sensing data and GIS. Digital image processing of satellite data facilitated in accurately delineating and identifying various soil mapping units. The physiography of the study area is mainly influenced by denudational and colluvial processes in the upper part and by sedimentation processes in the lower part. Topography of the land and nature of parent material along with the time factor seemed to have played a vital role in the genesis of soils. Majority of the mapping units are Typic Haplustepts with Entisols and Inceptisols being the major soil orders. The soils of the Siwalik hills experiences severe erosion, which prevents the maturation of soil profile. The present study demonstrated that satellite remote sensing and GIS is a valuable tool for physiographic analysis and soil resource mapping.     

Floods in Sabi river--A geomorphic study

Study of Landsat MSS imagery and aerial photographs along with selected field checks in Sabi river basin area has thrown some light on the plausible reasons of floods in parts of Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi regions. It is noticed that the course of river Sabi, a tributary to Yamuna river flowing through the sandy tracks is being controlled by the prominent linears, most of them are faults within the Delhi rocks. But, as the river approaches near Haryana, that controlled course is lost and it develops a very wide river bed, full of sands and have abrupt decrease in its gradient to as low as 2° to 3°. This may be attributed to the migration and aggradational alluvial plains developed thereof, on the western side of Yamuna river. All these factors have been discussed in the paper which shall reflect some points as remedial measures of floods of the Sabi River.     

Use of aerial photographs in the study of watershed characteristics

Watershed characteristics are studied using aerial photographs for two streams (choes) in the KANDI area of Punjab. Characteristic mapped include, soil erosion, landuse, drainage, topography. The photointerpretation was supplemented with field checks of the interpreted data. The interpreted data shows large areas of soil eroded and the development of bad land due to large scale cutting of the vegetation both in the Siwalik Hills and KANDI area.     

Use of aerial photographs in mapping alkali soils with respect to their management in a part of north-west India

An area of 6000 ha covering four villages was adopted by the Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal under Operational Research Project to transfer the technology of alkali soil reclamation in the farmer’s fields. This necessitated mapping and characterisation of alkali soils of the area. Use of black and white photographs in 1∶25,000 scale proved effective in delineating alkali soils quickly and inexpensively. The physiography and photo elements like tone, landuse, drainage and parcelling facilitated identification and demarcation of four mapping units viz; P₁, P₃, P₄ and C. The unit P represented nearly flat upland alluvial plain while C represented low lying filled up old channel. The alkali soils confined mainly to the upland plain were recorded in white toned barren stretches and accounted for 36.6 percent of surveyed area. In addition, patchy occurrence of alkali soils admist the cultivated fields giving mottled appearance on the photographs was noticed over 11.3 percent area. In this case the photo scale proved limiting for demarcating alkali and non-alkali soils separately. The prtactical utility of the soil inventory in planning reclamation and management of alkali soil in the area has also been discussed.     

Confirmation of soil physiographic units through soil mineralogy studies in Yamuna alluvial plain,India

A confirmatory study of soil physiographic units identified through aerial photo interpretation technique, in Yamuna alluvial plain, Haryana is presented here. The area under study is part of Yamuna alluvial plain in Sonepat district, Haryana. Shanwal and Malik (1980) studied and mapped this area (semi-detailed) on 1:25,000 scale through areial photo interpretation technique. The soil profile samples of major soil physiographic units of the area were fractionated into sand, silt and clay. Detail mineralagical studies were carried out through electron microscopic and X-ray diffractometer studies in order to know their nature and origin of the parent material. X-ray diffraction data shows that mineralogy of different fractions (Sand, silt and clay) of soils samples, of different physiographic units were similar except Lavee. In this area mica is the dominant day mineral in the soils followed by Kaolinite, chlorite, vermiculite and smectite in decreasing order of their abundances. The occurance of fibrous minerals in coarse clay and silt fraction of soil samples of Lavee physiographic unit is the interesting feature of this area. The presence of fibrous minerals indicates that this overlain material designated as natural Levee in this area is not the alluvium brought down by the river Yamuna but is aeolian material flown from adjoining deseret of Rajasthan and deposited as stabilized sand dune. The fibrous minerals have been reported earlier in the desert of Rajasthan.     

A note on the avulsion of Ghagghar river in the alluvial plains of Punjab and Haryana,North-West India

Ghagghar river in the alluvial plains of Punjab and Haryana, north-west India exhibits the phenomenon of avulsion in its middle and lower reaches. Study of aerial photographs shows that it has abandoned a 25 km long meander belt between Badshahpur and south of Jaswantpura which lies to the north of the present channel. The present channel course lies at a lower elevation on the flood plain away from the levee deposits which acted as an alluvial ridge.     

Visual comparison of computer aided landsat map and air photo map : A case study from Karimnagar district Andhra Pradesh

The use of aerial photo-interpretation technique in preparing an applied hydromorphological map is discussed. The practical utility of the map for ground water exploration in granitic terrain is presented. An attempt to prepare a similar map using LANDSAT CCT by analysis through a Multispectral Data Analysis System and the relative merits of computer aided map and aerial photo map are discussed. The details available in aerial photo map have been found to be lacking in computer aided map. Visual interpretation of LANDSAT imagery can improve the computer aided classification results.     

Geology of the area around Katta,sindhudurg district,Maharashtra. Based on aerospace data

Geological studies of the area around Katta, in the southern part of the Ratnagiri District of Maharashtra, were carried out with the help of visual remote sensing techniques using LANDSAT imageries on 1:250,000 scale and aerial photographs on 1:60,000 scale. The major stratigraphic units represented in the area under study are the Archean Complex, Kaladgi Supergroup, Deccan Trap, Laterite and Alluvium. The Kaladgis unconformably overlie the Archean metasediments and also at places exhibit faulted contacts with the latter. The major part of the area is covered by a thick evergreen vegetation. The interpretation followed by field work and laboratory work revealed the following:

1. The different lithologic units could be delineated on the aerial photographs.
2. Different lineaments marked on the imagery were found to be due either to faults or fracture zones. Some of the older faults appear to have been rejuvenated after the formation of the laterites.
3. Some of the lithologic horizons can be identified on the Landsat imagery by virtue of their spatial signatures.

These studies indicate that even in the area covered with thick vegetation, aerospace imagery in appropriate band and data scale can provide significant geological information.     

Soil—landscape relationship of Hissar District using aerial photo — interpretation technique

Soil survey of Hissar district (Haryana) covering total area of 6,331 sq. kms. was carried out using the aerial photographs of 1 : 25,000 scale. A detailed physiographic legend was prepared and boundaries were confirmed in relation to soil. Soil-landscape relationship was established during the course of study. Four major physiographic units were identified in the area : i. e. i) Aeolian plain, ii) Alluvial plain, iii) Drishdawati flood plain, iv) Ghaggar flood plain. Each of the major unit was sub-divided on the basis of photo elements, tone, texture, erosion, parcelling etc. The soils of the sand dunes/ Bars are classified as Typic Torripsamments/Ustipsamments; plain-Typic, Camborthids/Calciorthids/Ustrochrepts; basins-Aquic Ustochrepts and salt affected plain-Aquic Natrustalfs.     

Quantitative monitoring of land use changes in relation to hydrology of Bhavani basin using remote sensing techniques — a case study

The paper summarises a part of the results of an on-going project for quantifying the land use changes in Bhavani basin (Geographic co-ordinates N lat 10°55′ - 11°45′,E Long. 76°30′ - 77°45′). Landsat and aerial data have been used in monitoring the dynamic changes in land use patterns. Visually interpreted Landsat MSS data of two different dates in conjunction with the historic data acquired from the Survey of India topographic maps and field data were used in this investigation. Also land use changes over two test-sites in the basin were studied using aerial photographs. During the study, it has been observed that a direct correlation exists between the rainfall and the area irrigated. The repetitive coverage of the satellite data are found to be quite remarkable, especially the 1:250,000 False Colour Composites (FCC) in assessing rapidly the temporal land use changes of a region at a cheaper cost.