Upslope Contributing Area, Topographic Wetness and Landsliding: A Case study of the Shivkhola Watershed, Darjiling Himalaya

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Upslope Contributing Area, Topographic Wetness and Landsliding: A Case study of the Shivkhola Watershed, Darjiling Himalaya

Sujit Mandal

Author Affiliations

¹ Department of Geography, University of Gour Banga, Malda, West Bengal-732103, INDIA

Int. Res. J. Earth Sci., Volume 3, Issue (7), Pages 23-29, July,25 (2015)

Abstract

The distribution of landslide in the mountain area can be well understood studying drainage concentration and topographic wetness over the space. In the present study, the saturation of the slope materials were studied with the help of topographic index model (TIM) which incorporate both slope and upslope contributing area. Here nine landslide inducing parameters like slope, amplitude of relief, lithology, drainage density, upslope contributing area, road contributing area, human intervention, presence of thrust, and land use were made to prepare Landslide Susceptibility Zonation Map applying landslide hazard evaluation factor rating approach. The interaction between landslide and different triggering factors were studied separately and ultimately final coordination is made through Landslide Potentiality Index Value (LPIV). To prepare hazard zonation map of the Shivkhola watershed, grid/cell wise weighted index value (WIV) is assigned for each and every classes of individual triggering factors on the basis of landslide potentiality index value. Landslide Susceptibility Index Value (LPIV) is the outcome of the cumulative total of all grid/cell wise assigned Weighted Index Value. Finally, to assess the role of topographic wetness in landslide phenomena of the Shivkhola watershed a relationship was established between landslide susceptibility map and topographic index model.

References

Bhandari R.K., Landslide hazard zonation mapping in Srilanka- A holistic approach, Proc. National Symposium on Landslide in Srilanka, National Building Research Organisation, Columbo, 1, 271 (1994)
Varnes D.J., Slope movement types and process. In Schuster R.L., Krizek, R.J. (Eds.), Landslides Analysis and Control. Special Report 176, Transportation Research Board, National Academy of Sciences, Washington D.C, 12–33 (1978)
Maiti R. and Mandal S., Estimation of surface run-off to analyze slope instability in Shivkhola Watershed, Darjiling Himalaya, Indian Journal of Power and River Valley Development, 57-65 (2011)
Phukan P., Thakuriah G. and Saikia R., Land use Land Cover Change Detection Using Remote Sensing and GIS Technique-A Case Study of Golaghat District of Assam, India, 1(1), 11-15, (2013)
Ojima D.S., Kalvin K.A. and Turner B.L., The global impact of land use change, Bioscience, 44(5), 291-356 (1994)
Meyer W.B., Turner B.L., Land use and land cover change: challenges for geographers, Geojournal, 39(3), 237-240 (1996)
Borga M., Fontana D., G. Ros. D.D. and Marchi L., Shallow landslide hazard assessment using physically based model and digital elevation data, Environmental Geology, 35 (2–3), Springer Verlag, 81–88 (1998)
Quinn P.F., Beven K.J. and Lamb R., The ln (a/tanb) index: How to calculate it and how to use it within the TOPMODEL framework, Hydrol. Processes, 9, 161–182 (1995)
Anderson M.G. and Kneale P.E., The influence of low-angled topography on hillslope soil-water convergence and stream discharge, J. Hydrol., 57, 65–80 (1982)
Rodriguez-Iturbe I. and Valdes J.B., The geomorphic structure of hydrologic response, Water Resour. Res., 15(6), 1409–1420 (1979)
Beven K.J. and Kirkby M.J., A physically based, variable contributing area model of basin hydrology, Hydrol. Sci. J., 24, 43–69 (1979)
O’Loughlin E.M., Prediction of surface saturation zones in natural catchments by topographic analysis, Water Resour. R\s., 22(5), 794 –804 (1986)
Beven K., R. Lamb, P. Quinn, R. Romanowicz and Freer J., TOPMODEL, in Computer Models of Watershed Hydrology, edited by V.P. Singh, pp. 627–668, Water Resour. Publ., Highlands Ranch, Colo. (1995)
Tarboton, D. G., A new method for the determination of flow directions and upslope areas in grid digital elevation models, Water Resour. Res., 33(2), 309–319 (1997)
Woods R.A., Sivapalan M. and Robinson J.S., Modeling the spatial variability of subsurface runoff using a topographic index, Water Resour. Res., 33(5), 1061–1073 (1997)
Dubayah R and Lerrenmaier D., Combing Remote Sensing and Hydrological Modeling for Applied Water and Energy Balance Studies, NASA EOS Interdisciplinary Working Group Meeting, San Diego, CA. (1997)

[ref1] Bhandari R.K., Landslide hazard zonation mapping in Srilanka- A holistic approach, Proc. National Symposium on Landslide in Srilanka, National Building Research Organisation, Columbo, 1, 271 (1994)

[ref2] Varnes D.J., Slope movement types and process. In Schuster R.L., Krizek, R.J. (Eds.), Landslides Analysis and Control. Special Report 176, Transportation Research Board, National Academy of Sciences, Washington D.C, 12–33 (1978)

[ref3] Maiti R. and Mandal S., Estimation of surface run-off to analyze slope instability in Shivkhola Watershed, Darjiling Himalaya, Indian Journal of Power and River Valley Development, 57-65 (2011)

[ref4] Phukan P., Thakuriah G. and Saikia R., Land use Land Cover Change Detection Using Remote Sensing and GIS Technique-A Case Study of Golaghat District of Assam, India, 1(1), 11-15, (2013)

[ref5] Ojima D.S., Kalvin K.A. and Turner B.L., The global impact of land use change, Bioscience, 44(5), 291-356 (1994)

[ref6] Meyer W.B., Turner B.L., Land use and land cover change: challenges for geographers, Geojournal, 39(3), 237-240 (1996)

[ref7] Borga M., Fontana D., G. Ros. D.D. and Marchi L., Shallow landslide hazard assessment using physically based model and digital elevation data, Environmental Geology, 35 (2–3), Springer Verlag, 81–88 (1998)

[ref8] Quinn P.F., Beven K.J. and Lamb R., The ln (a/tanb) index: How to calculate it and how to use it within the TOPMODEL framework, Hydrol. Processes, 9, 161–182 (1995)

[ref9] Anderson M.G. and Kneale P.E., The influence of low-angled topography on hillslope soil-water convergence and stream discharge, J. Hydrol., 57, 65–80 (1982)

[ref10] Rodriguez-Iturbe I. and Valdes J.B., The geomorphic structure of hydrologic response, Water Resour. Res., 15(6), 1409–1420 (1979)

[ref11] Beven K.J. and Kirkby M.J., A physically based, variable contributing area model of basin hydrology, Hydrol. Sci. J., 24, 43–69 (1979)

[ref12] O’Loughlin E.M., Prediction of surface saturation zones in natural catchments by topographic analysis, Water Resour. R\s., 22(5), 794 –804 (1986)

[ref13] Beven K., R. Lamb, P. Quinn, R. Romanowicz and Freer J., TOPMODEL, in Computer Models of Watershed Hydrology, edited by V.P. Singh, pp. 627–668, Water Resour. Publ., Highlands Ranch, Colo. (1995)

[ref14] Tarboton, D. G., A new method for the determination of flow directions and upslope areas in grid digital elevation models, Water Resour. Res., 33(2), 309–319 (1997)

[ref15] Woods R.A., Sivapalan M. and Robinson J.S., Modeling the spatial variability of subsurface runoff using a topographic index, Water Resour. Res., 33(5), 1061–1073 (1997)

[ref16] Dubayah R and Lerrenmaier D., Combing Remote Sensing and Hydrological Modeling for Applied Water and Energy Balance Studies, NASA EOS Interdisciplinary Working Group Meeting, San Diego, CA. (1997)