A temporal change study of the Muda River system over 22 years

Abstract

The Muda River has been dramatically affected by unsustainable human activities that sacrificed environmental values for national development. The removal of the forest canopy causes a decrease in the interception and transpiration in a basin. The decrease in transpiration leads to an increase in the amount of water stored in the soil. These changes can increase the soil's moisture content, allowing more water to be available to drain into channels. Tree clearing can also cause increased erosion at logged sites and a subsequent increase in sediment yield. In this study, an investigation of the spatial and temporal changes in the environment imposed by new land usages on a long timescale (over 22 years) was carried out in the Muda River area. Detecting the changes in land usage will help predict both the consequent changes in the Muda River's behaviour and flood risks. In addition, computer modelling (InfoWorks RS) was used to help determine the long-term behaviour of the Muda River and its flooding behaviour.