Impacts of land use land cover change and climate change on river hydro-morphology- a review of research studies in tropical regions

Abstract

Tropical regions have experienced the fastest Land Use Land Cover Change (LULCC) in the last decades, coupled with climate change (CC) this has affected the hydrological and geomorphological processes of river systems. With the increased demand for land, the general trend has been the loss of forest land to agriculture and settlements. These changes have altered the water balance components through enhanced or reduced evaporation, peak flow, flooding, and river morphology. The aim of this review paper is to provide a meta-analysis on the effects of spatiotemporal changes in climate and LULC on river hydro-morphology in the tropics. Following a systematic search, 60 case studies were identified, of which the majority (68%) experienced forest loss due to agricultural and urban expansion, resulting in increased streamflow, surface flow, and total water yield and decreased ET and groundwater recharge. 12% of the case studies showed the impacts of LULCC on channel morphology features through sediment transport and riverbank erosion. Results from this study show limited correlation between LULCC and hydrological variables, indicating that there are likely other factors controlling hydrological processes. Catchment heterogeneity including soil and topography play an important role. Based on studies that project these changes into the future, similar trends are expected over the next decades, with differences based on LU and climate scenarios. There are still limited studies on river hydro-morphology responses to LULCC and CC in the tropics despite the major changes taking place there. In light of future changes, more studies are needed to improve our understanding.