Monitoring of drainage system and waterlogging area in the human-induced Ganges-Brahmaputra tidal delta plain of Bangladesh using MNDWI index

Abstract

Waterlogging is one of the major global problems which affects agro-economic activities around the world. In the coastal areas of Bangladesh, especially the southwestern coast, drainage congestion and waterlogging are very common which makes the area uninhabitable. Therefore, timely checking of drainage systems and surface water, and conveying data on the dynamics of drainages and surface water are important for plan and supervisory processes. The present study took an effort to illustrate the waterlogging and morphological change of the rivers in the southwestern coast of Bangladesh through the Modification Normalized Difference Water Index (MNDWI) values which are valuable indicators for monitoring the water area and land use pattern change. Landsat images (Landsat L8 Oli TIRS, Landsat ETM+, Landsat TM) were used in the research. The study reveals that from 1989 to 2020, the shallow water area (mostly covered with rivers) decreased by ∼14.30 km2 yr−1, whereas the wet-land area (mostly covered with beels and water logging areas) increased by ∼ 67.12 km2 yr−1. The bare land area also increased at a rate of ∼ 36.90 km2 yr−1. On the other hand, the green vegetation decreased at a rate of ∼166.1 km2 yr−1, whereas the moderate green vegetation area increased by ∼ 69.77 km2 yr−1 for the same period. In the coastal zones of Bangladesh, the polders, embankments, upstream dams, etc., enhance more sedimentation within the channels rather than in the nearby tidal plains. As a result, the shallow water area which is mostly covered by rivers is gradually decreasing. Moreover, due to increase in wet-land areas with salinity intrusions which affect the vegetation. Therefore, the green vegetation area is regularly declining due to demolition or conversion to moderate green vegetation. The findings of the research will be supportive for coastal scientists worldwide, policy makers & planners, and finally supportive for sustainable management of the coastal areas including Bangladesh.