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Impact of confluence on hydrological and morphological characters of the trunk stream: a study on the Manu River of North-east India

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Abstract

Tributaries play a significant role in changing flow structure of the main river through their additional discharge. A study was conducted at the point of convergence of the River Deo with the River Manu using simple geospatial technique and field work to justify the hydrological and morphological changes in downstream of the confluence point. The spatio-temporal change of both the river channels for 10 km length in upstream and downstream of the confluence point was considered. Moreover, field measurements and post-field work were carried out to examine the spatial variation of hydrodynamic characteristics like flow velocity, depth, water discharge, wetted perimeter and hydraulic radius of the selected stretches. Sieving method was applied for grain size analysis of river bed sediment samples. The result revealed that both the aggradation and degradation processes were equally active in the upstream segment of the Manu River but in downstream segment aggradation exceeded the degradation activity, though all the hydrodynamic variables were boosted up in downstream, except flow velocity. The present research highlighted that the steeper gradient of the R. Deo had enhanced its competency to transport medium-sized grains to the R. Manu, where fine grains were commonly found. Moreover, increased wetted perimeter in downstream specified more friction between channel bed and its flow consequent upon reduced flow velocity with extra sediment load accumulation.

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[modified from Best’s Model (1987)]

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Acknowledgements

Authors cordially acknowledge the USGS (United State Geological Survey) for providing the satellite images at no cost. The authors acknowledge one anonymous reviewer for his constructive suggestions to improve the paper. Moreover, they like to extend thanks to the local people for their enthusiastic cooperation during field verification.

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  1. Department of Geography and Disaster Management, Tripura University, Agartala, 799022, Tripura, India

    Jatan Debnath, Nibedita Das (Pan), Rakhal Sharma & Istak Ahmed

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Debnath, J., Das (Pan), N., Sharma, R. et al. Impact of confluence on hydrological and morphological characters of the trunk stream: a study on the Manu River of North-east India. Environ Earth Sci 78, 190 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-019-8190-7

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