Channel avulsions of the Sarda River system, Ganga Plain

Sarda River, one of the major rivers of the Ganga Plain, has undergone frequent changes in its position in recent times as a consequence of channel avulsions. Synoptic coverage and temporal data provided by remote sensing in conjunction with topographical maps and field investigations have yielded valuable information on variation in the configuration of the Sarda River system in space and time. The chronology of channel avulsions and lateral migration has been established and its future course of avulsion is predicted. On the basis of the present study, it has been inferred that channel avulsions take place over a period of 10 1 –10 2 years. Floods trigger the process of avulsion in channels and are therefore invariably associated with this significant fluvial process. The unidirectional lateral migration of Sarda River is related to tectonic tilting of the area, probably during early Holocene.