BRAIDING AND CHANNEL MORPHODYNAMICS OF THE BRAHMAPUTRA-JAMUNA RIVER

Braided rivers are characterised by a series of channel segments which divide and rejoin around bars in a repeated pattern. Channel geometry, water flow and sediment transport in braided rivers interact and vary in spatial and temporal scale, resulting in erosion and deposition in channel segments; and growth and migration of bars. Quantitative determination of channel dimension in relation to sedimentation and bar formation requires an understanding of interactions among flow hydraulics, bar dynamics and channel migration. This book is based on detailed field investigation and satellite image interpretation of the Brahmaputra-Jamuna River at selected reaches and the overall research scheme encompasses bank erosion and accretion, bar formation and channel widening, and the rate and magnitude of channel dynamics. Estimation of reach- scale sediment balance using cross-sections and satellite images provides information of quality and demonstrates a preferred method for sediment budget estimations in the Brahmaputra-Jamuna River.