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Assessing flood-induced ecological vulnerability and risk using GIS-based in situ measurements in Bhagirathi sub-basin, India

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Abstract

Climate change–induced disasters and anthropogenic influences are making the ecological environment vulnerable. Thus, assessment of ecological vulnerability and risk is essential for devising suitable adaptation and management strategies. The paper makes a concerted effort to analyze flood-induced ecological vulnerability and risk using site-specific parameters in Bhagirathi sub-basin of India. Analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was used to assign weightage to the selected parameters. Association of parameters with vulnerability was examined through multiple regression analysis. Findings revealed that most of the area in eastern, central, and deltaic sub-basin was found under high vulnerability and risk. Disturbance index, rainfall, temperature, SAVI, vegetation type, low biological richness, slope, and NDVI identified the potent factors for high vulnerability to flood, while high inundation was the prime determinant for very high flood risk in the study area. Evaluated findings may be helpful in prioritizing the areas for ecological restoration and conservation.

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Data availability

All the datasets used in this study have been cited in the manuscript. The layers of biological richness, disturbance index, and vegetation type were obtained from the Biological Information System (BIS), Department of Biotechnology and Department of Space, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS). These datasets have been cited in the manuscript. As per agreement with IIRS, the layers cannot be shared with any third party. However, the other datasets will be made available on request to the corresponding author.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments and suggestions which helped us in improving the quality of the manuscript. The authors are grateful to Dr. Partha Sarathi Roy, NASI senior Scientist, ICRISAT, Pathancheru, Hyderabad, for providing datasets on biological richness, disturbance index, and vegetation types. The authors also wish to thank the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, New Delhi, for stimulating support and financial assistance during the preparation of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, 110025, India

    Sufia Rehman & Haroon Sajjad

  2. Centre for Oceans, Rivers, Atmosphere and Land Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal, 721302, India

    Mohd Sayeed Ul Hasan & Abhishek Kumar Rai

  3. Department of Civil Engineering, Aliah University, New Town, West Bengal, 700160, India

    Mohd Sayeed Ul Hasan

  4. Graduate School of Environment Earth Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan

    Ram Avtar

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  1. Sufia Rehman
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  5. Haroon Sajjad
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Correspondence to Haroon Sajjad.

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Rehman, S., Hasan, M.S.U., Rai, A.K. et al. Assessing flood-induced ecological vulnerability and risk using GIS-based in situ measurements in Bhagirathi sub-basin, India. Arab J Geosci 14, 1520 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-07780-2

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