Soil Erosion Assessment Of Area Nearby Ganga River Using Remote Sensing Data

Abstract

Soil erosion within the Ganga River corridor represents a persistent geomorphological and environmental concern, driven by complex interactions among hydrological dynamics, anthropogenic pressures, and climatic variability. This study presents a comprehensive assessment of soil erosion in areas adjacent to the Ganga River using multi-source remote sensing data and advanced geospatial modeling. Multi-temporal Landsat and Sentinel satellite imagery, supported by a high-resolution digital elevation model (DEM), were analyzed to generate land-use/land-cover (LULC) classifications, vegetation indices, slope parameters, and soil-related attributes essential for erosion modeling. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) framework was implemented within a GIS environment to estimate spatially explicit annual soil loss, incorporating rainfall erosivity (R), soil erodibility (K), slope length and steepness (LS), cover management (C), and conservation practice (P) factors.

Findings indicate that erosion susceptibility is highest along unstable riverbanks, intensively cultivated floodplains, and regions experiencing frequent geomorphic adjustments due to monsoonal discharge variability. The analysis reveals considerable temporal shifts in erosion hotspots, strongly correlated with land-use transitions, vegetation degradation, and uncontrolled human activities such as sand extraction and settlement expansion. Areas in close proximity to the active channel exhibited moderate to very high erosion rates, highlighting the direct influence of lateral channel migration and seasonal flooding. Model results were validated using field observations and high-resolution imagery, demonstrating strong agreement and confirming the reliability of the integrated remote sensing–GIS approach.

This study underscores the efficacy of satellite-based monitoring for capturing fine-scale erosion processes in dynamic riverine systems. The outcomes emphasize the urgency of implementing targeted soil conservation strategies, including riparian vegetation restoration, sustainable agricultural practices, and riverbank stabilization measures, to reduce erosion-induced land degradation. By offering high-resolution spatial insights into erosion patterns, this research provides a robust scientific basis for decision-making and long-term environmental management within the Ganga River basin.