Geomorphic connectivity and its application for understanding landscape complexities: a focus on the hydro‐geomorphic systems of India

Abstract

Geomorphic processes operate at multiple spatio‐temporal scales and different levels of hierarchy. It is therefore necessary to understand the linkages of landscapes across various scales and levels to gain insights into their interactions and feedbacks. Connectivity is an emergent property of the hydro‐geomorphic systems, and it is gradually evolving into a unifying concept in geomorphology. The connectivity approach has the potential to be applied extensively to diverse hydro‐geomorphic systems of India to understand their complexity as well as for designing effective management practices for river systems and wetlands, optimizing water resources for agriculture, and monitoring and restoration of habitats. Studies on connectivity, particularly in geomorphic context, have been growing steadily in India, albeit at a much slower pace compared to the global trends. This article undertakes a brief overview of the global developments particularly in terms of providing some clarity among the different types of geomorphic connectivity and their inter‐relationships and feedbacks. We then take stock of the connectivity research in India in recent years as applied in different hydrogeomorphic systems across the country. We utilize a number of Indian case studies to illustrate the important developments and applications of connectivity concepts, and also present future perspective of this important field with special relevance to India. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Geomorphic diversity of the Indian sub‐continent: Progress and updates

“…The application of connectivity concepts has been growing in India and there have been some important applications in geomorphic studies ranging from sediment connectivity (Upper Kosi basin; Mishra et al, 2019), wetland‐catchment connectivity (North Bihar plains, eastern India; Singh et al, 2017; Singh & Sinha, 2019), human‐induced alterations of connectivity (Yamuna River, Bawa et al, 2014; Kosi megafan region, Sinha et al, 2013; Kumar et al, 2014). Singh et al (2020) have provided a comprehensive review of geomorphic connectivity as applied to understand landscape complexities and in particular reference to the hydro‐geomorphic systems of India. The authors argue that connectivity has the potential of becoming a ‘unifying’ concept in geomorphology given its wide‐ranging implications ranging from river and wetland management and agriculture water requirements to restoration of habitats in a variety of geomorphic settings.…”

“…ies ranging from sediment connectivity (Upper Kosi basin;Mishra et al, 2019), wetland-catchment connectivity (North Bihar plains, eastern India;Singh et al, 2017;Singh & Sinha, 2019), human-induced alterations of connectivity (Yamuna River,Bawa et al, 2014; Kosi megafan region, Sinha et al, 2013;Kumar et al, 2014) Singh et al (2020). have provided a comprehensive review of geomorphic connectivity as applied to understand landscape complexities and in particular reference to the hydro-geomorphic systems of India.…”

Unraveling the relationship between geomorphodiversity and sediment connectivity in a small alpine catchment

“…Sediment connectivity represents an emerging property of a geomorphic system (i.e., coupling relationship between elementary units: landforms, slope units, sub-catchments) and reflects the potential of water/sediment to move through the system (Cavalli, Heckmann, & Marchi, 2019;Heckmann et al, 2018;Singh et al, 2021).…”

“…All these aspects are related to the concept of sediment connectivity , which can be defined as the degree of linkage (lateral, longitudinal, and vertical) that controls sediment fluxes throughout the landscape (Cavalli, Trevisani, Comiti, & Marchi, 2013). Sediment connectivity represents an emerging property of a geomorphic system (i.e., coupling relationship between elementary units: landforms, slope units, sub‐catchments) and reflects the potential of water/sediment to move through the system (Cavalli, Heckmann, & Marchi, 2019; Heckmann et al., 2018; Singh et al, 2021). Sediment connectivity is pivotal for the geomorphic understanding of a landscape.…”

Vegetation and Geomorphic Connectivity in Mountain Fluvial Systems

“…A long-standing recognition of the role that sediment routing plays in modifying such environmental signals [6,7] is reflected in a recent surge of interest in the concept of geomorphic connectivity (or sediment connectivity) (Figure 1). A range of definitions have been proposed but, essentially, the concept of connectivity is concerned with connections, or interdependencies, between parts of the landscape that are facilitated by sediment transfer (interested readers are referred to several excellent reviews on this subject: [8][9][10][11][12][13][14]). In this review, I refer to geomorphic (sediment) connectivity in the sense that is perhaps closest to the definition articulated by Heckmann et al [12]: "we define ( .…”