Assessing river channel migration and its implication to the surrounding areas, a case study of River Nile

Abstract

The most frequent quasi-natural hazard that is frequently encountered along the Nile River is certainly channel migration. The current study focused on the Nile River in Uganda, which is divided into three sections: the Albert, Victoria, and Victoria Nile. The study uses geospatial tools to assess both the spatial and temporal patterns of channel migration and their impacts on the Nile River's surroundings. Using remote sensing and GIS, the Nile River's channel migration was detected between 2002 and 2022 (20 years). To demonstrate the changes in the river channel, USGS Landsat EMT+, OLI/TIRS sensor data from the years 2002, 2007, 2012, 2017 and 2022 were taken into consideration. The water surface of the river was determined using the Modified Normalized Difference Water Index. The river channel migration pattern can be represented by twenty-seven horizontal parallel lines. The findings demonstrated that, at various locations throughout the research region, the Nile river channel has been moving toward both the right and left banks. Areas that were considered as being vulnerable included areas of Kayunga and Kamuli district where river Nile passes. Some of the sub counties in Kayunga district included areas like Busaana, Kayonza, Kangulumira and Nazigo. As a result, the current study may be useful for improving current site-specific management measures that might minimize future river bank erosion as well as the destruction of property and livelihood. Keywords River Nile, Channel migration, Landsat EMT+, OLI/TIRS, Remote sensing and GIS