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