Evaluation of Hydrogeology of the Lower Son Valley Based on Remote Sensing Data

Manas Banerjee, Debolin Bhattacharya, Hriday Narain Singh, Daya Shanker

.

DOI: 10.4236/jgis.2010.24031                

Abstract

Remote sensing, one of the most important reconnaissance and feature identifying tools generally applied for surface and groundwater investigation, was used for water resources mapping for the lower Son Valley in this study. The mapping was done with the help of Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellite imagery IRS-LISS- 1-B1 for January 29, 1991 obtained during the day transit time. The area under study comprises adjoining parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar states of India and extends over the seven districts, namely Bhojpur, Rohtas, Patna, Jahanabad, Aurangabad, Ballia and Chapra. Geology of the study area is quite complex, tectonically disturbed and shows four major cycles of depositions after erosions during last one billion years (since Cretaceous). Two lineaments mapped by GSI (Geological Survey of India) in western side of river Son in the Bhojpur district can also be identified by the satellite imagery. In the present study, apart from these lineaments, two new lineaments have been investigated, which run almost parallel to river Ganga in northwest parts of the area in Ballia district. The lineaments may play a very vital role in groundwater monitoring in the area. The detailed study of geomorphology, vegetation and geology of the Lower Son valley on the basis of photo-interpretation techniques for surface features, drainage pattern and density, and drainage texture has been carried out to determine alluvial type, permeability, tributary, etc. These studies and Darcy velocity analysis show that the prospect of water is very good for entire lower Son valley. The Bhojpur district is most prospective for groundwater exploitation.

Keywords

Lower Son Valley, Groundwater Monitoring, Satellite Imageries, Vindhyan Super Group of Kaimur Series, Lineaments, Drainage Analysis

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	F. Ahmad, “Geology of the Vindhyan System in the Eastern Part of Son Valley,” Records GSI, Vol. 96, No. 2, 1971, pp. 1-41.
[2]	S. A. Drury and S. M. Berhe, “Accretion Tectonics in Northern Eritrea Revealed by Remotely Sensed Imagery,” Geological Magazine, Vol. 130, No. 2, 1993, pp. 170-190.
[3]	W. Ghebreab, “An Outline of Major Pan-African Li- thologic Assemblages and Shear Zones in Eritrea: Impli-cations for Mineral Exploration,” Australian Financial Review, Vol. 3, No. 3-4, 1996, pp. 355-366.
[4]	M. J. McFarlane, “Groundwater Movement and Water Chemistry Associated with Weathering Profiles of the African Surface in Malawi,” In: E. P. Wright and W. G. Burgess, Eds., Hydrogeology of Crystalline Basement Aquifers in Africa, Geological Society, Special Publica-tions, London, Vol. 66, 1992, pp. 131-154.
[5]	M. G. S. D. Nilantha and V. Hari Prassad, “Groundwater Recharge Estimation Using Remote Sensing and Geogr- aphic Information System,” Sri Lankan Journal of Geo- Informatics, Vol. 1, 2004, pp. 44-55.
[6]	A. K. Saraf and P. R. Choudhury, “Integrated Remote Sensing and GIS for Groundwater Exploration and Iden-tification of Artificial Recharge Sites,” International Journal of Remote Sensing, Vol. 19, No. 10, 1998, pp. 1825-1841.
[7]	S. Solomon and F. Quiel, “Integration of Remote Sensing and GIS for Groundwater Assessment in Eritrea,” In: T. Benes, Ed., Proceedings of the European Association of Remote Sensing Laboratories Conference, Ghent, 2003, pp. 633-640.
[8]	S. Solomon, “Groundwater Study Using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the Central Highlands of Eritrea,” Journal of Hydrogeology, Vol. 14, No. 6, 2006, pp. 1029-1041.
[9]	R. Taylor and K. Howard, “A Tectono-Geomorphic Mo- del of the Hydrogeology of Deeply Weathered Crystalline Rock: Evidence from Uganda,” Hydrogeology Journal, Vol. 8, No. 3, 2000, pp. 279-294.
[10]	G. S. I., “Report: The Miscellaneous Publication No. 63,” 1999.
[11]	WAPCOS, “Son Canal Modernization Project (Feasibility Report),” Vol. 1 & 2, 1988.
[12]	D. Bhattacharya, M.Sc. Dissertation, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 1999, pp. 1-67.
[13]	V. C. Leuder and C. F. Miller, “Photogeology,” McGraw-Hill, London, New York, 1961.
[14]	R. P. Singh, “Groundwater Management Strategies, Roh-tas District, Bihar, India,” Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment, Vol. 63, No. 3, 2004, pp. 247-253.
[15]	CGWB, “The Technical Report: Groundwater Statistics and Monitoring of Groundwater in Bihar,” Series D, No. 48, Vol. 96, 1986.
[16]	S. K. Nag, “Morphometric Analysis Using Remote Sens-ing Techniques in the Chakh Sub-Basin, Purulia District, West Bengal,” Journal of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing, Vol. 26, No. 1-2, 1998, pp. 69-76.
[17]	R. P. Gupta, “Remote Sensing in Geology,” Spring- er-Verlag, New York, 1991, pp. 245-289.