Integrating Google Earth Engine Cloud Computing and Fluvial Surveys to Quantify Vegetation–Hydrology–Sediment Coupling in Contrasting Braided River Systems

The non-linear feedback mechanisms and interactions between discharge-sediment supply and instream (riparian) vegetation cover generate spatio-temporal heterogeneity in braided channel forms. The present study examines such relationships among three contrasting braided rivers of India: the Brahmaputra (highly braided), the Brahmani (weakly braided) and the Netravathi (meandering-braided). Long term JRC Surface water layer, vegetation-water remote sensing indices, numerical model derived hydrological datasets and periodic field visits have been integrated to understand the vegetation–hydrology–sediment coupling across these braided river systems.  The results show that the channel forming discharges in the Brahmaputra shows a hierarchical level and extreme events dominate over the effect of sparse vegetated landforms. In weakly braided reaches, channel-in-channel form oscillates between two extreme nodes depending upon the intensity of disturbing events. For rivers with meandering-braided transition form, channels are relatively stable and riparian vegetation cover generate a stable geometry and absence of floodplain sediment storage.