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Geo-hydrological response to pothole formation: a quantitative study of Kharsoti River, India

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Abstract

This work includes the mechanism of pothole morphology, development, growth and dynac changes in meso and micro level. The study highlights some inter linkages of certain specific parameters like geological and hydrological concerns in pothole mechanism of Kharsoti River. Reviewing our geomorphological knowledge, potholes are mainly found to be concentrated in upper most part of the river where the stream energy is maximum but here our study area is included in the middle part and lower part of the Kharsoti River which is a typical example of rejuvenated antecedent tributary river of Subarnarekha River in Chhotanagpur plateau and exist like a bedrock river. Both shearing (geological) and huge discharge (hydrological) response are the concerned mechanisms in the development of potholes as micro fluvial landforms. One the basis of the analysis it is necessary to give a new threshold of quantitative methods in landforms study under a systematic scientific geographical background. Regarding the hydrological parameters like discharge, suspended load, stream power, velocity have been considered and some normal attributes like slope, bedrock character, rocky exposed on the riverbed etc. This type of work will help to open a new window for studying the micro landform mechanism in a contemporary method.

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Acknowledgements

We are thankful to each and every faculty and staff in Department of Geography, Presidency University, Kolkata especially Dr.Soumendu Chatterjee. We are also thankful to Mr. Arkajyoti Saha (student of Presidency University, India), Mr. Mahesh Parsutkar (student of Ohio state University, Columbus, USA) and Mr. Jaminul Hassan (student of Cardiff University, Wales, UK) for their important suggestions. We also wish to thank Sharmishtha Das and Suman Ayaz for their support during entire work. The responsible man of Ghatsila, Jharkhand and the staffs of NATMO, Kolkata deserve a special mention for their humble cooperation.

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Correspondence to Md Kutubuddin Dhali.

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Dhali, M.K., Biswas, M. Geo-hydrological response to pothole formation: a quantitative study of Kharsoti River, India. Model. Earth Syst. Environ. 3, 32 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40808-017-0280-5

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