Sylhet's Changing Landscape: Impacts of Urban Growth and Climate On Water and Vegetation

Date of Award

5-2026

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Geography

First Advisor

Lei Meng, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Laiyin Zhu, Ph.D.

Third Advisor

Benjamin Ofori-Amoah, Ph.D.

Keywords

GEE, GIS, LULC, remote sensing, surface water, SVM

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Abstract Only

Restricted to Campus until

5-1-2028

Abstract

Accelerating urban expansion and shifting climate patterns have placed mounting pressure on the hydrological systems of developing nations, particularly across South Asia. This study examines the spatiotemporal dynamics of surface water, land use and land cover (LULC) change, and hydroclimatic variability in Sylhet Sadar Upazila, Bangladesh from 2015 to 2024. Sentinel-1 SAR imagery processed in Google Earth Engine, alongside rainfall analysis and ENSO coupling, was employed to investigate how urban growth and climatic drivers shape surface water fluctuations in a haor-influenced floodplain environment. LULC classification was performed using remote sensing techniques, with accuracy assessments validating the results. Statistical analyses explored the relationship between monthly rainfall patterns and surface water extent, while ENSO variability was examined as an indirect hydroclimatic driver of flooding in the Surma basin. Findings reveal significant seasonal and interannual fluctuations in surface water driven predominantly by monsoon rainfall, with built-up land expansion amplifying hydrological stress across the study area. ENSO was found to act as a background climatic modulator, with no single ENSO phase consistently associated with flood occurrence. The results highlight the urgent need for integrated land-water management strategies in rapidly urbanizing floodplain regions, offering actionable insights for policymakers and environmental managers addressing the convergence of land cover change and climate variability in vulnerable monsoon-fed lowland environments.

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS