MAPPING GEOHAZARDS IN THE CHURIA REGION OF NEPAL: AN APPLICATION OF REMOTE SENSING AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS TO QUANTIFY CHANGE

Landslides, debris flow, and flood inundation hazards are linked geological and hydrological phenomena, while their impacts are closely tied to anthropogenic factors. Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can provide accurate and cost effective tools to monitor such hazards. In the Churia region of Nepal, it is believed that destruction related to geohazards is increasing in frequency and magnitude, in recent decades. The districts of Bara and Rautahat represent a transition zone across the region within which scientific findings can be generated and modeled across the wider Churia region. Little work has been done to quantify the correlation between changes in human activities (deforestation for farming) and changes in the frequency and magnitude of Churia geohazards. An improved understanding of the linkages between the human dimension, dynamic monsoon hydrologic cycle, landslides, debris flows, and inundation hazards in Churia will assist policy makers in hazard mitigation.