Brunt of Climate Change on Fluvial Character of Manas River, Assam (India) and the Associated Environmental Implications

Man's only habitat, the planet earth, is ever changing in its all facets. Climate change is one of the most important environmental challenges faced by living organisms and non-living things on the earth. The nature, magnitude and consequences of this change are unprecedented specially in the context of present day human society. The impacts of climate are invasive in all spheres. Climate change is likely to have significant effects on the fluvial character of a river. The fluvial character of rivers has badly been affected by the change of climate all over the world. This paper intends to study the changes of fluvial character of Manas river due to the climate change and associated phenomena in the region, although to what extent climate change has influenced the fluvial character is yet unclear. The paper also attempts to suggest some measures for mitigation of the various problems associated with it. The study is carried out based on the data collected from the field and various secondary sources. The changing behaviour of fluvial character has been assessed with the help of relevant data and information collected for different periods of time. It is found from the study that the changes in fluvial character of Manas river have occurred during the last few decades creating a lot of problems to its environment and people.