ORIGINAL ARTICLE Earth observation-based approach for delineating geomorphology-guided geoenvironmental zones and its utility in regional planning: an analysis in parts of Bengal Basin, West Bengal, India Swati Singh 1 • Arindam Guha 1 • K. Seshadri 1 • K. Vinod Kumar 1 Received: 12 April 2016 / Accepted: 7 December 2016 / Published online: 27 January 2017 Ó Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2017 Abstract In this paper, we have analysed active and passive earth observation data for identifying the different geomorphic sub-provinces associated with coastal and fluvial geomorphic processes in the south-western part of Bengal Basin. For this purpose, variations in the spectral response of these sub-provinces in IRS P6 LISS III data are enhanced using principal component (PC) and inde- pendent component (IC) methods to spatially delineate the geomorphic sub-provinces and associated Quaternary sediments. It has been observed that the false colour composite derived using IC (first, second and third ICs) are effective in enhancing fluvial sub-provinces, while IC band 4, band 3 and band 2 are suitable to delineate coastal sub-provinces. On the other hand, PC composite derived using band 4, band 3 and band 1 are suitable to delineate different Quaternary sediments deposited within the spa- tial extent of geomorphic sub-provinces. Fused image enhanced products of IRS (Indian Remote Sensing Satel- lite) LISS III band and ALOS (Advanced Land Observing Satellite) PALSAR (Phased Array L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar) polarisation bands are used to supplement and complement the variations observed for each geo- morphic province in optical data as radar interactions are sensitive to variation in moisture and surface cover. Although there is a strong synergy between the spatial extent of geomorphic sub-provinces and the Quaternary units in terms of spatial disposition, different Quaternary units are also found within the same geomorphic province. Therefore, we have segmented each geomorphic sub- provinces based on the spatial extent of the different Quaternary deposits to identify few geoenvironmental (termed here as geomorpho-environmental) zones. In this regard, eleven zones are identified. Each zone has been characterised based on geomorphic stability, potentiality for agriculture practice, scope for urban development and reclamation. These geoenvironmental zones may provide important input to planners. Keywords IRS P6 LISS III Á ALOS PALSAR Á Independent components Á Principal components Á Image fusion Á Geomorphic provinces Á Geoenvironmental zones Introduction Geomorphic processes operative above Quaternary sedi- ment surfaces contribute to instigating lateral variations above the surface of already deposited unconsolidated sedimentary sequences (Sinha 1996; Sinha et al. 2005; Rudra 2014). This in turn controls the land use practices and land cover developed above the Quaternary sequences. Present geomorphic processes contribute in bringing lateral variations in depositional sequences of Quaternary sedi- ments as fluvial, deltaic and coastal processes are often found to impinge over each other (Pye and Blott 2008; Roy and Chatterjee 2015). Each geomorphic province can be identified by its depositional units and also with the land- forms developed within its energy regime. Based on these parameters, each geomorphic province can be further subdivided into several sub-units or sub-provinces. Each of these sub-provinces has been formed due to the intensity variation with which geomorphic processes have operated in recent geological time. In recent time, geomorphic classification has been attempted to derive such & Arindam Guha arindamisro@gmail.com 1 Geosciences Group, Remote Sensing Application Area, National Remote Sensing Centre, Balanagar, India 123 Environ Earth Sci (2017) 76:109 DOI 10.1007/s12665-016-6323-9