| Summary: | The agriculture and aquaculture sectors support millions of people in the Ganges Delta. However, water quality in this complex deltaic system is deteriorating due to multiple factors, including reduced discharge from upstream, discharge of untreated wastewater, climate change impacts, tidal influences and inefficient water management practices. Salinity is a major constraint for both agriculture and drinking water supply in coastal Bangladesh, making a systemic understanding of its dynamics critical for effective water resource planning. This study investigates the spatial and temporal variability of salinity and turbidity in the rivers of coastal Bangladesh using multisensor satellite imagery, geospatial techniques, and statistical analysis. We examine satellite-derived turbidity trends in relation to seasonal salinity dynamics under varying flood and ebb tidal conditions. Although salinity and turbidity are distinct water quality parameters, our findings suggest that satellite-derived turbidity can serve as a proxy indicator for seasonal salinity variation, particularly in the absence of salinity data. The analysis highlights the potential of remotely sensed turbidity as a decision-support tool for irrigation planning, particularly for farmers operating sluice gates to access low-salinity water in the polders. This research contributes to a better understanding of water quality dynamics in delta environments and offers insights for developing adaptive, data-informed water management strategies to enhance agricultural resilience in coastal Bangladesh.
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