Abstract
The present research work was carried out to understand the influence of basin morphometric parameters on runoff potential in an ungauged basin using satellite images, topographical maps, and rainfall data combined with geospatial techniques. The upper Gosthani river basin is an ungauged basin which is located in the Eastern Ghats of Visakhapatnam District, Andhra Pradesh State, Southern India. The river Gosthani and its tributaries are draining through the basin area covering about 321.1 km2. The quantitative analysis of basin morphometry reveals that the area is under influenced by steep ground slopes, with moderate to less permeable rocks, leading to high runoff. The basin is elongated in shape resulting to flatter peak of flow for longer duration. The daily rainfall data during 2008–2016 were used in the estimation of runoff potential with the help of the Soil Conservation Service-Curve Number (SCS-CN) model. The weighted curve number was determined by the integration of land use and land cover, antecedent moisture condition, and hydrological soil groups. It was observed from the analysis that the overall increase in runoff corresponding to the rainfall. The area receives a good amount of rainfall, but most of it lost as surface runoff (nearly 40% of total rainfall) due to rapid overland flow and impermeable rocks. Analysis of morphometric parameters combined with SCS-CN-based approaches can be explored as an alternative for simulating the hydrological response of the basins.
Highlights
Morphometric characteristics of drainage basin in relation to estimation of surface water potential are utmost importance for planning irrigation, water supply, and flood control projects
The terrain with high slopes of the study area is producing rapid and excessive runoff and increased erosion rate with insignificant recharge potential (IMSD 1995). Various morphometric parameters such as the linear aspects of the drainage network, areal, and relief aspects of the drainage basin were evaluated with established mathematical equations (Table 1)
The results revealed that the understanding of basin geometry is much essential in runoff estimation
Summary
Morphometric characteristics of drainage basin in relation to estimation of surface water potential are utmost importance for planning irrigation, water supply, and flood control projects. Surface or storm runoff is a part of the precipitation which enters the stream immediately after the rainfall. Slope, channel gradient, topographical features, and soils can affect the rates and volumes of runoff. Various factors can be human or physical or both control a drainage basin during storm events. Topography is identified as a first-order control on the hydrological response of a basin catchment to rainfall. Understanding the regional hydrology at basin level is very crucial to ascertain the
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