Computation of Watershed Parameters of Kansa Watershed in Satara Using Remote Sensing and GIS

Abstract

In present study Kansa watershed in Satara district of Maharashtra was characterized for watershed parameters. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and a high-resolution Digital Elevation Model (DEM) has been utilized for the estimation of morphological parameters. Several morphometric parameters have been computed and analyzed viz. linear aspects such as stream order, stream number, stream length, mean stream length, stream length ratio; areal aspects such as drainage density, stream frequency, drainage texture, elongation ratio, circularity ratio, form factor, constant of channel maintenance; relief aspects such as relief, relief ratio, relative relief, ruggedness number, length of overland flow. Impacts of morphometric parameters on flash flood characteristics have also been investigated. The presence of the maximum number of the first order segments shows that the basin is subjected to erosion and also that some areas of the basin are characterized by variations in lithology and topography. The form factor is 0.21, and the circulatory ratio is 0.42, which suggests an elongated type of catchment. Elongation ratio is 0.52, which indicates that watershed has high relief and steep slope. The estimated catchment characteristics may be useful to stimulate hydrological responses of the catchment.