Drainage morphometry and its influence on landforms in volcanic terrain, Central Anatolia, Turkey

Abstract

An evaluation of morphometric parameters was made to study drainage morphometry and its influence on landform processes, flood and erosion characteristic in subbasins which are located in volcanic terrain between Niğde and Aksaray Province SW Cappadocia, Central Anatolia. The study area was divided into 28 subbasins. The high flood potentiality exists on the high volcanic cones, dom, dissected foot of mountains and the high parts of plateaus covering the 13 subbasins, and are associated with high slope, shape of subbasins, impermeable geology and sparce vegetation. The moderate flood potentiality exists on the plateaus covering the 9 subbasins and is associated with high drainage density, high stream frequency, high bifurcation ratio and high slope conditions; although these subbasins have long narrow shapes. The low flood potentiality exists on plains covering 5 subbasins and is associated with low slopes and its long narrow shape. Analysis of drainage morphometry helps to understand inter-relationships between landforms and flood potentiality for planning and management in basins.