Hypsometric analysis of mid-himalayan watershed using geomatics

Abstract

Hypsometric analysis describes the distribution of horizontal cross-sectional area of watershed morphology with respect to elevation (areaaltitude analysis). In geologic time scale youth, mature and old geologic stage represents peculiar hypsometric forms of watershed. The hypsometric analysis give picture about pertinent condition of transition from youth to old stage of watershed. Hypsometric characteristics of a watershed plays important role in the dynamics of surface and subsurface runoff generation and resulting soil erosion and denudation processes. Hypsometry is essential aid to measure and represent the form of a watershed and its evolution. Aim of the paper is to carry out the hypsometric analysis of Naula watershed, situated in mid Himalayan region of Uttarakhand using remote sensing and GIS technologies. Hypsometric data were derived and analyzed for Naula watershed from the 1 arc-second Cartosat-1 DEM. In the present study hypsometric integral was found as 0.357, which is indicative of existence of 35.7% of original rock mass of Naula watershed.