Abstract
The upper Benue River watershed is undergoing remarkable modifications due to man-made and natural phenomena. Hence, an evaluation is required to understand the hydrological process of the watershed for planning and management strategies. This study aimed to assess the morphometric characteristics and prioritize the upper Benue River watershed. The boundary of the watershed and sub-watersheds, as well as stream networks, was extracted from the digital elevation model (DEM) coupled with hydrological and topographic maps. Twenty-eight morphometric parameters under three categories, i.e. linear, areal, and relief aspects were computed and mapped. Findings from the study revealed that the watershed is a seventh stream order system characterized by a dendritic drainage pattern. The result also showed that 4821 streams were extracted with a cumulative length of 30,232.84 km. The hypsometric integral of the watershed was estimated to be 0.22, indicating that it is in the old stage. In the prioritization of the watershed, the morphometric variables were utilized to calculate and classify the compound factor. The result showed that sub-watersheds 12, 16, 18, 24, 26, and 27 were ranked as very high priority for which conservation measures are required to mitigate the risk of flood and erosion. The outcome of this study can be used by decision-makers for sustainable watershed management and planning.
Highlights
Morphometry is “the quantitative measurement of the shapes and dimensions of Earth’s landforms” (Clarke 1966)
The outlet is like a passage where all streams within a sub-watershed flow into another
The finding of this study showed that the potential for surface runoff, flood and erosion varied across the sub-watersheds as shown from its stream frequency, infiltration number, drainage density, drainage texture and relief ratio analysis
Summary
Morphometry is “the quantitative measurement of the shapes and dimensions of Earth’s landforms” (Clarke 1966). Morphometric analysis entails mathematical description and characteristics of the natural features which comprise aerial, linear, and relief within a watershed (Fenta et al 2017). It is vital in hydrological examination especially in Pedology, groundwater management, and environmental assessment (Hajam et al 2013). It offers a quantifiable description and understanding of the shape of the watershed as well as the initial slope, geological, structural control, rock hardness, and geomorphic history of the watershed (Strahler 1957). Valuable information about the character of a watershed can be obtained via morphometric study (Dubey et al 2015)
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