Multivariate statistical analysis of geomorphological parameters for Sinai Peninsula

Abstract

Sinai Peninsula was delineated to 62 hydrological catchments using WMS and GIS tools. Thirty geo-morphometric parameters were calculated for each catchment. Statistical analyses were conducted to determine the important parameters namely Factor analysis (FA), Cluster Analysis (CA), and Regression Analysis (RA). FA resulted in the exclusion of some factors (filtration of parameters), as they do not have a significant relationship with other parameters. CA in Q-mode classified the 62 catchments concerning their close hydrological characteristics and in R-mode classified the parameters into 2 main groups and five sub-main groups. RA then presents the relation between the correlated parameters. The catchment area showed the highest correlation with other parameters. Finally, RA between highly correlated parameters was employed to develop relations between these parameters. The overall coherence of the data indicates the participation of the individual hydro-morphological parameters in several influence factors. A useful relation for the construction of unit hydrograph, according to [23] was developed. Multivariate studies yield a better understanding of the physical behavior in arid regions where the records of hydrological events are very scarce or absent. The results were found to be compatible with the fact that most studied basins related to the late period of geomorphological.