Remote sensing, GIS and AHP techniques based investigation of groundwater potential zones in the Karumeniyar river basin, Tamil Nadu, southern India

Abstract

A primary objective is to analyzing the multiple parameters for mapping of groundwater potential zones in the Karumeniyar river basin located in Southern India using integrated remote sensing, GIS and geophysical techniques. In this analysis, multiple geo-environmental parameters such as geology, geomorphology, soil, drainage density, lineament density, landuse/land cover (LULC), slope, rainfall, topographic wetness index (TWI), surface roughness, topographic curvature, elevation (relief), and land surface temperature (LST) are analyzed for identifying groundwater potentiality at site-specific scale using GIS based analytical hierarchy process (AHP) technique. Each thematic layer is derived from corresponding spatial data sources through systematic procedures, and assigned to appropriate weights and ratings based on degree of magnitude to recharge and permeability. The result reveals that the 10.7% of total area exhibits higher potential of groundwater sources, whereas, the 26.8% area is noted as good potential of groundwater along the streams and paleochannels. Significantly, the 33.6% of area fall under moderately groundwater potential due to monsoonal recharge fluctuations. However, the 28.9% of area occurred as lower groundwater potential because of sub-surface settings and lack of recharge or permeability. The groundwater potential zones are cross-verified at selected locations based on insitu VES geophysical survey (Vertical Electrical Sounding) and groundwater yield data. Among the six locations, the VES results indicate the aquifers underlying unconfined and semi-confined formations are noted as very-good to good groundwater potential than other category of aquifers. Moreover, the higher groundwater yield is estimated in good and very-good zones that indicates higher potentiality of groundwater sources. This study provides the geo-database of primary information for planning and management of groundwater resources in the non-perennial river basin environment.