The significance of morphometric analysis to understand the hydrological and morphological characteristics in two different morpho-climatic settings

Avijit Mahala

doi:10.1007/s13201-019-1118-2

Abstract

Drainage morphometric parameters are important indicator to understand the hydrological and morphological characteristics of any region. Present study aims to understand the hydrological and morphological characteristics in two different morpho-climatic settings from drainage basin morphometric parameters. Remote sensing and GIS have been used as efficient tools in delineating and understanding of any drainage basin morphometry. The Kosi River basin of northern India for the mountain–plain tropical environment and Kangsabati River basin of eastern India for the plateau–plain sub-humid environment has been selected for the present study. The geological, geomorphological, hydrological, fluvial characteristics have been stressed out under linear, areal and relief aspects of morphometric parameters. The drainage morphometric parameters have been determined and measured after using the Advanced Space borne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer global DEM (90 m) in ARC GIS 10.1. All the linear morphometric measures of mountain–plain humid Kosi River basin indicate its high flood potentiality, whereas, linear morphometric measures of Kangsabati River basin indicate less flood potentiality and plateau landform characteristics of sub-humid environment. The mean bifurcation ratio also indicates Kosi River has greater flood potentiality than Kangsabati River. Kosi River has drained large amount of water due to its near-circular basin shape than Kangsabati River which has an elongated shape. All the relief characteristics indicate that tropical mountain–plain environment dominated Kosi River basin is in rejuvenated or young stage of geomorphic development, whereas sub-humid plateau–plain dominated Kangsabati River basin is in mature stage of geomorphic development. Most of the morphometric characteristics indicate there are high geologic and geomorphological controls on river basin characteristics. The remote sensing and GIS tool have been successfully implemented throughout the study to understand the morphometric characteristics in two different morpho-climatic settings. Also, the results can be used for plan formation and sustainable management of the study area.

Highlights

Drainage morphometry is defined as a measurement of linear, areal and relief characteristics of any drainage basin (Clarke 1966)
This study reveals to understand the hydrological and morphological characteristics from drainage morphometric parameters in two different morpho-climatic settings
The different morphometric parameters of a basin are the best representative of underlain geology, geomorphology, relief, slope, climate as well as hydrological dynamics

Summary

Introduction

Drainage morphometry is defined as a measurement of linear, areal and relief characteristics of any drainage basin (Clarke 1966). The drainage morphometric characteristics are important to understanding the underlain structure,. Applied Water Science (2020) 10:33 ratio, strength length, mean stream length), areal or basin parameters (circularity ratio, elongation ratio, drainage density, drainage frequency) and relief parameters (dissection index, ruggedness index, hypsometric characteristics) are important for any river basin management. The hydrological and morphological behaviour of any basin can be best understood through the areal and relief morphometric parameters, respectively. The geomorphological stages of evolution with its erosional characteristics can be best understood through the different drainage morphometric parameters (Strahler 1952). This study reveals to understand the hydrological and morphological characteristics from drainage morphometric parameters in two different morpho-climatic settings

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Conclusion