Stream Length Ratio Research Articles

Morphometric analysis in the sub basins of the Kali River using Geographic Information System, Karnataka, India

Morphometric analysis serves as a crucial tool for quantitatively characterizing drainage basins and exploring the intricate relationships between hydraulic parameters and geomorphological characteristics. This study presents a comprehensive morphometric analysis of the Kali Subbasin in Karnataka, covering an area of 1175.45 km². Utilizing remote sensing data and GIS tools, we quantified various morphometric parameters, including stream order, stream length, bifurcation ratio, drainage density, stream frequency, form factor, and circularity ratio, to understand the basin's geomorphological and hydrological characteristics. The study area is classified as a seventh-order basin displaying a dendritic drainage pattern with a drainage density of 2.853 km/km². Notably, the bifurcation ratio ranges from 4.396 to 3, indicating low to moderate structural control within the basin. The subbasin's elongated shape, with an elongation ratio of 0.604 and a circularity ratio of 0.298, indicates moderate peak flow and high susceptibility to erosion. Relief parameters showed significant elevation variations, contributing to intense erosion and heightened flood risks in lower-lying areas. The study identifies the basin's transition to a mature geomorphic stage, evidenced by an escalating stream length ratio from lower to higher orders. These findings underscore the importance of tailored watershed management strategies, including floodplain zoning, retention basins, afforestation, and terracing, to mitigate flooding and soil erosion. The study's insights are crucial for developing effective, localized water resource management plans and enhancing the resilience of the Kali Subbasin to future hydrological challenges.

The significance of morphometric analysis of Shimsha River, Karnataka, India to understand the hydrological and morphological characteristics

AbstractMorphometric analysis is crucial for advancing in various fields, including geomorphology, hydrology, environmental sciences, and geological studies. The objective of the present study is to understand the hydrological and morphological characteristics of the Shimsha River, which flows through the fluvial deltaic plain in the semiarid environment of Karnataka. Remote sensing and geographic information system have been used as mapping and efficient tools for drainage basin morphometry. The emphasis is laid on geological, geomorphological, hydrological, and fluvial features under linear, aerial, shape, relief, geometric, morphotectonic, and social morphometric parameters. The basin area is about 8741 km2, with a dendritic to subdendritic pattern. The sinuosity index is 1.6, which indicates meandering in nature. Areal parameters suggest that the drainage basin has a moderate surface permeability, homogenous lithology, run‐off, erodibility, low relief conditions, infiltration rate, and a well‐developed drainage network. Shape parameter indicates that the basin is subelongated with flatted peak flow and longer duration. Relief factor indicated low relief and intermediate stage of the incision rate. The river has an asymmetry factor is 38.65 and it shows that the channel has shifted southwest. The river shows a perfectly graded profile, with a considerable amount of incision and deposition along its profile showing tectonically unstable, based on the spatial distribution of the potential groundwater zone of about (5260 km2), other waterbody masks covered (285 km2). Standard visual interpretation techniques were applied to recognize and interpret the land use and land cover patterns. A basin rich in clay‐rich soil may lead to a massive flood. Essentially, physiographical and structural conditions controlled the stream order of the basin. The increase in the stream length ratio from lower to a higher order. That indicates a mature geomorphic stage of the study area. Rainfall and local lithology impact the development of segments of the stream.

The Quantitative Geomorphology of Upper Citarik Watershed and Its Implication to the Flash Flood Potential

The research area is the Upper Citarik Watershed, located in the eastern Bandung Basin, West Java, Indonesia. This research aims to identify the quantitative geomorphology, especially the morphometry of the Upper Citarik Watershed, and its implication for the potential of flash floods. This research was conducted through a studio analysis with the support of thematic maps such as geological and slope maps. The parameters used in this morphometry calculation consist of linear aspects (stream order, stream length, mean stream length, stream length ratio, bifurcation ratio, and mean bifurcation ratio); areal aspect (drainage density, drainage texture, form factor, ratio of circularity, ratio of elongation, and length of overland flow); and relief aspects (watershed relief and relief ratio). The research results show that the Upper Citarik Watershed consists of 17 sub-watersheds that share relatively similar characteristics, including elongated shape with high relief and rather steep - steep slopes. It is predominantly composed of volcanic rocks and slow rising of flash flood. It shows that from a quantitative geomorphology perspective, the research area has high resistance to flash floods. Land use changes need to be a concern to prevent a significant decrease in the ability of land to deal with the flash floods.

Evaluation of Morphometric Parameters Studies in Middle-West Part of Kushtia District, Bangladesh, Using Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques

This study finds 1D, 2D and 3D morphometric parameters of the middle-west part of Kushtia district, Bangladesh to implement groundwater potential. For this purpose, the SRTM (DEM) data were used to compute different parameters in GIS environment. The values of 1D parameters like stream order, stream length and mean bifurcation ratio was calculated as 6, 1774.72 km and 2.08 respectively. The computed values of drainage density (0.01 - 23.06 km/km2), stream frequency (1 - 5.64 per km2), drainage texture (0.25 - 0.70 km/km4), length of overland flow (0.02 - 45.05 km2/km), constant of channel maintenance (0.04 - 90.04 km2/km), circularity ratio (0.39 - 0.84), form factor (0.35), elongation ratio (0.62), relief ratio (0.00 - 1.81) and ruggedness number (0.04 - 214.72) disclose the morphometrical conditions of the study area. The results revealed from this study on drainage morphometry can be a great assistance for understanding the hydro-geomorphological character of the area.

Morphometric Interpretation for Sub-Basin Management Planning and Practices in Hassan District, Karnataka India Using GIS and Remote Sensing

Classification and categorization of water basins is essential in sustainable growth, planning and management. Implementing the modern strategic techniques over a wider area needs huge resources and proper planning. Hence, morphometric analysis can be used as necessary tool for prioritizing sub- watersheds in the present study. The study area encompasses 265 sq. km, which is divided into nine sub-basins, specifically Bannur (W-1), Conimarur (W-2), Hampapura (W-3), Harohalli (W-4), Kaneyar (W-6), Konanuru (W-7), Saraguru (W-8), and Torenuru (W-9) ranging from 8 to 64 km2. The Survey of Indian toposheets and Digital Terrain Model are utilized to explain the drainage characteristics. The study reveals dendritic stream arrangement of fourth to fifth order. The density of drainage ranged between 1.03 to 1.32 km/km2, suggesting that the drainage texture was coarse to moderate, but low infiltration and high runoff. The change in stream length ratio over time implies that geomorphological progress is approaching its end. The bifurcation ratios range from 0.5 to 2.58, indicating that the region has good lithological control over the stream system and whole sub-watersheds are classified as "normal”. The form factor and circulatory ratio suggest elongated to circular sub-watersheds. Thus, the results of this analysis would be useful for the basin management planning and groundwater development. Keywords: Morphometry, Aerial Aspects, Linear aspects, Relief aspects, Hassan District

Morphometric Analysis on Vanniyar Basin in Dharmapuri, Southern India, Using Geo-Spatial Techniques

The Vanniyar basin is located in Dharmapuri district, South India, and is severely affected by climate change. Due to changing climatic conditions and resulting poor precipitation characteristics, this district has received less rainfall over the last three decades (Dharmapuri District Statistical Hand book 2020). The objective of this investigative study is to utilize morphometric techniques and analyze their properties using GIS and image processing techniques. The linear, aerial, and relief morphometric aspects of the Vanniyar basin are analyzed. From the preliminary investigation, the study area occupies the Archean group of rocks. The drainage pattern of the Vanniyar basin is sub-dendritic to dendritic and classified into fifth-order drainage basins. The mean drainage density of the Vanniyar basin is 1.95 km/km2, which indicates that the basin has very permeable soil with intermediate drainage and low to moderate relief. The circularity ratio value reveals that the basin is circular with high to moderate relief and a structurally controlled drainage system. The elongation ratio value reveals that the basin is characterized by high susceptibility to erosion and sediment load. The stream length ratio between the streams of different orders of the Vanniyar basin shows a change in each sub-basin, indicating late youth stage of geomorphic development. From these research studies, farmers in the Vanniyar basin, river Cauvery may now comprehend their drainage basin’s geohydrological characteristics.

Surface drainage features identification using LiDAR DEM smoothing in agriculture area: a study case of Kebumen Regency, Indonesia

ABSTRACT Digital Elevation Model (DEM) is the most vital data to generate drainage networks and to provide critical terrain factors and hydrologic derivatives, such as slope, aspect, and streamflow. The accuracy of generated drainage features is extensively dependent on the quality and resolution of DEM, such as LiDAR-derived DEM. Contrary, it has a high level of roughness and complexity. Thus, smoothing methods are sometimes employed to conquer the roughness. This paper presents feature-preserving DEM smoothing (FPDEM-S) and edge-preserving DEM smoothing (EPDEM-S) approaches to smooth surface complexity in kind of preserving small drainage features using the 0.5 m – resolution LiDAR DEM of the Kedungbener River area in Kebumen Regency, Indonesia. Entangling linear morphometric factors, those smoothing approaches delivered a slight difference of stream number, with the FPDEM-S stream length ratio performing 7% better tendencies. The FPDEM-S method perormed better than EPDEM-S in this study area to provide an optimal smoothed LiDAR DEM at certain parameter values. Summarising that two smoothing methods approaches performed similar characteristics of watershed as an oval structure close to the circular shape. Also, it can be revealed that the watershed did not reach maturity phase.

Watershed Prioritization Based On Morphometry Analysis for Groundwater Potential in Panjhara River Basin, Sakri Taluka, Maharashtra (India)

Drainage basin analysis is giving a quant quantitative description water resource of the area. The aim of present study is to identify the morphometric parameterseters of watershed condition in Panjhara River basin of Sakri Taluka in the state Maharashtra, India. Study Study areas divided in to 6 sub-watersheds which are nomenclature by groundwater survey and development agency for upper Panjhara River. The study area is having homogeneity in texture and lack of structural contcontrol. The steam order is 1st to 6thin all sub-watersheds rsheds with dendritic drainage pattern. The work included as as the significance of digital elevation model (DEM) for gat gathering details on Drainage Network (stream order, streamstream number, stream length, stream length ratio and bifurca bifurcation ratio), drainage texture (stream frequency, drainage density, constant of channel maintenance, length of of overland flow, total basin relief and relief ratio) and basin geometry (form factor, elongation ratio, texture ratio, circularity ratio drainage texture and compactness coefficient) characteristics. Each parameter has been been assigned their ranks according to their weightage and and low parameter value is ranked as first and so on. The lowest value sub-watershed TE-103 is considered as high priority for adopting conservation measures. The suitable locations for conservation structures like check dam, nala plugging and percolation tank in high prioritized sub-watersheds, were also identified for the appropriate land and water management system. The highly prioritize rioritized zone in structural condition will also useful for mark important location for structures. Although undersrstanding of soil erosion and deposition of earth material.

Identification of critical watershed at risk of soil erosion using morphometric and geographic information system analysis

Morphometric analysis is a pertinent scientific approach in any hydrological analysis, and it is necessary in the progress and management of drainage basin. Identification of areas at risk of erosion, and the prioritization of 48 sub-watersheds of Inaouene basin, was done by using linear, relief and areal aspects of watershed. The research carried out the use of geographic information system spatial data. The linear aspects include stream number, stream sequence, stream length, and bifurcation ratio, mean length of stream order, stream length ratio, mean stream length ratio, and form factor. The areal aspect includes frequency of stream, drainage density, texture ratio, channel length constant, and overland flow maintenance length. Ultimately, the relief dimensions included relief proportion, relief and ruggedness number. The array of compound (Cp) values computed allow us to set the priority ranks and classify the sub-watershed into three priority ranks groups: low, moderate, and high priority. Such morphometric analyses can be used therefore as a watershed erosion status estimator to prioritize land and water conservation initiatives and natural resources management.

Site selection of check dams using geospatial techniques in Debre Berhan region, Ethiopia — water management perspective

Remote sensing and GIS technology were very helpful to determine an appropriate location of freshwater storage in Amhara, Ethiopia. The techniques were used to investigate the impact of lithology, surface geomorphology, slope parameters, drainage flow, drainage density, lineament density, land cover parameters on relief, and aerial and linear features and to understand their interrelationships. Morphometric parameters such as mean stream length (Lsm), stream length ratio (RL), bifurcation ratio (Rb), mean bifurcation ratio (Rbm), relief ratio (Rh), drainage density (Dd), stream frequency (Fs), drainage texture (Rt), form factor (Rf), circularity ratio (Rc), and elongation ratio (Re) were calculated. Spatial maps of morphometric parameters were produced by using AHP (analytical hierarchy process) of ArcGIS 10.3. Final priority map was generated by the overlay of those parameters with five categories of poor (16.6%), low (41.63%), moderate (29.61%), high (8.88%), and very high (3.28%) storage locations. The map showed that this study area belonged to the low to moderate storage location. The results exhibit precision-based assessment of the suitability for the dam construction sites of 6, 7, and 9 sub-basin zones. The outcome of this study strengthens the knowledge of geospatial analysis for water resources vulnerability and also allows policymakers in this drought-prone area to sustainably manage water supplies.

Evaluation of additional physiographical variables characterising drainage network systems in regional frequency analysis, a Quebec watersheds case-study

Regional Frequency Analysis (RFA) relies on a wide range of physiographical and meteorological variables to estimate hydrological quantiles at ungauged sites. However, additional catchment characteristics related to its drainage network are not yet fully understood and integrated in RFA procedures. The aim of the present paper is to propose the integration of several physiographical variables characterizing the drainage network systems in RFA, and to evaluate their added value in predicting quantiles at ungauged sites. The proposed extended dataset (EXTD) includes several variables characterising drainage network characteristics. To evaluate the new variables, a number of commonly used RFA approaches are applied to the extended data representing 151 stations in Quebec (Canada) and compared to a standard dataset (STA) that excludes the new variables. The considered RFA approaches include the combination of two neighborhood methods namely the canonical correlation analysis (CCA) and the region of influence (ROI) with two regional estimation (RE) models which are the log-linear regression model (LLRM) and the generalized additive model (GAM). The RE models are also applied without the hydrological neighborhood. Results show that regional models using the extended dataset lead to significantly better flood quantile predictions, especially for large basins. Indeed, the variable selection performed with EXTD consistently includes some of the new variables, in particular the drainage density, the stream length ratio, and the ruggedness number. Two other new variables are also identified and included in the DHR step: the circularity ratio and the texture ratio. This leads to better predictions with relative errors about 29% for EXTD, versus around 42% for STA in the case of the best combination of RFA approaches. Thus, the proposed new variables allow for a better representation of the physical dynamics within the watersheds.

QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE LINEAR ASPECT OF THE NANDHAUR RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN OF THE KUMAON HIMALAYAS

The channel pattern of the drainage system is included under the linear aspect of the stream drainage basin. Under the water stream model, the topographical features of the open links ie streams or stream segments of the flow system are studied. Thus, the following are the important variables of morphometric study under the linear aspect of the drainage network of the drainage basin - stream grading, stream number, bi-branching ratio, stream length, stream length ratio, surface flow length, curvature index, etc. All these runoff are included under the main components of the basin.

Morphometric analysis and prioritization of Garud watershed using remote sensing and GIS technology

The quantitative analysis of morphometric parameters is found to be of immense utility in watershed prioritization for soil and water conservation and natural resources management at micro level. The present work is an attempt to carry out a detailed study of linear and shape morphometric parameters in four watersheds of Garud Catchment and their prioritization for soil and water resource management. The study area (Garud watershed) is located at Garud (Baijnath), on Kausani-Baijnath-Bageshwar route, near Baijnath Temple in Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand state. The watershed drains into Gomti river at Garud (Baijnath) and lies between 29o54’12” to 29o89’78” N latitude and 79o36’43” to 79o61’68” E longitude with 604 ha (6.04 km2) geographical area. The elevation varied from 1086 to 1700 m above mean sea level (msl). Topographic map (53 O/9) of 1964 on 1:50000 scale was utilized to delineate the basin boundary and drainage pattern was extracted from Digital Elevation Model (DEM), thus to identify precisely basin characteristics using Geographic Information System (GIS). According to Strahler’s system of stream ordering, the natural drainage system of watershed was classified and the main stream was found as 4th order stream. It showed that, the maximum frequency in case of first order stream was 34 and that for second, third and fourth order streams was found to be 8, 2 and 1, respectively. The stream length ratio (RL) was estimated to be 0.28 and 1.31 for II/I and III/II orders, respectively. The increasing trend in RL from lower order to higher order indicated matured geomorphic stage and change from one order to another order in stream length ratio indicated late youth stage of geomorphic development of streams. In the present study, bifurcation ratio (Rb) varied from 2.0 to 4.25 with an average of 3.42, which indicates that the value of Rb was not the same from one order to next order. The higher value of Rb indicated strong structural control on the drainage pattern. This showed its usefulness for hydrograph shape for watersheds similar in other respect. The bifurcation ratio between first and second order streams indicated the nature of head ward erosion. In the present case, the head ward erosion was moderate as bifurcation ratio was 4.25. The drainage density was found to be 3.48 km/km2. Lower drainage density of the basin (3.48 km/km2) indicates towards course drainage pattern. The course texture gives more time for overland flow and hence to ground water recharge. The circulatory ratio (Rc), elongation ratio (Re) and form factor (Rf) was estimated to be 0.45, 0.60 and 0.28 respectively, indicating them to be elongated in shape and suggesting flatter peak flow for longer duration. In sub-watershed GR-3 the stream length followed Horton’s law. But in sub-watersheds GR-1, GR-2 and GR-4, the stream segments of various orders showed variation from general observation. This change may indicate flowing of streams from high altitude, litho logical variations and moderately steep slopes. The stream length ratio between different sub-watersheds showed an increasing trend from lower order to higher order indicating their mature geomorphic stage in sub-watersheds. The prioritization was carried out by assigning ranks to the individual indicators and a compound value (Cp) was calculated. Watersheds with highest Cp were of low priority while those with lowest Cp were of high priority. Sub-watershed GR-4 with a compound parameter value of 2.22 received the highest priority, which consists of steep slopes, high drainage density, high stream frequency, low form factor and low elongation ratio and the sub-watersheds GR-1and GR-2 both have same Cp value as 2.55 received second priority. The sub-watershed GR-3 had highest Cp value as 2.67 received last priority. Highest priority indicated the greater degree of erosion in the particular sub-watershed and it became potential area for applying soil conservation measures. Thus soil conservation measures can first be applied to sub-watershed GR-4 and then to the other sub-watersheds depending upon their priority.

Application of remote sensing and GIS technology for identification and development of management scenario of critical agricultural watershed

Management of watershed encompasses various activities from watershed delineation to monitoring. The suitability of land for development is not only based on a set of physical parameters (geography/terrain, soils, slopes etc.) of the land but also very much on the economic factors. The cumulative effect of these factors determine the degree of suitability and also helps in further categorization of land into different priority orders for development. The development of new advanced techniques in Spatial Information such as remote sensing and GIS are effectively used for the extraction of information about spatial features. DEM (Digital Elevation Model) is one of the important sources in extraction of drainage network and is useful for determining the quantitative description of catchment geometry i.e. morphometric analysis. Morphometric analysis has been commonly applied to prioritization of watersheds. In this study, the morphometric analysis and prioritization of seventeen Sub-watersheds of Maniari watershed, situated in Lormi block of Mungeli District Chhattisgarh State, India, was studied. For prioritization of sub-watersheds, morphometric analysis was utilized by using the Linear parameters such as Stream order, Stream length, Stream length ratio, Basin length, Bifurcation ratio (2.33 to 4.81), Drainage density (1.04 to 4.35), Stream frequency (0.17 to 6.69), Texture ratio (0.19 to 13.44), Length of overland flow (0.52 to 2.27) and Shape parameters such as Form factor (0.31 to 0.35), Shape factor (2.84 to 3.27), Circulatory ratio, Elongation ratio (0.62 to 0.67), and Compactness constant (1.20 to 2.33). The different prioritization ranks are assigned after evaluation of the compound factor. It was considered as high priority for adopting conservation measure as well. The suitable locations for conservation measure structures in highly prioritized sub-watersheds were also identified for the appropriate land and water management plane. The relevance of work shows the appropriate measure structure locations for preventing the soil from getting eroded from the highly prioritized sub-watershed.

Drainage Morphometric Investigation of Nimni Watershed, Chhatarpur District, Madhya Pradesh, India

The present paper deals with drainage morphometric investigation of Nimni watershed, Chhatarpur District, Madhya Pradesh, India. A morphometric analysis of the Nimni watershed has been carried out to characterize the nature of drainage network. The linear, areal and relief aspects of the drainage basin have been determined. The morphometric parameters have been computed on the basis of drainage map prepared on 1:50,000 scale. These parameters includes Stream order, Lengths of stream, Bifurcation ratio, Drainage density, Length of overland flow, Stream frequency, Form factor, Circulatory ratio, Elongation ratio, Lemniscate’s ratio, Basin relief, Relief ratio, Ruggedness number and Ground surface slope. The drainage area of the Nimni watershed is 98 km2. The stream order of the basin is mainly controlled by physiographic and lithological conditions of the area. The increase in stream length ratio from lower to higher order shows that the study area has reached a mature geomorphic stage. The geomorphic analysis of Nimni watershed reveals that the present drainage basin exhibits uneven topography, presence of hard rock terrain and dendritic to sub-dendritic drainage pattern. The dendritic drainage pattern exhibits the presence of hard and resistant rocks referable to Bundelkhand Granite Complex.

Influence of different relief information sources on the geomorphological characterization of small watersheds.

Mathematical models have been widely used to quantify hydrological processes for various practical purposes. These models depend on geomorphological attributes which are derived from relief information represented by Digital Elevation Models (DEM). The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of relief information sources (ASTER, SRTM-30, SRTM-90, and TOPO) over geomorphological characterization of five Brazilian watersheds. Geoprocessing tools were applied for extraction of the following geomorphological attributes for each DEM: drainage area, perimeter, and watershed slope; length and slope of the main stream; total length of streams; bifurcation, stream length and stream area ratios; and length of the highest order stream. The differences in the values of attributes were calculated in relation to the reference DEM (TOPO). It was found that: i) slope of main stream and bifurcation ratio were the most sensitive parameters regarding the relief information source; ii) flat watersheds were more susceptible to altimetric errors; iii) ASTER did not adequately represent drainage networks for flat watersheds; and iv) the differences in the geomorphological attributes increased as drainage area decreased. The results indicate that DEM may exert influence on the use of hydrological models that depend on geomorphological attributes.

The linkage between box-counting and geomorphic fractal dimensions in the fractal structure of river networks: the junction angle

AbstractIn the past, a great deal of research has been conducted to determine the fractal properties of river networks, and there are many kinds of methods calculating their fractal dimensions. In this paper, we compare two most common methods: one is geomorphic fractal dimension obtained from the bifurcation ratio and the stream length ratio, and the other is box-counting method. Firstly, synthetic fractal trees are used to explain the role of the junction angle on the relation between two kinds of fractal dimensions. The obtained relationship curves indicate that box-counting dimension is decreasing with the increase of the junction angle when geomorphic fractal dimension keeps constant. This relationship presents continuous and smooth convex curves with junction angle from 60° to 120° and concave curves from 30° to 45°. Then 70 river networks in China are investigated in terms of their two kinds of fractal dimensions. The results confirm the fractal structure of river networks. Geomorphic fractal dimensions of river networks are larger than box-counting dimensions and there is no obvious relationship between these two kinds of fractal dimensions. Relatively good non-linear relationships between geomorphic fractal dimensions and box-counting dimensions are obtained by considering the role of the junction angle.

Quantitative Morphometric Analysis Using Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques for Mandakini River Basin

The current research in the State of Uttarakhand in Rudraprayag argued that the analysis of the morphometric drainage parameter is more appropriate than traditional approaches with a remotely sensed information and GIS-based approach. Various linear, aerial and relief aspects were considered to analyse study area morphometry and the digital elevation model (DEM) and catchment area slope map were created from 30 m resolution ASTER data. The drainage patterns were mainly dendritic to sub dendritic. The study area’s slope was divided into five ranging from 0° to 77°. The study area’s stream order ranged from 1st order to 7th order. The variation in the stream length ratio could be due to the disparity in slope and topographical conditions. Geometric characteristics in the region suggest that the area appeared to have an extended shape with an elongation ratio of 0.76 and less circulatory shape with a circulatory ratio of 0.47 suggests the varied homogenous geological and texture ratios preferred for its high texture ratio of 28.77 disfigured complex lithology. In topography and geographic growth, the range of the bifurcation ratio in the catchment area was between 3.84 and 5.30. The drainage level was medium at 2.34 km2. The drainage texture was 38.10 demonstrating the nature of lithology.

Drainage Morphometric Analysis of the Nagavathi Watershed of Dharmapuri District, Tamil Nadu, India Using SRTM Data and GIS

GIS and Remote sensing have proved to be a resourceful tool in the explanation of drainage pattern for water resources management and its planning. The identification of morphometric characteristics based on a Geographic Information System (GIS) was carried out in the Nagavathi watershed, Dharmapuri District. The quantitative drainage morphometric parameters was carried out for the Nagavathi watershed by estimating their (a) Linear aspects like Stream number, Stream order, Stream length, Mean stream length, Stream length ratio, Bifurcation ratio, (b) Aerial aspects like Drainage density, Stream frequency, Texture Ratio, Elongation ratio, Form factor, Circularity index, Length of overflow, Constant of Channel maintenance, Drainage texture, Compactness coefficient and (c) Relief aspects like Basin relief, Relief ratio, Ruggedness number, Gradient ratio, Melton ruggedness ratio, Slope, relative relief, Shape Factor and Leminscate. The drainage area of Nagavithi watershed is 482 sq. Km. the main drainage patterns is dendritic to sub-dendritic drainage. The Nagavathi watershed was classified as a fifth order drainage watershed, whereas micro watershed was classified as an eight in the watershed. Stream order of the watershed was predominantly controlled by structural and lithological controls of various drainage patterns and their stream orientations were identified to evaluate the direction and controlling factors in drainage network. The drainage density in the area has been found to be low which indicates that the area possesses highly permeable soils and low relief. The bifurcation ratio varies from 0.8 to 43.1.
 The elongation ratio of Microwatersheds varies from 0.13 to 0.43, indicates Microwatersheds fall under elongated pattern. This study would help the local people to utilize the resources for planning rainwater harvesting and watershed management.

Morphometry and Morphostructural Studies of the Parts of Gola River and Kalsa River Basins, Chanphi-Okhalkanda Region, Kumaun Lesser Himalaya, India

Study of morphometric parameters such as stream length (Lu) and stream length ratios (Rl), bifurcation ratio (Rb), drainage density (D), form factor (Rf), circularity ratio (Rc), elongation ratio (Re) and asymmetry factor (Af) in the Gola and Kalsa River Basins show a strong structural/tectonic control over the drainage in the study area and also indicate intense tectonic activity in the recent past. Field studies also suggest that several parts of the study area are structurally controlled and neotectonically active, e.g. incidences of landslides, presence of asymmetrical river terraces, river incision, formation of deep gorges, triangular facets and tilting of recent deposits etc. Morphometric parameters also suggest a possibility of flash floods and high discharges in few sub-basins.