Geomorphometric Characterization of Upper South Koel Basin, Jharkhand: A Remote Sensing & GIS Approach
- 1 Department of Geology, Ranchi University, Ranchi, India
- 2 Department of Geology, Ranchi University, Ranchi, India
- 3 Department of Geology & Mining, CIAL, Abhijeet Group, Nagpur, India
Abstract
The quantitative analysis of drainage system is an important aspect of characterization of watersheds. Morphometry is measurement and mathematical analysis of landforms. The present study is an attempt to evaluate the drainage morphometrics of Upper South Koel Basin using Remote Sensing and GIS approach. A morphometric analysis was carried out to describe the topography and drainage characteristics of Upper South Koel watershed. The stream numbers, orders, lengths and other morphometric parameters like bifurcation ratio, drainage density, stream frequency, shape parameters etc. were measured. The drainage area of Upper South Koel watershed is 942.4 sq km and the drainage pattern is dentritic. The watershed was classified as 6 th order drainage basin. The low values of bifurcation ratio and drainage density suggest that the area has not been much affected by structural disturbances. The study reveals that the different geomorphic units in the study area i.e. Structural hills, Pediments, Valley fills, Pediplains formed under the influence of permeable geology, are moderate to nearly level plains, with medium to low drainage density (<2.0) & low cumulative length of higher order streams . Such studies can be of immense help in planning and management of river basins.
- J. C. Doornkamp and A. M. K. Cuchlaine, “Numerical Analysis in Geomorphology—An Introduction,” Edward Arnold, London, 1971.
- A. N. Strahler, “Quantitative Analysis of Watershed Geomorphology,” Transactions—American Geophysical Union, Vol. 38, No. 6, 1957, pp. 913-920.
- H. Verstappen, “The Applied Geomorphology,” International Institute for Aerial Survey and Earth Science (I.T.C), Enschede, 1983.
- R. Kumar, S. Kumar, A. K. Lohani, R. K. Nema and R. D. Singh, “Evaluation of Geomorphological Characteristics of a Catchment Using GIS,” GIS India, Vol. 9, No. 3, 2000, pp. 13-17.
- R. E. Horton, “Erosional Development of Streams and Their Drainage Basins: Hydrophysical Approach to Quantitative Morphology,” Bulletin Geological Society of America, Vol. 56, 1945, pp. 275-370. doi:10.1130/0016-7606(1945)56[275:EDOSAT]2.0.CO;2
- A. N. Strahler, “Dynamic Basis of Geomorphology,” Bulletin Geological Society of America, Vol. 63, No. 9, 1952, pp. 923-938. doi:10.1130/0016-7606(1952)63[923:DBOG]2.0.CO;2
- A. N. Strahler, “Quantitative Geomorphology of Basins and Channel Networks,” In: V. T. Chow, Ed., Handbook of Applied Hydrology, Mcgraw Hill Book Company, NewYork, 1964.
- M. E. Morisawa, “Relation of Morphometric Properties to Runoff in the LiHle Mill Creek, Ohio, Drainge Basin,” Tech Report 17, Columbia University, Department of Geology, New York, 1959.
- L. B. Leopold and J. P. Miller, “Ephemeral Streams: Hydraulic Factors and Their Relation to the Drainage Network,” US Geological Survey, 1956.
- J. Krishnamurthy, G. Srinivas, V. Jayaram and M. G. Chandrasekhar, “Influence of Rock Types and Structures in the Development of Drainage Networks in Typical Hard Rock Terrain,” ITC Journal, No. 3/4, 1996, pp. 252-259.
- S. Singh and M. C. Singh, “Morphometric Analysis of Kanhar River Basin,” National Geographical. J. of India, Vol. 43, No. 1, 1997, pp. 31-43.
- S. A. Schumm, “Evolution of Drainage Systems and Slopes in Bad Lands at Perth Amboy, New Jersey,” Bulletin Geological Society of America, Vol. 67, No. 5, 1956, pp. 597-646.
- R. E. Horton, “Drainage Basin Characteristics,” Transactions—American Geophysical Union, Vol. 13, 1932, pp. 350-361.
- K. G. Smith, “Standards for Grading Texture of Erosional Topography,” American Journal of Science, Vol. 248, 1950, pp. 655-668. doi:10.2475/ajs.248.9.655