DRAINAGE BASIN MORPHOLOGY Morphometric Analysis Is Defined As
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C H A P T E R 3 DRAINAGE BASIN MORPHOLOGY 3.1 Introduction Morphometric analysis is defined as the numerical systematization of landform elements measured from topographic maps and provides real basis of quantitative Geomorphology {Pal,1972). The major aspects examined are the area,relief,slope,profile and texture of the land as well as the varied characteristics of rivers and drainage basin {Clarke, 1966). For the Ghataprabha basin, the morphometric analysis has been undertaken by employing various methods used in the quantitative and qualitative analysis of landforms with the help of toposheet maps (Scale 1:50,000 and 1:250,000). These studies offer a clue to the interpretation of evolution of the landforms and their development through the ages. Such studies have relevance in prehistoric investigations as they help in the reconstruction of terrain types which were of significance to prehistoric communities and thereby for understanding the man-land relationships during prehistoric times. 3.2 Relief Morphology As the important aspects of landforms, relief and slope offer a clue to the interpretation of the evolution of landforms and their development. Normally, both the aspects are cumulative effects of several factors acting with different intensities at varying periods. Both these morphological aspects seem to be interdependent. Spatially, the parameters express variation due to differences in lithology, structure, drainage and altitude in the basin. 3.2.1 Absolute Relief The spatial distribution of absolute relief in the Ghataprabha basin is asymmetric The elevation range is significant from west to east. The western part of the basin has an average altitude of more than 800 in while in the eastern part it ranges between 500 - 800 m (Fig. 3.1). The areal distribution of Absolute relief is given in Table 3.1. Table 3.1 Percentage Distribution : Absolute Relief (Ar) Ar in m Percentage below 600 38.39 600 - 800 32.82 800 -1000 27.94 1000 & above 00.85 The average altitude in the basin is 411.33 m AMSL with a standard deviation of 385.21 m which suggests that a large area lies below mean altitude. The correlation analysis shows good association between altitude on one side and morphological properties on the other. Individually the geomorphic variables reveal positive relationship (Table 3.2). Table 3.2 Relationship between Geomorphic Variable Relation of altitude Correlation with Relative relief 0.47 Dissection 0.46 Mean slope 0.47 GHATAPRABHA BASIN-ABSOLUTE RELIEF IN METERS BELOW 600 60 0 — 800 8 00 — 10 0 0 0 S ) 0 K M 1--1__ I lOOOctABOVE FIG;3-1 37 The correlation values suggest that altitude is an important factor, that has governed the georoorphic history of the basin. 3.2.2 Relative Relief Relative relief is the vertical extent of landscape feature, without reference to absolute relief or slope (Evans,1972). Relative relief represents the actual variation of altitudes in a unit area with respect to its local base level. It very well depicts the differences of altitude in a given area. It is closely associated with slopes and is more expressive in understanding morphogenesis. However, it does not take into account the dynamic potential of the terrain and feature of vertical distance from the erosion base. The frequency distribution of relative relief of the Ghataprabha basin has been computed in the grid of 0.4 sq kn) each, which exhibits a marked variation (Fig. 3.2). The basin area may be divided into five categories of relative relief as follows ; a) Extremely low (0 - 50 m) b) Low (50 - 100 m) c) Moderate (100 - 200 m) d) Moderately high (200 - 400 m) e) High (above 400 m) These five categories are represented with the areal shares of 73.7%, 22.91%, 3.14%, 0.7% and 0.18% of the total basin area respectively (Table. 3.3). The extremely low, low and moderate relief are mainly confined to the eastern parts of the basin, whereas other categories are observed in the western parts. 10 150 - 2 00 200-400 re la tiv e r e l ie f in m e tre s 100-150 400 and above GHATAPRABHA basin FIG:3.2 Table 3.3 3 8 Percentage Di .stri bution : Relative Relief (Rr) Rr in m Percentage Categories 0-50 73.07 Extremely Low 50 - 100 22.91 Low 100 - 200 3.14 Moderate 200 - 400 0.70 Moderately high above 400 0.18 High Relative relief more than 100 m is common in the western hilly terrain of the basin (i.e. upper reaches) due to hills of high altitude and steep slopes. Regarding the present variation of the relative relief, especially over the rugged hilly tracts of the western parts of the basin, no regular or distinct patterns are found to have been evbvled. Few isolated parts have attained maximum values of relative relief (295,299,300 m) in the basin. On the other hand towards the east (mainly the middle and lower reaches), the area displays lower values of relative relief varying between 0 and 150 m representing low and moderate relief. Though, this area is almost plain, some parts have moderate relative relief due to the presence of isolated hill ranges. The development of such particular pattern of isolated higher range of relative relief is scattered in the central and eastern parts of the basin. The frequency distribution of relative relief of the basin (Table. 3.3) shows that the area of high relative relief represent the smallest area (0.18 %) and about 73 % of the total area has been occupied by low relative relief. Thus the low relief as its rnaximura expansion over the basin indicating maturity of the basin. Fluvial processes, nature and structure of rocks are the two main agents which determine the nature of relief development. In the Ghataprabha basin, low relief is associated with mature drainage whereas high relief is found to be the characteristics of youthful drainage. However, the basic cause of contrast in relative relief seems to be the variation in lithological formations. As stated in the previous chapter, the study area is characterized by different geological formations such as Archaeans, Kaladgis,Deccan Traps, laterites etc. Relative relief more than 150 m is invariably associated with Deccan traps and laterites of the Western Ghats region and also with the patches of the Kaladgi quartzites and sandstones which are found in the western parts of the basin. On the other hand, the eastern and central area of the basin is occupied mainly by the Deccan Traps and Kaladgis formations. In this part harder formations of the Kaladgis like quartzites and sandstones are responsible for a few isolated patches of moderate relief (more than 100 m) in almost plain area. Also in the middle reaches of the basin due to the hard granite and granite gneisses a few parts show moderate relief. Thus selective weathering in the normal course of the denudation processes particularly in the zone of different geological formations have played a decisivfj role in the development of such variation of re 1«11 vi=i 1 i t=! f . 3.2.3 Dissection Index '10 As the relative relief does not consider the vertical distance from the erosion base, it is not useful for understanding the degree of erosion. Dissection, as an expression of the degree of erosion, is the ratio between the relative relief and absolute relief. It is an important parameter of drainage basin and useful in the study of terrain and drainage basin dynamics as well as stage of basin development. -j-j^ In the Ghataprabha basin dissection displays spatial variation giving rise to five major categories of dissection (Table 3.4) (Fig 3.3). Table 3.4 Geomorphic Index for Dissection Dissection Category Stage of morpho- in % evolution 0 - 5 Low Peniplain 5 - 20 Moderate Old age or youth 20 - 40 Moderately high Late maturity 40 - 70 High Maturity above 70 Very high Early maturity (Mukhopadhyay,1982). GHATAPRABHA BASIN—dissection INDEX IN PERCENTAGE ElllU 20-i'o Z.O-70 70 g a b o v e ° 5 10 K M P'lG; 3 -3 41 These five categories of dissection share the total area of the Ghataprabha basin in decreasing order (Table. 3.5). The low and moderate dissection categories are mainly confined to middle and lower reaches while the high and very high dissection categories are restricted to upper reaches of the basin. The varying degree of erosional potential, due to differences in aspects like lithology, slope, relative relief, vegetation growth and rainfall distribution is the main cause for the spatial variations of dissection in the basin. The dissection index in the basin ranges between 0 and 93. The average percentage of dissection in the Ghataprabha basin is 5.32 with 18.63 standard deviation. Table 3.5 Percentage Distribution : Dissection Index Dissection Category Percentage to in % the total area 0 - 5 Low 78.63 5-20 Moderate 15,85 20 - 40 Moderately high 4.12 40 - 70 High 1.05 above 70 Very high 0.35 3.2.4 Hypsometric Analysis 42 Hypsometry is the measurement of the interrelationships of area and altitude. This concept of the area-height analysis of the drainage basin was first introduced by Horton (1945). Hypsometric curve relates the cross-sectional area of a drainage basin to relative height above the basin mouth (Strahler, 1952). It is an ogive or cumulative frequency curve which indicates the stage of georaorphic cycle of the basin and the proportion of the area of the surface at various elevations. The hypsometric integral is the indicator of the stage of development of the basin.