The Basic Concept to Study Morphometric Analysis of River Drainage Basin: a Review
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International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN (Online): 2319-7064 Index Copernicus Value (2013): 6.14 | Impact Factor (2013): 4.438 The Basic Concept to Study Morphometric Analysis of River Drainage Basin: A Review Mangesh Deepak Kulkarni Rajaram College, Department of Geology, Kolhapur, India Abstract: Morphometry is the measurement and mathematical evaluation of earth’s surface, form and the dimension of the landforms. The morphometric analysis of the drainage basin and channel network plays a significant role in comprehension of the geo- hydrological nature of drainage basin and expresses the prevailing climate, geological setting, geomorphology and structural antecedents of the catchment area. A quantitative evaluation of drainage system is significant aspect of drainage basin. Keywords: Morphometry, drainage basin, drainage system. 1. Introduction a) Stream Order The primary step in drainage basin analysis is to designate Geomorphology is the science of origin and evolution of order. Herein, the number of streams gradually decreases topographic features or attributes caused by physical and with increase in stream order. Strahler (1964) noted that the chemical processes operating at or near the earth surface. number of for the stream segment of any given order will be Geomorphology determines the variation in earth‟s surface fewer than for the next lower order but more numerous than from past to present and its causative factors. Whereas, the for the next higher order [14]. The fluctuation in the number term Morphology is a science and measurement of forms or of stream order is aftermath of variation in the physiographic structures which is quantitative determination of landform conditions. When Faisal Zaidi carried out work in drainage [1], [2].The term „Morphometry‟ literally means basin morphometry wherein he distinctly observed that measurement of forms introducing quantitative description mature topography is figured by the less number of streams for landform [2]. The most dominant geomorphic systems of in a given basin whereas presence of large number of streams earth‟s surface are rivers and fluvial processes which leads to manifests the topography is still undergoing the erosion [15], morphometric changes in drainage basin or the watershed. [16]. Wherein, rivers are generally controlled by geological nature of basin and its platform which equally influences on channel b) Stream Number slope and demonstrates erosional and depositional signs of The count of stream channel in given order is termed as the river [3]. Morphometric analysis is the measurement and stream number. Horton‟s law states that “ the number of mathematical evaluation of the earth‟s surface, shape and streams of different orders in a given basin tends closely to dimension of its landform (Clarke 1996; Agrwal 1998; Obi approximate as inverse geometric series of which the first Reddy et al. 2002) [4], [5], [6], [7]. River drainage term is unity and the ratio is the bifurcation ratio” [2]. The morphometry plays vital role in comprehension of soil stream frequency is inversely proportional to stream order physical properties, land processes and erosional features. and stream number is directly proportional to size of contributing basin and to the channel dimension. Higher the Drainage line of any basin area illustrates existing three stream number indicates lesser permeability and infilteration. dimensional geometry of region but assists for understanding It leads to inference that several stream usually upsurges in its evolution processes [5]. The streams arrangement in geometric progression as stream order increases. The drainage system leads to the drainage pattern that variation in rock structure in the basin are responsible for successively reflects structural and lithological controls of disparity in steam frequencies of each other. underlying rocks. More precisely, widely acknowledge principle of morphometry is the drainage basin morphology c) Stream Length renders varied geological and geomorphological processes Stream length is the total length of stream segment of each over time, as studied by illustrious peoples (Hurton 1945; of the consecutive order in the basin tends approximate a Strahler 1952; Muller 1968; Shreve 1969; Evans 1972, 1984; direct geometric series in which the first term is the average Chorley et al. 1984; Merritts and Vincent 1989; Ohomori length of the first order. It‟s the quantification of 1993; Cox 1994; Oguchi 1997; Burrough and Mcdonnell hydrological characteristics of bedrock and the drainage 1998; Hurtrez et al. 1999) [2], [5], [8], [9], [10]. extent. When bedrock is of permeable character then only subtle number of relatively longer streams are formed in a The morphometric examination of the basin is achieved well drained basin area. On the other hand, when the bed through computation linear, aerial relief and gradient of rock is less permeable then large number of smaller length of channel network and contributing ground slope basin. [11], streams in the basin are produced. [12], [13]. Volume 4 Issue 7, July 2015 www.ijsr.net Paper ID: 24071501 Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 2277 International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN (Online): 2319-7064 Index Copernicus Value (2013): 6.14 | Impact Factor (2013): 4.438 d) Bifurcation Ratio depends upon several natural aspects or strands such as Horton (1945) considered bifurcation ratio as an index of climate, vegetation type and density, rock and soil type relief and dissection. According to Strahler (1957), infilteration capacity, relief and stage of development [20]. bifurcation ratio exhibit subtle fluctuation for different region Low drainage density leads to coarse drainage texture while with varied environment except where powerful geological high drainage density leverages fine drainage texturewhich is control dominates [10]. According to Schumm (1956), dependant of infilteration capacity of mantle rock or bed bifurcation ratio is the ratio of number of stream segment of rock. given order to the number of segment in the next order, it is dimensionless property and indicates the degree of i) Stream Frequency integration prevailing between streams of various orders in Stream frequency is sum of all stream segment of all orders drainage basin [17]. Strahler significantly marked that per unit area (Horton, 1932). Basically it depends upon the geological structures do not affect drainage pattern for basin lithology and indicates distinctly texture of the drainage bifurcation ratio is in between 3.0 to 5.0. When bifurcation network. Stream frequency is density serves as a tool in ratio is low, there will be high possibilities of flooding as initiating erosional processes operating over an area; more water will tend to accumulate rather than spreading out [15]. precisely, in relation to stream orders and their characteristics The human intervention plays important role to reduce provides data that elucidate the succession of relief bifurcation ratio which in turn augment the risk of flooding development and degree of ruggedness in area [5]. It also within the basin, this was noted significantly by [15]. acts as index of various stages of landscape evolution. The influencing strands are rock structure, infilteration capacity, e) Mean Stream Length vegetation cover, relief nature, and amount of rainfall and Mean stream length reveals the size of component of subsurface material permeability. Hence, the low value of drainage network and its contributing surface [14]. It‟s stream frequency exhibits presence of a permeable directly proportional to the size and topography of drainage subsurface material. basin j) Relief Ratio f) Stream Length Ratio In accordance to Schumm (1956), the maximum relief to the Horton‟s law of stream length states that mean stream length horizontal distance along the largest dimension of the basin segment of each of the consecutive of a basin tends to parallel to the principal drainage line is termed as relief ratio. approximate a direct geometric series with stream increasing It computes overall steepness of the drainage basin. Relief towards higher order of stream. The stream length ratio has ratio is an indication of the intensity of erosional process important relevance with surface flow and discharge and operating on slope of the basin [17]. erosion stage of the basic [2], [18]. On the basis of work carried out by Shumm (1963), it is g) Drainage Density dimensionless height-length ratio equal to the tangent of Drainage density is the computation of the total stream length angle formed by two planes cross at the mouth of the basin, in a given basin area to the total area of the basin [14]. The one exhibit the horizontal and the other passes through the measurement of drainage density is a useful numerical highest point of the basin [21]. When the basement rock of measure of landscape direction and runoff potential. It relates the basin is resistance and low degree of slope heralds or give to the various aspect of landscape dissection such as valley rise to low value of relief ratio [20]. Relief ratio is inversely density channel head source are climate and vegetation soil proportional to the drainage area and the size of given and rock properties relief and landscape evolution processes drainage [22]. [16], [19]. Strahler (1964) distinctly observed that drainage density is directly proportional to basin relief. A high k) Elongation Ratio drainage density indicates weak basin and impermeable Elongation