Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

GIS BASED MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF SUB-BASINS OF WAKAL RIVER IN UDAIPUR DISTRICT, RAJASTHAN, INDIA

A.K.Sinha, P.K.Singh , R.C. Purohit, S.R.Bhakar , D.Singh, B.L.Tailor and A.K.Kurchania

Abstract

A morphometric analysis was done to determine the drainage characteristics of Wakal River basin using remote sensing data (LISS III) on 1:50,000 scale and SOI toposheets as reference. This catchment covers 530.14 km2 and divided it in to six sub-basins range from 35.52 to 218.63 km2 for the analysis. The morphometric parameters are computed using ArcInfo and ArcView softwares. The drainage pattern of the study area is dendritic to sub-dendritic with stream orders ranging from 5th to 6th orders and lower streams order mostly dominated in the basin. The stream length ratios are changing haphazardly at sub-basin indicating differences in slope and topographic conditions. The values of mean bifurcation ratio ranging from 3.81 to 4.95 indicate that all the sub-basins fall under normal basin category. Drainage density varies between 3.62 to 4.53 km/km2 has a mountainous relief and fine drainage texture. The values of form factor and circulatory ratio of sub-basins indicate that they are sub-circular and elongated in shape. Elongation ratio indicates that the sub-basins in a region of strong relief and steep ground slopes. The values of length of overland flow of the basin indicate that the areas associated with more run-off and less infiltration.