Geospatial tool-based morphometric analysis using SRTM data in Sarabanga Watershed, Cauvery River, Salem district, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

A morphometric analysis of Sarabanga watershed in Salem district has been chosen for the present study. Geospatial tools, such as remote sensing and GIS, are utilized for the extraction of river basin and its drainage networks. The Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM-30 m resolution) data have been used for morphometric analysis and evaluating various morphometric parameters. The morphometric parameters of Sarabanga watershed have been analyzed and evaluated by pioneer methods, such as Horton and Strahler. The dendritic type of drainage pattern is draining the Sarabanga watershed, which indicates that lithology and gentle slope category is controlling the study area. The Sarabanga watershed is covered an area of 1208 km 2 . The slope of the watershed is various from 10 to 40% and which is controlled by lithology of the watershed. The bifurcation ratio ranges from 3 to 4.66 indicating the influence of geological structure and suffered more structural disturbances. The form factor indicates elongated shape of the study area. The total stream length and area of watershed indicate that mean annual rainfall runoff is relatively moderate. The basin relief expressed that watershed has relatively high denudation rates. The drainage density of the watershed is low indicating that infiltration is more dominant. The ruggedness number shows the peak discharges that are likely to be relatively higher. The present study is very useful to plan the watershed management.

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“…The stream length (Lu) of each order segment is calculated by Horton's law [63] for the watershed. Lu represents the development of consecutive stages of drainage segments and reciprocates to the surface runoff of the watershed [61][62][63][64][65].…”

“…The stream length (Lu) of each order segment is calculated by Horton's law [63] for the watershed. Lu represents the development of consecutive stages of drainage segments and reciprocates to the surface runoff of the watershed [61][62][63][64][65]. Stream length is higher in 1 st order streams and decreases with higher-order streams, representing the lithological inconsistency and control over geological and morphological characteristics of the catchment.…”

“…Stream length ratio (Rl) represents the higher order of stream length divided by segments of the next lower order streams [63]. Stream length ratio has a strong bearing on the basin's surface flow, discharge and erosion features [69].…”

“…Drainage density (Dd) is a vital parameter of landform which represents the density or closeness of the stream network and accommodates a quantitative measurement of potential runoff and dissected landscape. It expresses the ratio of the total length of stream irrespective of stream order to the per unit area of the basin [63]. Rock type, infiltration capacity, surface roughness, climate, relief, vegetation cover, and runoff intensity are factors that directly affects the drainage density (Dd) [64,65,77].…”

“…Stream frequency (Fs) of the catchment is influenced by relief, infiltration capacity, and permeability of the watershed. It is calculated from the total number of stream segments of all orders divided by area of watershed [63]. It depends on the drainage density, initial resistivity of rock, and rainfall.…”