Implications of Geomorphometric Analysis In The Drought Prone Khairabandhan River Basin Using Remote Sensing And GIS
Abstract
Water is vital for every living organism. Even though the world is covered with 70% of water few places face drought conditions time to time because of its spatial variation. Climate and geology of a place play an important role in understanding the hydrological behaviours. Drainage basin as one of the most fundamental units helps in analysing different physiographic and climatic characteristics of a spatial unit. Geographical Information System (GIS) coupled with Remote Sensing data is an effective tool in drainage basin and stream network extraction. Morphometric analysis of Khairabandhan basin was carried out using these tools. The drainage pattern of the basin varies from dendritic to sub dendritic covering an area of 864.13km2. Khairabndhan basin has up to the 5th order of stream segments with a low drainage density of 0.57km/km2 implying low rainfall intensity. Elongation ratio of the basin is 0.43 showing the elongated nature without structural control. High slopes and the west facing aspects of the region are also the reasons behind low water availability. Evaluation of different linear, areal and relief parameters of the study area propose a compact nature of bedrock with low permeability, low infiltration and high surface runoff of the basin. Hence, the morphometric analysis is important for sustainable basin management.