Morphometric analysis and hydrogeomorphology for ... · The GIS software’s like Arc Info has been used for digitization, computational purpose and also for output generation. The

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEOMATICS AND GEOSCIENCES

Volume 2, No 4, 2012

© Copyright 2010 All rights reserved Integrated Publishing services

Research article ISSN 0976 – 4380

Submitted on April 2012 published on May 2012 1078

Morphometric analysis and hydrogeomorphology for delineating

groundwater potential zones of Western Doon Valley, Uttarakhand, India A.S. Jasrotia, Ajay Kumar, Mohd Aasim

P.G. Department of Geology, University of Jammu, Jammu- 180 006, India

[email protected]

ABSTRACT

Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques have been

effectively used for the analyses of the morphometric analysis of the Western Doon Valley.

The drainage network of the watershed was delineated using satellite data IRS-1D (LISS-III

data) and Survey of India toposheets were used as reference. The morphometric analysis of

the watershed has been carried out using ERDAS Imagine 9.2 and ARC GIS-9.2 version. The

drainage network of the study area covering 789.26 km2.which exhibits dendritic drainage

pattern. The stream order ranges from first to sixth order. The drainage density of the study

area varies between 1.12 to 3.75 km/km2 which observed that area is highly permeable and

structurally controlled. The bifurcation ratio varies from 2.47 to 4.49 and the elongation ratio

vary from 0.37 to 0.68 which reveals that Western Doon Valley is an asymmetrical

longitudinal synclinal valley which extends for about 34 km. in length and 20 km in width

and lies between two major rivers of Indian sub-continent. Hydrogeomorphologically the

Western Doon Valley is classified into different zones covered by denudational hills, residual

hills, high dissected hills, moderately dissected structural hills, upper piedmont, lower

piedmont, older terrace, younger terrace and flood plain. The excellent groundwater potential

zones are associated with the younger terraces and flood plains of Tons river, Asan river and

Yamuna river and parts of adjacent lower piedmont unit. Good groundwater potential zones

are associated with the part of older terrace (alluvium) and lower piedmont unit. Moderate

groundwater potential zones fall in the lower part of the upper piedmont. Low groundwater

potential zone falls in the upper part of the upper piedmont units, adjacent to structural hills.

Very low potential zone includes residual hills, denudational hills, and structural hills with

high slope are grouped together as runoff zone in the study area.

Key words: Morphometry, Hydrogeomorphology, Western Doon Valley, Remote Sensing

and GIS

1. Introduction

Keeping in ever increasing population and need for food security, it is realized that the water

and the land resources need to be developed, used and managed in an integrated and

comprehensive manner. The spatial resolution remotely sensed data coupled with

topographical data analysis procedures have effective toll to understand and manage the

natural resources. It provides real time and accurate information related to distinct geological

formation, landforms and helps in identification of drainage channel which are altered by

natural forces of human activities. GIS is an effective tool to analyze spatial, non spatial data

on drainage, geology, land form parameters to understand their interrelation ship. Basin

morphometry is a means of numerically analyzing or mathematically quantifying various

aspects of drainage channel and characteristics that can be measured for comparison includes,

streams numbers, stream length, stream bifurcations, basin shape, drainage density, basin

Morphometric analysis and hydrogeomorphology for delineating groundwater potential zones of Western

Doon Valley, Uttarakhand, India

A. S. Jasrotia, Ajay Kumar and Mohd Aasim

International Journal of Geomatics and Geosciences

Volume 2 Issue 4, 2012 1079

relief, basin height, basin area etc. Drianage characteristics of basin and sub basins have been

studied using conventional methods (Horton,1945;Miller,1953:Strahler,1964). Morphometric

analysis using remote sensing and GIS techniques have been well attempted by number of

researchers (Nautiyal,1994; Srivastvetal.,1995; Srivastava,1997; Nag,1998; Agarwal,1998;

Biswas,et al.,1999; Singh et al., 1997; Sreedevi et al., 2001,2005; Vittala et al 2004; Reddy et

al.,2004 ) and all have arrived to the conclusion that remote sensing and Geographical

Information System are powerful tools for studying basin morphometry and continuous

monitoring. In the present paper an attempt has been made to study the drainage

characteristics of Western Doon Valley in order to delineate groundwater potential zones.

1.1 Study area

The study area of Western Doon Valley lies between N300

15’ to N300

30’ latitude and E 770

40’ to 780

00’ longitude and its location is bounded by Lesser Himalaya in north, Siwalik in

the south, Yamuna river in the west and Bindal river in the east covering an area of

approximately 789.74 sq. km. It is covered in the Survey of India toposheet numbers 53f/11,

53f/14, 53f/15, 53f/16, 53J/3 on 1:50,000scale. The important towns and villages in the study

area are Dakpathar, Vikasnagar, Herbertpur, Shahpur, Selakui, Jajra, Premnagar, and Rampur

etc. Network of transport facilities are available through mostly metalled roads in all the

seasons.

Figure 1: Location map of the Western Doon Valley of study area






The important roads which run in east-west direction between Dehradun to Paunta Sahib viz.

NH-72 and in north south direction between Chakarata to Saharanpur via Timli. The Western

Doon Valley is an asymmetrical longitudinal synclinal valley which extends for about 34 km.

in length and 20 km in width and lies between two major rivers of Indian sub-continent. The

study area enjoys a humid subtropical monsoon climate with seasonal rhythm of weather with

an annual rainfall of 2205 mm. The temperature variations in the study area are characterized

by winter season from October-March, summer season from April-June & rainy season from

July-September. May and June months show hottest months shows maximum temperature of

43.6ºC and the month January is the coldest month shows minimum temperature of 2.1ºC

(Figure 1).

2. Geology of the study Area

Geologically the Western Doon Valley is formed by Siwalik group, which is sedimentary in

origin having the trend of NW-SE and upper Tertiary in age. Later, it has been filled up by

Doon Gravels derived from the two mountains i.e. (Lesser Himalayas in the north and

Siwalik in the south) of loose unconsolidated material of Sub –Recent in age. Structurally, it

is an asymmetrical, longitudinal synclinal valley. It extends 34 km in length and 20 km in

average width. Older Doon Gravel covers less area i.e. 4.49% (35.51 Km2) and maximum

area is covered by Younger Doon Gravel i.e. 58% (465.52 Km2) of the study area. The

Mussoorie range with 1800-2800m elevation in the north, constituting the Proterozoic to

Lower Cambrian rocks of the Lesser Himalayas, is separated from the Cenozoic Siwalik

Group and the Doon Gravels by the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT). The Western Doon in the

south is bounded by young topographic relief of the frontal Siwalik range ∼800m average

elevations (Thakur, et.al.2004). Basically the Siwaliks Group of rock represents the Upper

Tertiary fresh water molasses rapidly deposited on the marginal basin in front of the rising

Himalayas. During later Pleistocene the Siwaliks were folded locally. There were still in

process of folding when fan material deposited over it. Regional geological succession shown

in the Table 1.

2.1 Data used and methodology

In the present paper, the morphometric analysis of the Western Doon Valley has been

analysed using Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) 1D LISS III 23rd

October, 2002 of 23.5 m

spatial resolution with four spectral bands i.e. B2: 0.52-0.59 (Green), B3: 0.62-0.68 (Red),

B4: 0.77-0.86 (Near-infrared), B5: 1.55-1.70 (Shortwave infrared) was used to meet the

requirement of area under study. The image taken was false colour composite (FCC), having

band combination of 3:2:1 NIR: Red: Green) (Figure 2). The SoI toposheets and digital

satellite data were geometrically rectified and georeferenced to world space coordinate

system using digital image processing software (ERDAS IMAGINE ver: 9.2).The assigned

error achieved was less than a pixel. Automatic digital techniques of edge detection and

linear enhancement, filters were applied to extract the drainage layer from FCC for better

interpretation of the stream order. The GIS software’s like Arc Info has been used for

digitization, computational purpose and also for output generation. The attributes were

assigned to create the digital data base for drainage layer of the river basin. The map showing

drainage order in the study area (Figure 3) was prepared after detailed ground check with

GPS survey on channel network and water tanks. The drainage network of the basin was

analysed as per Horton’s (1945) laws and the stream ordering was made after Strahler

(1964).The sub-watersheds in the Western Doon Valley are shown in the Figure 4. In case

of morphometric analysis, we have to assume in three aspects i.e. linear aspect, aerial aspect






and relief aspect. Linear aspect is further divided into stream order (Nu), stream length (Lu),

mean stream length (Lsm), stream length ratio (RL) and bifurcation ratio (Rb). Similarly aerial

aspect divided into seven category drainage density(D), stream frequency(Fs), drainage

texture(Rt), and form factor(Rf), circularity ratio(Rc), elongation ratio(Re) and length overland

flow(Lg). Relief aspect is also divided into two category total relief (M) and relief ratio (Rh).

Table 1: Regional stratigraphic/geological succession of study area

Age Geological unit Lithology

Recent (Holocene) Alluvium Loose unconsolidated material of

sand, silt & clay and small boulders

of Upper Siwalik and Lesser

Himalaya

Early Holocene to

sub recent

Younger Doon gravel

( YDG)

Sub rounded boulders and sandstone

gravels

Late Pleistocene to

Early Holocene

Older Doon Gravels

(ODG)

Big boulders of quartzite and

sandstones embedded in clay

--------------------------------------- Unconfirmity -------------------------------------------------

--

Upper Pliocene to

Lower Pleistocene

Upper Siwalik Coarse boulders, conglomerate and

clay

Upper Miocene to

Lower Pliocene

Middle Siwalik Sandstone, shale and clay

--------------------------------- Main thrust boundary ---------------------------------------------

---

Proterozoic to

Lower Cambrian

Mussoorie group Calcareous sandstone, dolomite,

cherty l/st, sandstone, black shale,

violet quartz, phyllite and slate

3. Hydrogeomorphology

The hydrogeomophology map of the Western Doon Valley has been prepared by integrating

the lithological, structural and geomorphological maps. Hydrogeomorphological map (Fig 5)

depicts important geomorphic units, landforms and underlying geology so as to provide an

understanding of the processes, lithology, structures and geologic controls relating to

groundwater occurrence as well as to groundwater prospects. The study area has been

classified in different hydromorphological units such as denudational hills, residual hills, high

dissected structural hills, moderately dissected structural hills, upper piedmont, lower

piedmont, older terrace, younger terrace and flood plain (Table 2). The northern side of the

study area is highly rugged type of topography and moderately structural hills. The very high

groundwater potential zones are associated with the younger terraces and flood plains of Tons

river, Asan River and Yamuna River and parts of adjacent lower piedmont unit, where the

aquifer thickness is high, slope is very low and depth to static water table is shallow.






Figure 2: FCC image showing the ten sub-watersheds of the Western Doon Valley

Figure 3: Map showing drainage pattern of the Western Doon Valley






(a) W1 (b) W2 (c) W3

(d) W4 (e) W5 (f) W6

(g) W7 (h) W8 (i) W9

(j) W10

Figure 4: Map showing the sub-watersheds of the Western Doon Valley

The area near Herbatpur, Sahaspur, Jajra, Selakaun, Rampur, Bansipur, Thakurpur etc fall

under the very high groundwater potential zone which covers the 16.82% (132.90 km2) of the

study area. High groundwater potential zones are associated with the part of older terrace

(alluvium) and lower piedmont unit. This zone is characterized by shallow water table, higher

aquifer thickness, low drainage density and very low slopes. The area near Vikasnagar,

Lachhmipur, Chhorba, Shankarpur, Dhulkot, Sudhonwala, Kulupani, Sabhawala etc. is cover

18.65% (147.22 km2) belong to this zone.






Figure 5: Hydrogeomorphology Map of the Western Doon Valley

Table 2: Hydrogeomorphological unit based on groundwater potential zonation

Unit Characteristics Hydrological Properties

(Ground water prospects)

Flood plain Alluvium-Nearly level surface along the

river courses with sand, silt, clay and

gravel

Recharge-Cum Discharge

(Excellent to very good)

Younger Terrace Alluvium- Gentle slopes with more

vegetation and consists of sand, silt,

clay and gravel

Recharge-Cum Discharge

(Excellent to very good)

Older Terrace Alluvium- Away from hills with sand,

silt, clay and gravel

Recharge Zone

(Very good to good)

Lower Piedmont

of Younger Doon

Gravel

Doon Gravel- Moderate slope with

admixture of gravel, sand, silt and clay

Recharge Zone

(Very good to good)

Upper Piedmont

of Older Doon

Gravel

Doon Gravel- Moderate to steep slope

with admixture of gravel, sand, silt and

clay

Recharge Zone

(Good to moderate)






Residual hill of

Older Doon

Gravel

Doon Gravel-Steep slope with

admixture of gravel, sand, silt and clay

Recharge-Cum-Runoff

Zone(Poor to negligible)

Moderately

dissected

Structural hill

(Middle and

Upper Siwalik)

Group of massive hills occupying

sandstones, mudstone and

conglomerates

Recharge-Cum-Runoff

Zone(Poor to negligible)

Highly dissected

structural hill

(Upper Siwalik)

Group of massive hills occupying

pebbles and cobbles are embedded in

calcareous and sandy matrix

Mainly Runoff

(Nil)

Denudational hill

(Pre-Tertiary)

A group of massive hills with resistant

rock bodies, with medium to high relief

the major rocks present are phyllite,

Shale intercalated with lenticular bands

of quartzite & limestone

Mainly Runoff

(Nil)

Moderate groundwater potential zones fall in the lower part of the upper piedmont unit where

aquifer thickness is moderate to good, slope ranges 5 to10 degrees and water table is

moderate. The area near Bhojawala, Kedarwala, Baluwala, Kainchiwala, Timli, Maniksidh,

Singniwala etc. belongs to this zone covering 42.06% (331.98 km2). Low groundwater

potential zone falls in the upper part of the upper piedmont units, adjacent to structural hills.

The area near Donga, Surna, Tarla, Baruwala etc. belongs to this zone covering 6.96% (55.01

km2). Very low potential zone includes residual hills, denudational hills, and structural hills

with high slope are grouped together as runoff zone in the study area. The water table occurs

in perched conditions and groundwater prospects are limited to narrow valleys along the

faults, fractures and lineaments15.46% (122.04 km2) of the study area.

4. Result and discussion

Quantitative description of drainage network, basin characteristics and landform analysis has

been worked out by morphometry (Horton, 1945). This approach has help in characterizing

the drainage pattern and evaluating lithological, structural and climatic controls on the

drainage in the study area. For this purpose method given by Horton (1945), Strahler (1952,

1957, 1964), Leopold et al (1956), etc were followed for the Western Doon Valley. The

various morphometric parameter of the Western Doon valley were determined in the Table 3

to 9.

4.1 Basic parameters

Area of a basin (A) and perimeter (P) are the important parameters in quantitative

morphology. The area of the basin is defined as the total area projected upon a horizontal

plane contributing to cumulate of all order of basins. The total area of the Asan basin is

790.38 km2, and the areas of the each sub basin are as given in the Table 4. Perimeter is the

length of the boundary of the basin which can be drawn from topographical maps. The

perimeter of the each sub-watershed is given in the Table 4. Basin area is hydrologically

important because it directly affects the size of the storm hydrograph and the magnitudes of






peak and mean runoff. It is interesting that the maximum flood discharge per unit area is

inversely related to size (Chorley, et al., 1957).

Table 3: Formulae adapted for Morphometric parameters

Morphometric

Parameters

Formula Reference

Stream Order(Nu) Hierarchical rank Strahler (1964)

Stream Length (Lu) Length of the stream Horton (1945)

Mean Stream

Length (Lsm)

Lsm = Lu/Nu Where, Lsm = Mean Stream Length

Lu = Total stream length of order 'u'

Nu= Total no. of stream segments of order 'u'

Strahler (1964)

Stream Length

Ratio (RL)

RL = Lu/Lu- 1 Where, RL = Stream Length Ratio

Lu = The total stream length of order 'u'

Lu-1 = The total stream length of its next lower order

Horton (1945)

Bifurcation

Ratio (Rb)

Rb = Nu/Nu+ 1 Where, Rb = Bifurcation Ratio

Nu = Total no. of stream segments of order 'u'

Nu+1= Number of segments of the next higher order

Schumn(1956)

Mean

bifurcatin ratio (Rbm)

Rbm = Average of bifurcation ratios of all orders Strahler (1957)

Relief Ratio (Rh) Rh = H/Lb Where, Rh=Relief Ratio

H=Total relief (Relative relief) of the basin in Kilometer

Lb= Basin length

Schumn(1956)

Drainage

Density (D)

D-Lu/A Where, D=Drainage Density

Lu=Total stream length of all orders

A= Area of the Basin (km2)

Horton (1932)

Stream

Frequency (Fs)

Fs=Mu/A Where, Fs=Stream Frequency

Nu=Total no. of streams of all orders

A= Area of the Basin (km2)

Horton (1932)

Drainage

Texture (Rt)

Rt=Nu/P Where, Rt = Drainage Texture

Nu =Total no. of streams of all orders, P=Perimeter (km)

Horton (1945)

Form

Factor ( Rf )

Rf=A/Lb2 Where, Rf=Form Factor

A=Area of the Basin (km2), Lb

2=Square of Basin length

Horton (1932)

Circularity

Ratio (Rc)

Rc=4*Pi*A/p2 Where, Re=Circularity Ratio

Pi='Pi ' value i.e. 3.14, A=Area of the Basin (km2)

P = Perimeter (km)

Miller (1953)

Elongation

Ratio (Re)

Re=2v (A/Pi/Lb) Where, Re=Elongation Ratio

A=Area of the Basin (km2)

Pi='Pi ' value i.e. 3.14, Lb=Basin length

Schumn (1956)

Length of

overland flow (Lg)

Lg=I/D*2, Where, Lg=Length of overland flow

D=Drainage Density

Horton (1945)

4.1.1 Basin Length (L)

The basin length corresponds to the maximum length of the basin and sub basins measured

parallel to the main drainage line. The basin length each sub-watersheds of Asan basin are

given in the Table 4.






Table 4: Basic parameter of the Western Doon Valley

SWSD

No. SWSD Name

Basin

Area

(km2)

Perimeter

(Km)

Basin

Length

(Km)

1 W1 98 41.41 12.19

2 W2 178.24 60.69 22.09

3 W3 29.08 27.46 12.04

4 W4 45.78 49.45 20.73

5 W5 48.35 46.61 17.92

6 W6 32.32 39.78 16.78

7 W7 54.84 50.21 20.47

8 W8 41.55 48.81 19.60

9 W9 58.40 40.77 15.11

10 W10 203.18 74.42 28.30

4.2 Linear Aspects

The linear aspect of the drainage network such as stream order (Nu), stream length (Lu), mean

stream length (Lsm), stream length ratio (RL), bifurcation ratio (Rb) and mean bifurcation ratio

were determined and summarized in the Tables 5, 6, 7,8.

Table 5: Linear aspect of the Western Doon Valley

Number of streams

(Nu) of different orders Log Nu SWSD

Name

Stream

order

(Nu)

I II III IV V VI I II III IV V VI

W1 V 192 56 16 2 1 2.28 1.74 1.21 0.30 0

W2 V 401 95 23 5 1 - 2.60 1.98 1.36 0.7 0

W3 V 36 12 5 2 1 1.56 1.07 0.7 0.30 0

W4 IV 23 7 2 1 - - 1.36 0.85 0.30 0

W5 IV 66 12 5 1 - - 1.82 1.07 0.7 0

W6 IV 31 6 2 1 - - 1.49 0.77 0.30 0

W7 V 155 36 7 3 1 -

2.19 1.55 0.85 0.48 0

W8 V 160 28 5 2 1 -

2.20 1.45 0.7 0.30 0

W9 IV 56 17 4 1 - - 1.75 1.23 0.60 0

W10 VI 600 168 45 11 1 1

2.78 2.23 1.65 1.04 0 0

4.2.1 Stream Order (Nu)

The designation of the stream is the first step in drainage basin analysis. The information of

stream order number is useful in relating to the size of its contributing watersheds based on

hierarchic ranking of the streams. The ranking of the stream order of Western Doon Valley

has been carried out based on the method proposed by Strahler (1964). The smallest

unbranched stream segments were designated as the first order streams, the one formed by

merging of two first order segments as the second order and merging of two such second

order stream segment as the third order stream and so forth.






Regression of Logarithm

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

1 2 3 4 5 6

Stream order,(Nu)

Lo

g o

f str

eam

s n

um

bers

,

Lo

g(N

u)

W1

W2

W3

W4

W5

W6

W7

W8

W9

W10

Figure 6: Regression of Logarithms of stream numbers versus streams order

The order wise total number of stream segment is known as the stream number. Horton’s

(1945) laws of stream numbers states that the number of stream segments of each order form

an inverse geometric sequence with plotted against order, most drainage networks show a

linear relationship, with small deviation from a straight line. The plotting of logarithm of

number of streams against stream order (Fig. 6) according to the law proposed by Horton

gives a straight line. This means that the number of streams usually decreases in geometric

progression as the stream order increases. This pattern is characterized by a tree like or

fernlike pattern with branches that intersect primarily at acute angles. While in some parts of

the basin represent parallel and radial pattern types indicating that the topographical features

are dipping, folded and highly jointed in the hilly terrains. A parallel drainage pattern consists

of tributaries that flow nearly parallel to one another and all the tributaries join the main

channel at approximately the same angle (Nageshwara Rao K et al., 2010). Parallel drainage

suggest that the area has a gentle, uniform slopes and with less resistant bed rock. A radial

drainage pattern forms when water flows downward or outward from a hill or dome. The

radial drainage pattern of channels produced can be linked to a wheel consisting of a circular

network of parallel channels flowing away from a central high point (Jensen, 2006).

4.2.2 Stream Length (Lu)

The stream length characteristics of the sub- basins confirm Horton’s second law (1945)

“laws of stream length,” which states that the average length of streams of each of the

different orders in a drainage basin tends closely to approximate a direct geometric ratio.

Most drainage networks show a linear relationship with a small deviation from a straight line

(Chow 1964). Plot of logarithm of streams length versus stream order (Fig. 7) showed

generally linear pattern. Deviation from its general behavior indicates that the terrain is

characterized by variation in lithology and topography. The order wise different sub

watersheds stream length is given in the Table 6.






Regression of Logarithm

-1

-0.5

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

1 2 3 4 5 6

Stream order,(Nu)

Lo

g o

f str

em

s len

gth

s,

Lo

g (

Lu

)

W1

W2

W3

W4

W5

W6

W7

W8

W9

W10

Figure 7: Regression of Logarithms of streams length versus stream order

Table 6: Linear Aspect of the Western Doon Valley

Stream length of different order in Km

(Lu)

Log (Lu) SWS

D

Nam

e

Strea

m

Order

(Nu)

Strea

m

lengt

h in

Km

(Lu)

I II III IV V VI I II III IV V VI

W1 V 225.6

6

115.2

0

56.00 38.40 11.6

0

4.46 - 2.0

6

1.7

5

1.5

8

1.0

7

0.65

W2 V 432.2

1

244.6

1

80.75 48.30 37.2

5

21.3

0

- 2.3

9

1.9

1

1.6

9

1.5

7

1.33

W3 V 62.42 34.92 10.56 12.85 3.98 0.11 - 1.5

5

1.0

3

1.1

1

0.6

0

-0.96

W4 IV 51.45 16.10 8.96 9.10 17.2

9

- - 1.2

1

0.9

5

0.9

6

1.2

4

W5 IV 86.34 46.20 17.76 4.85 17.5

3

- - 1.6

7

1.2

5

0.6

9

1.2

5

W6 IV 57.03 26.04 13.56 12.00 5.43 - - 1.7

6

1.4

2

1.3

3

1.0

8

W7 V 139.4

5

74.40 17.28 14.70 22.5

0

10.5

7

- 1.8

8

1.2

4

1.1

7

1.3

6

1.03

W8 V 126.7

4

81.60 20.16 5.15 2.00 17.8

3

- 1.9

2

1.3

1

0.7

2

0.3

0

1.26

W9 IV 106.6

8

54.32 25.50 23.08 3.78 - - 1.7

4

1.4

1

1.3

7

0.5

8

W10 VI 761.7

5

408.0

0

173.0

4

104.4

0

47.9

6

2.76 25.

6

2.8

9

2.6

2

2.2

4

2.0

2

1.69 1.41

4.2.3 Mean Stream Length (Lsm)

According to Strahler (1964), the mean stream length is a characteristic property related to

the drainage network and its associated surfaces. The mean stream length (Lsm) has been

calculated by dividing the total stream length of all order ‘U’ and number of stream segment






of order ‘U’. The observed mean length of the sub watersheds of the Western Doon Valley

are given in the Table 7.

4.2.4 Stream Length Ratio (RL)

Stream length ratio (RL) may be defined as the ratio of mean length of the one order to the

next lower order of stream segment. Horton’s law (1945) of stream length states that mean

stream length segments of each of the successive orders of basin tends to approximate a

direct geometric series with streams length increasing towards higher order of streams. The

variation might be due to changes in slope and topography. The details are given in the Table

7.


4.2.5 Bifurcation Ratio (Rb)

The term bifurcation ratio (Rb) may be defined as the ratio of the number of stream segments

of given order to the number of segments of the next higher order. Therefore, it is defined as

Rb= Nu/ N (u+1). Strahler (1957) demonstrated that bifurcation ratio shows a small range of

variation for different regions or for different environment except where the powerful

geological control dominates. It is observed Rb is not same from one order to its next order.

These irregularities are depending upon the geological and lithological development of the

drainage basin. The lower value of Rb is characteristics of sub-watersheds which have

suffered less structural disturbances and the drainage pattern has not been distorted. In the

Mean stream length in km

( Lsm )

Stream length ratio (RL) SWSD

No.

SWSD

Name

I II III IV V VI II/I III/II IV/III V/I

V

VI/V

1 W1 0.60 1.00 2.40 5.80 4.46 - 0.49 0.67 0.31 0.38 -

2 W2 0.61 0.85 2.10 7.45 21.30 - 0.33 0.59 0.77 0.57 -

3 W3 0.97 0.88 2.57 1.99 0.11 - 0.30 1.21 0.31 0.02 -

4 W4 0.70 1.28 4.55 17.29 - - 0.55 0.99 1.94 - -

5 W5 0.70 1.48 0.97 17.53 - - 0.38 0.27 3.62 - -

6 W6 0.84 2.26 6.00 5.43 - - 0.52 0.88 0.45 - --

7 W7 0.48 0.48 2.10 7.50 10.57 0.23 0.85 1.54 0.50 -

8 W8 0.51 0.72 1.03 1.00 17.83 - 0.25 0.25 0.39 8.90 -

9 W9 0.97 1.50 5.77 3.78 - - 0.47 0.90 0.16 - -

10 W10 0.68 1.03 2.32 4.36 - 25.59 0.42 0.60 0.46 - -






present study, the higher value of Rb indicates strong structural control on the drainage

pattern while the lower values indicative of sub-watersheds that are not affected by structural

disturbances.

4.2.6 Mean Bifurcation Ratio (Rbm)

The mean bifurcation ratio (Rbm) may be defined as the average of bifurcation ratios of all

orders. In the present study the Rbm varies from 2.47 to 4.49 (Table 8) and all sub-watershed

fall under normal basin category.


4.3 Aerial aspects of the drainage basin

The aerial aspects of the drainage basin such as drainage density (D), stream frequency (Fs),

drainage texture ratio (Rt), elongation ratio (Re), circularity ratio (Rc) and form factor ratio

(Rf) were calculated and results have been given in Table 9.

Table 9: Aerial Aspects of Western Doon Valley

SWSD

Name

Drainage

density(D)

Stream

frequency(Fs)

Drainage

Texture

(Rt)

form

factor(Rf)

Circularity

Ratio(Rc)

Elongation

Ratio(Re)

Length

overland

Flow(Lg)

W1 2.30 2.72 6.43 0.70 0.72 0.53 0.22

W2 2.43 2.94 8.65 0.36 0.61 0.68 0.20

W3 2.15 1.92 2.04 0.20 0.48 0.50 0.23

W4 1.12 0.72 0.67 0.11 0.23 0.37 0.45

W5 1.79 1.74 1.80 0.15 0.28 0.44 0.28

Bifurcation Ratio(Rb) SWSD No. SWSD

Name

I/II II/III III/IV IV/V V/VI

Mean Bifurcation

Ratio

(Rbm)

1 W1 3.43 3.50 8.00 2.00 4.23

2 W2 4.22 4.30 4.60 0.50 4.49

3 W3 3.00 2.40 2.50 2.00 2.47

4 W4 3.28 3.50 2.00 2.93

5 W5 5.50 2.40 5.00 4.30

6 W6 5.17 3.00 2.00 3.39

7 W7 4.30 5.14 2.33 3.0 3.69

8 W8 5.71 5.60 2.50 2.00 3.95

9 W9 3.30 4.25 4.00 3.85

10 W10 3.57 3.73 4.09 3.80






W6 1.77 1.24 1.00 0.11 0.26 0.38 0.28

W7 2.54 3.68 4.02 0.13 0.27 0.41 0.20

W8 3.07 4.72 4.01 0.11 0.22 0.37 0.16

W9 1.83 1.33 1.91 0.25 0.44 0.52 0.27

W10 3.75 4.06 11.08 0.25 0.46 0.57 0.13

4.3.1 Drainage density (D)

According to Horton (1945), the drainage density (D) is defined as the total length of streams

per unit area divided by the area of drainage basin. The drainage density of the area varies

between 1.12 to 3.75 km/km2.

4.3.2 Stream frequency (Fs)

Horton (1932) introduces stream frequency or channel frequency which is total number of

stream segments of all orders per unit area (Table 9). Hypothetically, it is possible to have the

basin of same drainage density differing in stream frequency and basin of same stream

frequency differing in drainage density. The stream frequency of the Western Doon Valley

sub-watersheds varies from 0.72 to 4.06.

4.3.3 Drainage texture ratio (Rt)

Drainage texture is one of the important concepts of geomorphology which means that the

relative spacing of drainage line. Drainage lines are numerous over impermeable areas than

permeable areas. According to Horton (1945), Rt is the total number of stream segments of all

order per perimeter of that area (Table 7). He recognized infiltration capacity as the single

important factor which influences Rt and considered Drainage texture which includes

drainage density and stream frequency. Smith (1950) has classified drainage density into five

different textures very coarse (<2), coarse (2-4), moderate (4-6), fine (6-8) and very fine (>8).

In present study the drainage texture is very coarse to very fine. The details of drainage

texture of sub-watersheds of Western Doon Valley are given in the Table 9.

4.3.4 Form factor (Rf)

According to Horton (1932), form factor (Rf) may be defined, as the ratio of basin area to

square of basin length. It is observed that Rf varies between 0.11 (W4) to 0.70 (W4) and thus

indicates that W4 is circular in shape and higher value (0.77) whereas the remaining sub-

watershed are elongated with lower value of form factor.

4.3.5 Circularity Ratio (Rc)

It is the ratio of the area of the basin to the area of the circle having the same

circumference as the perimeter of the basin (Miller, 1953). The circularity ratio is influenced

by length and frequency of streams, geological structures, land use/land cover, climate, relief

and slope of the basin. In the present study, the Rc ranges from 0.72 (W1) to 0.22 (W8).

Lower value indicates that they are more or less circular and are characterized by high to

moderate relief and drainage system is structurally controlled. The remaining sub-watershed

has less than 0.50 indicating that they are elongated.






4.3.6 Elongation Ratio (Re)

Schumn (1956) used an elongation ratio (Re) defined as the ratio of diameter of a circle of the

same area as the basin to the maximum basin length. It is a very significant index in the

analysis of basin shape which helps to give an idea about the hydrological character of a

drainage basin. Values near to 1.0 are typical of regions of very low relief whereas the values

0.6 to 0.8 are usually associated with the high relief and steep ground slope (Strahler, 1964).

These value can be grouped into three categories namely (a) circular (>0.9), (b) oval (0.9 to

0.8), (c) elongated (<0.7). The value Re of the Western Doon Valley sub-watershed varies is

0.56 indicates that the low relief of the terrain and elongated in shape. The elongation ration

of the sub-watersheds varies from 0.37 to 0.68 with medium to high relief and elongated in

shape basin category.

4.3.7 Length of Overland Flow (Lg)

It is the length of the water over the ground before it gets concentrated into definite stream

channels. This factor is basically relates inversely to the average slope of the channel and is

quite synonymous with the length of sheet flow to a large degree. The length of overland

flow (Lg) approximately equal to half of the drainage density. The length of the overland flow

in the Western Doon Valley sub-watersheds varies from 0.13 to 0.45.

4.4 The Relief Aspect

Relief Aspect is also divided into two category Total relief (M) and relief ratio (Rh).

4.4.1 Total Relief (M)

The elevation difference between the highest and lowest points on the valley floor of a sub-

watershed is known as total relief of the sub-watershed. The details of the total relief of the

sub-watersheds of the Western Doon Valley are given in the Table-10.

4.4.2 Relief Ratio (Rh)

The relief ratio (Rh) of maximum relief to the horizontal distance along the longest dimension

of the basin parallel to the principal drainage line is termed as relief ratio. The Rh normally

increases with decreasing drainage area and size of sub-watersheds of a given drainage basin.

It is noticed that higher values of Rh indicate steep slope and high relief, while the lower

values may indicate the presence of basement rocks that are exposed in the form of small

ridges and mounds with lower degree of slope. The details of the sub-watersheds are given

the Table10.

Table 10: Relief Aspect of Western Doon Valley

SWSD

No.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

SWSD

Name

W1 W2 W3 W4 W5 W6 W7 W8 W9 W10

Total

relief(M)

380 2460 300 400 400 360 1720 1640 500 360

Relief

ratio(Rh)

31.17 111.36 24.92 19.29 22.32 21.45 84.02 83.67 33.09 12.75






5. Conclusion

Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System have proved to be efficient tool in

drainage delineation and updating in the present study and this updated drainage has been

used for the morphometric analysis. Morphometric analysis is most important parameter for

geological studies and structural control. Lower order streams mostly dominate the basin. The

quantitative analysis of morphometric parameters is found to be of immense utility in river

basin evaluation, watershed prioritization for soil and water conservation, and natural

resources management at micro level. Hydrogeomorphologically the Western Doon Valley is

classified into different zones covered by denudational hills, residual hills, high dissected

hills, moderately dissected structural hills, upper piedmont, lower piedmont, older terrace,

younger terrace and flood plain. The morphometric analysis of the study reveled mainly

dendritic while in some parts of the basin represent parallel and pattern types indicating that

the topographical features are dipping, folded and highly jointed in the hilly terrains. Western

Doon valley is a six order basins covering an area 789.74 km2. The drainage network of the

watershed is effective to provide a sufficient superficial draining with a high number of

streams of low order that flow directly in the principal collector or in upper order streams.

The Variation in values of bifurcation ratio among the sub-watershed is ascribed to the

difference in topography and geometric development. The stream frequencies for all sub-

watersheds of the study exhibits positive correlation with the drainage density values

indicates the increase in stream population with respect to increase in drainage density.

Drainage density is very coarse to coarse texture. The morphometric analysis of the drainage

networks of all 10 sub-watersheds exhibits the dendritic to sub- dendritic drainage pattern and

the variation in stream length ratio might be due to changes in slope and topography. The

development of stream segments is affected by slope and local relief (Strahler, 1964) the

physiographic structure of the basin area produces high surface runoff values and low

infiltration rates.

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to acknowledge the I.C.D as Scientist “SE” Indian Institute of Remote

Sensing, Dehradun for providing the moral support to carry out the work in the Western

Doon Valley, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, is highly solicited. The authors are also grateful to

unanimous persons those providing the support for the completing this task.

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