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Geomorphic and lithologic control on bedrock channels in drainage basins of the Western Arabian Peninsula

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Abstract

Hypsometric curves, their integrals and channel profiles have long been used as effective indicators of stages in topographic evolution. This work presents the geomorphic and lithologic aspects of the drainage basins in the Western Arabian Peninsula by analysing basin hypsometry and channel longitudinal profile steepness and concavity indices in order to understand the erosion regimes. A total of 36 drainage basins in the region were analysed in a geographic information system (GIS) environment with a 30-m ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model. Hypsometric curves display shapes resembling from S-shaped to concave curves. Hypsometric integral (HI) shows generally low values in the study area and varies between 0.13 and 0.5, with a mean of 0.27. From the main set of 36 drainage basins defined, three sets of sub-basins were derived for each Strahler order ranging from 4 to 6. Their HI varied between 0.08 and 0.66 with an average HI of 0.33. Then, the HI for each basin order was plotted against the distance from the central location of each basin from south to north. Results reveal that basin hypsometry is independent of spatial variation and spatial scale. Also no clear relations were found between HI and basin area and shape. Further, HI and hypsometric curves were analysed in terms of lithological control on landforms. Results indicate that basin hypsometry is sensitive to lithological variation in the study area. At the largest scale, the HI values can be divided into two populations. More evenly distributed erosion in crystalline rocks and relatively uneven erosion in volcanic rocks are suggested from the results. Channel longitudinal profile steepness and concavity indices provide the distribution of anomalously steep channels and also reflect variations in the locus and rate of differential erosion. High steepness and low concavity in a basin underlain by volcanic rocks and a reverse trend in crystalline rocks confirm the observation from the results of basin hypsometric analysis.

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Acknowledgments

The author thanks Prof. Takashi Oguchi and Dr. Yuichi S. Hayakawa for research guidance and support. The author also thanks the two reviewers as well as the editor for making helpful suggestions on improving the quality of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwanoha 5-1-5, 277-8563, Tokyo, Japan

    Ali P. Yunus

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Correspondence to Ali P. Yunus.

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Highlights

(1) Comprehensive geomorphological research on the steep drainage basins in the arid terrain.

(2) Main channel steepness and concavity indices were derived for 36 basins.

(3) Analysis of HI and longitudinal profile throws light on the effect of lithology on erosion.

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ESM 1

Figures of thirty six drainage basins analysed, their individual hypsometric curves, main channel longitudinal profile, and the log-log Slope-Area plots of channels are provided in the supplemetary files (appendix a, b and c). (DOCX 3574 kb)

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Yunus, A.P. Geomorphic and lithologic control on bedrock channels in drainage basins of the Western Arabian Peninsula. Arab J Geosci 9, 133 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-015-2179-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-015-2179-7

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