Abstract
The present study attempts to bring out information relating to the form and processes of the major watersheds of the Kolli hills of southern India. For this purpose, various parameters which are routinely considered for stream network analysis such as stream ordering, numbering, stream length, bifurcation ratio, length ratio, watershed length, area, drainage density, stream frequency, form factor, length of overland flow, relief, slope, gradient, ruggedness number, relative relief, and relief ratio were quantitatively estimated for each watershed using ArcGIS software. These estimations of the watersheds were analysed to infer form and processes such as watersheds’ shape, size, elongation, slope steepness and length, degree of development of stream network, degree of branching of streams, degree of terrain dissection, infiltration potential, mean annual runoff, rainfall intensity, relative potential energy, relative denudation rate, relative discharge rates, mean and peak discharge, lag time, intensity of erosion, relative amount of sediment transported, and flash flood proneness. The understanding of these forms and processes of the watersheds could serve as useful inputs for the planners in the formulation of strategies for the sustainable development of the Kolli hills.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abrahams AD (1972) Drainage densities and sediment yields in Eastern Australia. Aus Geograph Studies 10:19–41
Abrahams AD (1984) Channel networks: a geomorphological perspective. Water Resour Research 20(2):161–168
Ahnert F (1970) Functional relationships between denudation, relief and uplift in large mid-latitude drainage basins. Am J Sci 268:243–263
Ajibade LT, Ifabiyi IP, Iroye KA, Ogunteru S (2010) Morphometric analysis of Ogunpa and Ogbere drainage basins, Ibadan, Nigeria. Ethi J Envil Stud and Manag 3(1):13–19
Al-Rowaily SA, El-Bana M, Al-Dujain FAR (2012) Changes in vegetation composition and diversity in relation to morphometry, soil and grazing on a hyper-arid watershed in the central Saudi Arabia. Catena: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2012.05.004.
Altın TB, Altin BN (2011) Development and morphometry of drainage network in volcanic terrain, Central Anatolia, Turkey. Geomorph. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorphol.2010.09.023
Arabameri A, Tiefenbacher JP, Blaschke T, Pradhan B, Bui DT (2020). Morphometric analysis for soil erosion susceptibility mapping using novel GIS-based ensemble model. Remote Sens 12:874. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12050874.
Argyrioua AV, Teeuwa RM, Soupiosb P, Sarrisc A (2017) Neotectonic control on drainage systems: GIS-based geomorphometric and morphotectonic assessment for Crete, Greece. J Struc Geol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2017.10.002.
Bhagwat TN, Shetty A, Hegde VS (2011) Spatial variation in drainage characteristics and geomorphic instantaneous unit hydrograph (GIUH); implications for watershed management - a case study of the Varada River basin, Northern Karnataka. CATENA 87:52–59
Bisht S, Chaudhry S, Sharma S, Soni S (2018) Assessment of flash flood vulnerability zonation through geospatial technique in high altitude Himalayan watershed, Himachal Pradesh India. Remote Sens Appl Soc Envi. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsase.2018.09.001.
Chetty TRK, Bhaskar Rao YJ (2006) Constrictive deformation in transpressional regime, field evidence from the Cauvery Shear Zone, Southern Granulite Terrain, India. J Struc. Geol 28:713–720
Chopra R, Dhiman RD, Sharma PK (2005) Morphometric analysis of sub-watersheds in Gurdaspur District, Punjab using remote sensing and GIS techniques. J Indian Soc Remote Sens 33(4):531–539
Chorley RJ (1957) Climate and morphometry. J Geol 65:628–638
Chorley RJ (1969) The drainage basin as the fundamental geomorphic unit. In: Chorley RJ (ed) Introduction to fluvial processes. Methuen Co., Ltd, pp 30–52
Chorley RJ, Morgan MA (1962) Comparison of morphometric features, Unaka Mountains, Tennessee and North Carolina, and Dartmoor. England Geol Soc Amer Bull 73:17–34
Chow VT (1964). Handbook of hydrology, McGraw-Hill Book Co. Inc. New York.
Das AK, Mukherjee S (2005) Drainage morphometry using satellite data and GIS in Raigad District, Maharashtra. J Geol Soc India 65:577–586
Diaconu C (1966) Altitude, one of the basic criteria for organizing hydro meteorological networks in mountainous regions. Studii De Hidrologie 18:41–55 (in Romanian)
Doornkamp J (1968) The analysis of morphometric properties of drainage basins by the Spearman’s Rank correlation technique. In: Slaymaker HO (ed.), Morphometric analysis of maps, British Geomorphol Res Group Occasional Paper 4:31–40.
Doornkamp JC, King CAM (1971) Numerical analysis in geomorphology – an introduction. Macmillan and Co. Ltd. London, 372p.
Drury SA, Holt RW (1980) The tectonic framework of South Indian Craton: a reconnaissance involving Landsat imagery. Tectonophysics 65:1–15
Dunne T, Leopold LB (1978) Water in environmental planning. W.H. Freeman Co., San Francisco, p 818p
Elewa HH, Ramadan EM, Nosair AM (2016) Spatial-based hydro-morphometric watershed modeling for the assessment of flooding potentialities. Envi Ear Sci 75:906–927. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5692-4
Faniran A (1968) The index of drainage intensity - a provisional new drainage factor. Aus J Sci 31:328–330
Gardiner V (1975). Drainage basin morphometry. British Geomorphological Research Group, Tech Bull 14:48 p.
Gardiner V (1996) Channel networks: progress in the study of spatial and temporal variations of drainage density. In: Gurnell A, Petts GE (eds) Changing river channels. Wiley, New York, pp 65–85
Gelaberta B, Forno´sa JJ, Pardob JE, Rossello VM, Segura F (2005) Structurally controlled drainage basin development in the south of Menorca (Western Mediterranean, Spain). Geomorphol 65:139-155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorphol.2004.08.005
Ghosh P, Sinha S, Misra A (2014) Morphometric properties of the Trans-Himalayan river catchments: clues towards a relative chronology of orogen-wide drainage integration. Geomorphol 233:127–141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2014.10.035
Giusti EV, Schneider WJ (1965) The distribution of branches in river networks. U.S.G.S Prof. Pap. 422-G.
Gregory KJ, Walling DE (1973) Drainage basin form and process – a geomorphological approach. Edward Arnold Pub. Ltd., London, p 321p
Gunnel Y (1998) Present, past and potential denudation rates: Is there a link? Tentative evidence from fission-track data, river sediment loads and terrain analysis in the South Indian shield. Geomorp 25:135–153
Hadley RF, Schumm SA (1961) Sediment sources and drainage basin characteristics in Upper Cheyenne river basin. U.S.G.S Water-Supp 1531-B, 198p.
Hart MG (1986) Geomorphology - pure and applied. Allen and Unwin Pub. Ltd., London, p 211p
Horton RE (1932) Drainage basin characteristics. Trans Amer Geophy Uni 13:350–361
Horton RE (1945) Erosional development of streams and their drainage basins: hydrophysical approach to quantitative morphology. Bull Geol Soc of Amer 56:275–370
Javed A, Khanday MY, Ahmed R (2009) Prioritisation of sub-watersheds based on morphometric and land use analysis using remote sensing and GIS techniques. J Ind Soc Remote Sens 37:261–274
Joji VS, Nair ASK, Baiju KV (2013) Drainage basin delineation and quantitative analysis of Panamaram watershed of Kabani river basin, Kerala using remote sensing and GIS. J Geol Soc India 82:368–378
Langbein WB (1947) Topographic characteristics of drainage basins. U.S.G.S Water Supp 968-C:125–158.
Lehner B, Verdin K, Jarvis A (2008) New global hydrography derived from spaceborne elevation data. EOS Trans Am Geophys Union 89:93–94
Leopold LB, Miller JP (1956) Ephemeral streams: hydraulic factors and their relation to the drainage network. U.S.G.S Profess Paper 282 A, Washington, DC. 37p.
Leopold LB, Maddock T (1953) The hydraulic geometry of stream channels and some physiographic implications. USGS Profess Paper 252:57p
Luchisheva AA (1950) Practical hydrology. Gidrometeoizdat, Leningrad
Melton MA (1957) An analysis of the relations among elements of climate, surface, properties and geomorphology. Project NR 389–042 Technical Report 11, Columbia University, Department of Geology, ONR, Geography Branch, New York.
Miller VC (1953) A quantitative geomorphic study of drainage basin characteristics in the Clinch mountain area, Virginia and Tennessee, Dept. of Geology, Columbia University, Contract N6 ONR 271–30, Technical Report 3, 30p.
Mociornita C (1964) Some results for maximum rainfall discharge by Romania’s rivers. Studii De Hidrologie 11:35–48 ((in Romanian))
More RJ (1967) Hydrological models and geography. In: Chorley RJ, Hagget P (eds) Models in geography. Methuen publishers, London, pp 45–85
Morisawa ME (1959) Relation of quantitative geomorphology of stream flow in representative watersheds of the Appalachian Plateau Province, Columbia University, Office of Naval Research, Project NR 389–042, Technical Report 20.
Morisawa (1962) Quantitative geomorphology of some watersheds in the Appalachian Plateau, Geol Soc Ame Bull 73:1025-1046.
Narula PL, Acharyya SK, Banerjee J (2000) Seismotectonic atlas of India and its environs. Published by the Director General, Geol Sur Ind Calcutta, p 87p
Ng KY (2006) Landslide locations and drainage network development: a case study of Hong Kong. Geomorphol 76:229–239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2005.10.008
Olszevski N, Filho EIF, Costa LMDA, Schaefer CEGR, Souza EDE, Costa ODV (2011) Morphology and hydrological aspects of Black River basin, division of State of Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais. Braz J for Sci 35:485–492
Patton PC (1988) Drainage basin morphometry and floods. In: Baker VR, Kochel RC, Patton PC (eds) Flood geomorphology. Wiley Interscience Publishers, New York, p 503p
Patton PC, Baker VR (1976) Morphometry and floods in small drainage basins subject to diverse hydrogeomorphic controls. Water Resour Res 12(5):941–952
Peh CH (1986) Catchment geomorphology and its relationship with stream flow - a case study of selected drainage basins in Peninsular Malaysia. GEOSEA V Proceedings Vol. II, Geol Soc Malaysia Bull 20: 803-815.
Reddy GPO, Maji AM, Gajbhiye KS (2004) Drainage morphometry and its influence on landform characteristics in a basaltic terrain, Central India – a remote sensing and GIS approach. Int J App Earth Obser and Geoinfo 6:1–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jag.2004.06.003
Sangireddy H, Carothers RA, Stark CP, Passalacqua P (2016) Controls of climate, topography, vegetation, and lithology on drainage density extracted from high resolution topography data. J Hydrol 537:271–282
Sarkar S, Gundekar HG, (2007) Geomorphological parameters: are they indicators for installation of a hydropower site? Proc. International conference on small hydropower - Sri Lanka, 22–24.
Scheidegger AE (1967) On the topology of river nets. Water Resour Res 3(1):103–106
Schumm SA (1956) The evolution of drainage systems and slopes in badlands at Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Geol Soc Amer Bull 67:597–646
Shreve RL (1966) Statistical law of stream numbers. J Geol 74(1):17–37
Shulits S (1968) Quantitative formulation of stream and watershed morphology. Bull Int Asso Sci Hydrology 3:201–208
Smart JS (1972) Channel networks. Adv Hydrosci 8:305–346
Strahler AN (1952) Dynamic basis of geomorphology. Geol Soc Amer Bull 63: 923-938.
Strahler AN (1957) Quantitative analysis of watershed geomorphology. Transactions of American Geophysical Union 38(6):913–920
Strahler AN (1964) Quantitative geomorphology of drainage basins and channel networks. In: Chow V (ed) Handbook of applied hydrology. McGraw Hill, New York, pp 439–476
Strahler AN (1968) Quantitative geomorphology. In: Fairbridge, RW (ed) The encyclopedia of geomorphology, Reinhold Book Corp, New York.
Strahler (1956) Quantitative slope analysis, Bull Geol Soc America, 67: 671-696
Summerfield MA, Hulton NJ (1994) Natural controls of fluvial denudation rates in major world drainage basins. J Geophys Res 99:13871–13883
Taha MNM. Elbarbary SM, Naguib DM, El-Shamy I (2017) Flash flood hazard zonation based on basin morphometry using remote sensing and GIS techniques: a case study of WadiQena basin, Eastern Desert, Egypt. Remote Sens App Soc Envi 8:157-167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsase.2017.08.007
Verdin, KL (2017) Hydrologic derivatives for modeling and analysis—a new global high-resolution database. USGS publications.
Verstappen H (1983) The applied geomorphology, International Institute for Aerial Survey and Earth Science (ITC). Enschede.
Waugh D (1995) Geography: an integrated approach. Chapter-3: morphometry of drainage basins. 2nd edn. Nelson Pub, New York.
Zavoianu I (1985) Morphometry of drainage basins. Elsevier Science Pub, Amsterdam, p 238p
Yan D, Wang K, Quin T, Weng B, Wang H, Bi W, Li X, Li M, Ly Z, Liu F, He S, Ma J, Shen Z, Wang J, Bai H, Man Z, Sun C, Shi X, Jing L, Sun R, Cao S, Hao C, Wang L, Pei M, Dorjsuren B, Gedefaw M, Girma A, Abiyu A (2019) A data set of global river networks and corresponding water resources zones divisions. Sci Data 6:219. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-019-0243-y
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Responsible Editor: Stefan Grab
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Raj, N.J., Prabhakaran, A. & Muthukrishnan, A. Quantitative stream network analysis for assessing form and hydrological processes of the watersheds of Kolli hills, Tamil Nadu, India. Arab J Geosci 14, 2646 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-08882-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-08882-7