Morphometric analysis of jatayu ganga watershed kumaun himalaya, uttarakhand using remote sensing and gis techniques

Morphometric properties represent a measurement of earth’s surface and processed according to the principles of quantitative analysis through the application of mathematics equation and statical methods to data from topographic maps and satellite. Morphometric analysis of watershed is an important aspect of watershed characterization. It usually consists of dimensional, aerial and relief aspects. Watershed development and management plans are very important for surface and ground water conservation. To prepare a watershed development plan, it becomes important to know the topography, lithology, erosional status and drainage pattern of the area. This study attempts to study the morphometric characteristics of Jatayu Ganga Watershed by using Geographical information system (GIS). The ArcGIS 10.4.1 has been accustomed to extrapolating various necessary parameters. The watershed delineated using SRTM data and on 1:50000 scale and Survey of India Toposheet as reference. In the present investigation various morphometric parameters of the Jatayu ganga watershed are outlined. Various morphometric characteristics of the Jatayu Ganga watershed have been assessed by applying GIS techniques and using SRTM data. Strahler’s, Horton’s and Schumm’s methods have been employed to assess the fluvial characteristics of the study area. Jatayu Ganga one of the major tributaries of Saryu River flows on eastern part of Almora district, Uttarakhand that occupies an area of 78.64Km2. The river amasses the water all over from 545 Perennial and non-perennial Streams which together forms the Jatayu Ganga watershed. Total length of all tributaries is 311.26 km. This analysis has shown that the relation of stream order (U) and stream number (Nu)which gives negative linear pattern that order increases with a decreasing number of stream segment of a particular order. Different morphometric parameters such as stream length (Lu), bifurcation ratio (Rb), drainage density (D), stream frequency (Fs), texture ratio (Rt), elongation ratio (Re), circularity ratio (Rc) and form factor ratio (Rf), relief ratio (Rh) have revealed the basin has dendritic pattern of drainage, indicating high relief and steep ground slope with less elongated young and mature landforms in which geological structures don’t have a dominant influence on watershed. Dendritic drainage pattern in the area shows that the area consists of homogeneous rock material, which is structurally undisturbed. The elongation and circulatory ratio reveal that the Jatayu Ganga watershed is highly elongated and flood flows are easier to manage than that of circulatory basins. The results clearly indicate relations among various morphometric attributes of the basin and help to understand their role in sculpturing the surface of the region.