Morphometric Analysis of Gostani River Basin Using Remote Sensing & GIS

Abstract

The morphometric analysis of a river basin provides critical insights into its hydrological and geomorphological characteristics, essential for effective watershed management and planning. This study presents a detailed morphometric analysis of the Gostani River Basin using Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques. High-resolution satellite imagery and topographic data, including Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), were utilized to extract drainage networks and basin boundaries. Key linear, areal, and relief morphometric parameters such as stream order, bifurcation ratio, drainage density, stream frequency, elongation ratio, and relief ratio were computed using GIS tools. The results reveal that the Gostani River Basin exhibits dendritic drainage patterns, moderate drainage density, and a sub-mature stage of geomorphic development, indicating semi-permeable sub-surface material and moderate to low relief. The analysis highlights the usefulness of RS and GIS in deriving accurate and comprehensive morphometric parameters, facilitating better understanding of basin dynamics for sustainable water resource management and environmental planning.

Keywords: Morphometric analysis, Remote Sensing (RS), Geographic Information System (GIS), Gostani River Basin, Drainage characteristics