Morphometric analysis to determine floods in the Upper Krishna basin using Cartosat DEM

The evaluation of basin characteristics from the morphometric parameters helps in understanding the physical behaviour of the catchments with respect to floods. The advanced technologies, such as Remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS), were used for extraction of drainage networks using Cartosat Digital Elevation Model (DEM) for the Upper Krishna basin, to evaluate the morphometric analysis. Basin morphometric parameters were applied to assess the major influencing catchments which cause flooding in the main Krishna River. The morphometric analysis for the ten major potential flood prone river catchments of the basin reveals that, the river catchments such as Krishna, Koyna, Yerla having the greater tendency to peak discharge in a short period of time to the main Krishna River because of high relief ratio (Rh), high ruggedness number and less time of concentration (Tc). The Don catchment having the highest drainage density (Dd), stream frequency, mean bifurcation ratio and infiltration number causes greater runoff influence on the main Krishna River. The Dudhganga and Panchaganga catchments having highest form factor, medium Dd, texture ratio, Rh and time of concentration causes moderate runoff influence towards main Krishna River. The study indicates that systematic analysis of morphometric parameters derived from Cartosat DEM using GIS provide useful information about catchment characteristics with respect to floods management.