Morphometric characterization of Shabelle River Basin, Southern Somalia, through geospatial techniques

Evaluating the drainage basin’s hydrological characteristics and how water interacts with the catchment’s soil, terrain, and vegetation is made easier by examining its morphological aspects. Morphometric analysis reveals the linear, areal, and relief characteristics of a drainage basin. In this study, the hydrological features of the Shabelle River basin in southern Somalia were assessed using morphometric analysis in GIS. With the aid of spatial analysis tools, the basin and drainage network have been delineated in ArcGIS using the SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission) DEM at 30 m resolution. We have concluded that the basin has an average drainage density of 0.0369 km/km2 and a dendritic drainage pattern. The Shabelle River basin’s elongation ratio of 0.605 indicates moderate relief and an elongated shape. This study concludes that morphometric analysis using GIS and remote sensing methods is a helpful tool for hydrological research. The findings of this study will help the understanding of watershed management and the sustainable development of natural resources.