Quantitative morphometric analysis using GIS techniques in the Uppar Watershed of the Amaravathi Sub-Basin, Cauvery River, South India

This study showcases the application of quantitative morphometric analysis using remote sensing and GIS-based techniques for analysing and maintaining water resources. Morphometric analysis evaluates linear, areal, and relief parameters to better understand the geological, geomorphological, and hydrogeological features of the basin. The Uppar is an ephemeral stream that originates at an altitude of 180 m AMSL (Above Mean Sea Level) on the southern slope of the Bodinayakkan Malai mountain (South India). Based on Strahler’s stream ordering system, it is classified as a sixth-order stream. The study indicates that the first-order streams have the greatest total length due to the basin’s complex geostructural characteristics. The Uppar Watershed exhibits a dendritic drainage pattern in the elevated region and a sub-dendritic pattern in the plain region. Spanning 1239 km2, the Uppar Watershed is located in the Thiruppur and Coimbatore districts, the state of Tamil Nadu. Its boundaries were delineated using the Survey of India (SOI) toposheets and a Digital Elevation Model (DEM), with the maps generated with ArcGIS 10.2.2. Various morphometric methods were applied to assess linear, areal, and relief aspects, including indicators such as stream order, bifurcation ratio, and drainage density, etc. The result of each parameter provide key insights into the characteristics of the Uppar Watershed.