International Journal of Geomatics and Geosciences

Open Access
  • Year: 2016
  • Volume: 6
  • Issue: 3

Hypsometric analysis of the Tuirini drainage basin: A Geographic Information System approach

  • Author:
  • Fuzal Ahmed, K. Srinivasa Rao
  • Total Page Count: 11
  • DOI:
  • Page Number: 1685 to 1695

Department of Geology, Mizoram University (Central), Post box: 190, Aizawl-796004, India. fuzalahmed@gmail.com

Abstract

Hypsometric analysis deals with measurement of the interrelationships between basin area and altitude of basin which has been used to understand the influence of climatic, geologic and tectonic factors on topographic changes. GIS provides advanced tools to obtain hypsometric information and also helps to estimate the associated parameters of landforms. The study of hypsometry has been performed to differentiate between erosional landforms at different stages during their evolution. The Tuirini basin is characterized by steep to very steep slopes whereas the altitude varies from 1905 m to 78 m above msl. The present study was carried out using ArcGIS - 10.2 tools. The entire study area was sub-divided into 22 sub-basins for hypsometric analysis and there area ranges from 4.75 to 65.64 sq.km. The hypsometric curve of the whole Tuirini basin reflects the mature geomorphic terrain whereas hypsometric integral indicates that the drainage basin has already eroded 58 per cent of land masses. The overall hypsometric results suggest that the sub-basins are in the mature stages of geologic development with moderately eroded landscapes and the entire basin is progressively approaching towards the monadnock phase of erosion.

Keywords

Hypsometry, Geologic stage, Drainage basin, GIS, Mizoram