Comparative Morphometric Analysis of Three Watersheds of the Jhabua Region, M.P., using Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques

Abstract

In the present study, Morphometric analysis has been conducted using Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques to assess the geo-hydrological characteristics of watersheds (Mod nadi, Sapan nadi, and Negri nadi) of Mahi river basin (Jhabua region). The basin is characterized by dendritic drainage pattern. The region is semi-arid (Agro-ecological zone of India), which belong to highly drought prone zone and degraded lands. Morphometric analysis of drainage system is an important factor of characterization of watershed. It furnishes the advantageous parameters for the ground water potential zone assessment, identification of places for water harvesting structure, water resource management and geological nature of the river system. GIS techniques has been used for assessing various morphometric characteristics of the drainage basin, as they proved to be very efficient and a powerful tool for the manipulation and analysis of spatial information mainly for the feature identification and extraction of information for better understanding. Using DEM data and GIS & Remote sensing techniques, morphometric analysis is carried out through mathematical analysis of drainage system of watersheds, which involves measurement of linear, Arial and relief aspects of the river basin.