16.7 Conclusion
Remote sensing and GIS techniques constitute as
an efficient tool in delineation and analysis of
drainage basin. The morphometric analysis has
been carried out with measurement of linear,
areal and relief aspects of basins. All the morphometric parameters of Spiti river basin provides an important information about drainage
density, stream frequency, soil texture, slope
aspect, drainage pattern, type of relief, stream
order and total number of streams. Morphometric
analysis of the study area of all three sub-basins
represents sub-dendritic to dendritic drainage
pattern with moderate to very fine drainage texture. The variation in stream length ratio may be
due to change in slope and topography. The
bifurcation ratio of all three basins indicates
normal basin category and presence of low
drainage density suggests that the region has
highly permeable sub-soil. Stream frequency
indicates that all basins show the positive relation
with increasing stream number concerning
increasing drainage density. The values of form
factor and circulatory ratio suggest that the Spiti
river basin is sub-circular in shape, whereas
Tsarap Chu and Parechu basins indicate that it is
elongated in shape. Elongation ratio indicates
that all the three basins are region of very high
relief and steep slope.
Analysis of drainage basin parameters of Spiti
river will further help in assessing flood vulnerability to downstream dwellers. It can be used in
prioritization of suitable sites for water harvesting in the region because people are facing
problem of water scarcity despites of its location
in glaciated region.
References
Clarke JI (1966) Morphometry from maps. Essays in
geomorphology. Elsevier Publ. Co., New York,
pp 235–274
Gottschalk LC (1964) Reservoir sedimentation. In: V.T.
Chow (Ed.), Handbook of Applied Hydrology.
McGraw Hill Book Company, New York, Section 7-I
Horton RE (1945) Erosional development of stream and
their drainage basin. Hydrogeological approach to
quantitative morphology. Bull Geol Soc America
56:275–370
Horton RE (1932) Drainage basin characteristics. Trans
Amer Geophys Union 13:350–360
Kumar P, Husain A, Singh RB, Kumar M (2018) Impact
of land cover change on land surface temperature: a
case study of Spiti Valley. J Mater Sci 15. https://doi.
org/10.1007/s11629-018-4902-9
Miller VC (1953) A quantitative geomoprhic study of
drainage basin characteristics in the Clinch Mountain
are Virgina and Tennessee. Project NR Technical
Report 3, Columbia University, Deparment of Geology, ONR, New York, pp 389–402
Rudraiah M, Govindaiah S, Srinivas V (2008) Morphometry using remote sensing and GIS techniques in SubBasins of Kanga River Basin, Gulburga District,
Karnataka, India. Indian Society of Remote Sensing,
Springer 36:351–360
Singh RB, Kumar P (2014a) Geographic and socioeconomic realities of Himachal Pradesh, Northwestern
Himalaya. In: Singh R., Hietala R. (eds) Livelihood
Security in Northwestern Himalaya. Advances in
Geographical and Environmental Sciences. Springer,
Tokyo
Singh RB, Kumar P (2014b) Climate change and glacial
lake outburst floods in Himachal Himalaya, India. In:
Singh M, Singh R, Hassan M (eds) Climate change
and biodiversity. Advances in geographical and environmental sciences. Springer, Tokyo
Singh S, Singh MC (1997) Morphomertric analysis of
kanhar river basin. Natl Geogr J India 43(1):31–43
Smith KG (1950) Standards for grading textures of
erosional topography. Am J Sci 248:655–668
Strahler AN (1964) Quantitative geomorphology of
drainage basin and channel network. In: Chow VT
(ed) Handbook of Applied Hydrology McGraw Hill,
New York, pp 4–39
Schumm SA (1956) Evolution of drainage system and
slope in badlands of Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Bull
Geol Soc Amer 67:597–646
Vittala SS, Govindaiah S, Honne Gowda H (2004)
Morphometric analysis of sub-watershed in the Pawagada area of Tumkur district, South India, using
remote sensing and GIS techniques. J Indian Soc
Remote Sens 32(4):351–362
16 Remote Sensing and GIS-Based Morphometric Analysis …
223
Remote sensing and GIS techniques constitute as
an efficient tool in delineation and analysis of
drainage basin. The morphometric analysis has
been carried out with measurement of linear,
areal and relief aspects of basins. All the morphometric parameters of Spiti river basin provides an important information about drainage
density, stream frequency, soil texture, slope
aspect, drainage pattern, type of relief, stream
order and total number of streams. Morphometric
analysis of the study area of all three sub-basins
represents sub-dendritic to dendritic drainage
pattern with moderate to very fine drainage texture. The variation in stream length ratio may be
due to change in slope and topography. The
bifurcation ratio of all three basins indicates
normal basin category and presence of low
drainage density suggests that the region has
highly permeable sub-soil. Stream frequency
indicates that all basins show the positive relation
with increasing stream number concerning
increasing drainage density. The values of form
factor and circulatory ratio suggest that the Spiti
river basin is sub-circular in shape, whereas
Tsarap Chu and Parechu basins indicate that it is
elongated in shape. Elongation ratio indicates
that all the three basins are region of very high
relief and steep slope.
Analysis of drainage basin parameters of Spiti
river will further help in assessing flood vulnerability to downstream dwellers. It can be used in
prioritization of suitable sites for water harvesting in the region because people are facing
problem of water scarcity despites of its location
in glaciated region.
References
Clarke JI (1966) Morphometry from maps. Essays in
geomorphology. Elsevier Publ. Co., New York,
pp 235–274
Gottschalk LC (1964) Reservoir sedimentation. In: V.T.
Chow (Ed.), Handbook of Applied Hydrology.
McGraw Hill Book Company, New York, Section 7-I
Horton RE (1945) Erosional development of stream and
their drainage basin. Hydrogeological approach to
quantitative morphology. Bull Geol Soc America
56:275–370
Horton RE (1932) Drainage basin characteristics. Trans
Amer Geophys Union 13:350–360
Kumar P, Husain A, Singh RB, Kumar M (2018) Impact
of land cover change on land surface temperature: a
case study of Spiti Valley. J Mater Sci 15. https://doi.
org/10.1007/s11629-018-4902-9
Miller VC (1953) A quantitative geomoprhic study of
drainage basin characteristics in the Clinch Mountain
are Virgina and Tennessee. Project NR Technical
Report 3, Columbia University, Deparment of Geology, ONR, New York, pp 389–402
Rudraiah M, Govindaiah S, Srinivas V (2008) Morphometry using remote sensing and GIS techniques in SubBasins of Kanga River Basin, Gulburga District,
Karnataka, India. Indian Society of Remote Sensing,
Springer 36:351–360
Singh RB, Kumar P (2014a) Geographic and socioeconomic realities of Himachal Pradesh, Northwestern
Himalaya. In: Singh R., Hietala R. (eds) Livelihood
Security in Northwestern Himalaya. Advances in
Geographical and Environmental Sciences. Springer,
Tokyo
Singh RB, Kumar P (2014b) Climate change and glacial
lake outburst floods in Himachal Himalaya, India. In:
Singh M, Singh R, Hassan M (eds) Climate change
and biodiversity. Advances in geographical and environmental sciences. Springer, Tokyo
Singh S, Singh MC (1997) Morphomertric analysis of
kanhar river basin. Natl Geogr J India 43(1):31–43
Smith KG (1950) Standards for grading textures of
erosional topography. Am J Sci 248:655–668
Strahler AN (1964) Quantitative geomorphology of
drainage basin and channel network. In: Chow VT
(ed) Handbook of Applied Hydrology McGraw Hill,
New York, pp 4–39
Schumm SA (1956) Evolution of drainage system and
slope in badlands of Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Bull
Geol Soc Amer 67:597–646
Vittala SS, Govindaiah S, Honne Gowda H (2004)
Morphometric analysis of sub-watershed in the Pawagada area of Tumkur district, South India, using
remote sensing and GIS techniques. J Indian Soc
Remote Sens 32(4):351–362
16 Remote Sensing and GIS-Based Morphometric Analysis …
223