Morphometric analysis of the Manas river basin using earth observation data and Geographical Information System

Abstract

Basin morphometry is a means of numerically analysing or mathematically quantifying different aspects of a drainage basin. In the present study, morphometric analysis of the Manas drainage basin has been carried using earth observation data and geographical information system (GIS) techniques. The morphometric parameters considered for analysis includes the linear, areal and relief aspects of the basin. The Manas basin covers an area of 31,480 sq km and is an 8 th order drainage basin with mainly dendritic drainage pattern. The mean bifurcation ratio is 3.81 indicating the basin is largely controlled by structure. The basin has medium drainage density of 0.78 per km 2 and is elongated in shape. The length of overland flow values of the basin is 0.64, indicating high relief. The study has strengthened in understanding the hydrological, geological and geomorphological characteristics of the Manas drainage basin.