Rafiq Ahmad Hajam, *Aadil Hamid, Naseer Ahmad Dar and Sami Ullah Bhat
Morphometric analysis revealed that the Vishav drainage basin is characterized by dendritic to subdendritic drainage pattern. The development of stream segments in the basin area is more or less affected by rainfall and snow melt off. The analysis has revealed that the total number as well as total length of stream segments is maximum in first order streams and decreases as the stream order increases. The bifurcation ratio (Rb) between different successive orders is almost constant revealing the partial structural control. The stream frequency (Fs) value of 2.44 exhibits positive correlation with the drainage density value of 2.03. The drainage density (Dd) indicates clearly that the region has permeable subsoil and relatively dense vegetation cover. Calculated Circularity Ratio (Rc) value of 0.52 and Elongation Ratio (Re) value of 0.15 indicates that the drainage basin is elongated in shape, has low discharge of runoff and relatively permeable subsoil condition. The value of Form Factor (Rf), 0.22, represents a flatter peak of flow for longer duration. Flood flows of such elongated basins are easier to manage than of the circular basin. Hence from the study it is clear that the morphometric analysis based on GIS technique is very useful to understand the prevailing geo-hydrological characteristics and for watershed planning and management.
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