Khatiwada et al.

: Application of Morphometric Analysis for Hydrogeological Studies

APPLICATION OF MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS FOR

HYDROGEOLOGICAL STUDIES USING GEO-SPATIAL
TECHNOLOGY – A CASE STUDY OF KALIKHOLA
SUB-WATERSHED, KASKI, WESTERN NEPAL
*
Bhaskar Khatiwada1, Moti Lal Rijal2, Anoj Khanal3, Umesh Chandra Bhusal4, Hari Ghimire5
Central Department of Geology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipir, Kathmandu, Nepal
1,2,4

3
Kathmandu Valley Water Supply Management Board, Thapathali, Kathmandu, Nepal
4,5
Explorer Geophysical Consultants Pvt. Ltd., Kathmandu, Nepal
(*Email: geologistvaskar@gmail.com)

ABSTRACT
The morphometric analysis of the watershed and the stream network plays an important role in understanding
the hydrogeological behavior of drainage basin and expresses the prevailing climate, geology, geomorphology,
structural antecedents of the catchment. In the present study, morphometric analysis has been carried out using
Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques to assess the hydrogeological characteristics of Kalikhola
Watershed. Linear, areal and relief morphometric parameters are discussed. The watershed is characterized by
the 4th order mini watershed of dendritic to sub-dendritic drainage pattern. The study area covers 29.81 Km2
area with 141 stream segments. The analysis has revealed that the total number and length of stream segments is
maximum in first order streams and decreases as the stream order increases. The linear, areal and relief parameters
shows that the area has moderate permeability, medium infiltration capacity and high groundwater potential with
good vegetation coverage with longer stream flow path. This analysis shows that Kalikhola Watershed is medium
to high groundwater potential zone except seepy hill slope. The study reveals that morphometric analysis based
on GIS technique is a competent tool for hydrogeological studies. These studies are very useful for identifying
and planning the ground water potential zones and watershed management.

INTRODUCTION
Morphometry is the mathematical analysis and
measurement and of the configuration of the earth's
surface, shape and dimension of its landforms and
morphometric studies in the field of hydrology were
first initiated by Horton in 1940 and then Strahler in
1950. The morphometric analysis of the drainage
basin and channel network play an important role
in understanding the hydrogeological behavior of
drainage basin and expresses the prevailing climate,
geology, geomorphology, structural antecedents
of the catchment. The relationship among various
drainage parameters and the aforesaid factors are well
recognized by many workers. The drainage basin
analysis is important in any hydrological investigation
as assessment of groundwater potential, groundwater
management, pedology and environmental assessment.
Hydrologists and geomorphologists have recognized
that certain relations are almost important between
runoff characteristics, and geographic and geomorphic
characteristics of drainage basin systems. Various
important hydrologic phenomena can be correlated
with the physiographic characteristics of drainage
basins such as size, shape, slope of drainage area,
drainage density, size and length of the contributories
etc. (Rastogi, 1976). Relief, geology and climate
are the primary determinants of running water
systems functioning at the basin scale. Geographical
Information System (GIS) techniques are now-a-days
in use for assessing various terrain and morphometric
parameters of the drainage basins and watersheds, as
it provides a flexible environment and an important
tool for the manipulation and analysis of spatial
information. The objective of the present study was

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Bulletin of Nepal Hydrogeological Association, Vol. 2, August 2017

to analyze the linear, areal and relief morphometric STUDY AREA

attributes of Kalikhola Watershed in the Armala Valley
The Kalikhola watershed basin falls on the north-
of Kaski District by using geo-spatial technology. This
eastern part of the Pokhara City of Kaski District of
study is attempted to use the morphometric technique
Western Nepal (Fig. 1) which covers an area of 29.83
vis-a-vis GIS to give an insight of the different geo-
km2 and is situated between N28016’30’’ to N28017’30’’
hydrological characteristics of the drainage basin to
and E83059’00 to E84000’00’’. The Kalikhola stream is
help in the identification of ground water potential
the important left bank perennial tributary of the Seti
zones and overall management of the basin with focus
River. The elevation of the study area varies from 960
on groundwater.
meters at the confluence of Kali Khola and Bhalam
Khola to 2627 meters at Kali Lekh.

Fig. 1: Location map of Kalikhola Watershed

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 Khatiwada et al. : Application of Morphometric Analysis for Hydrogeological Studies

MATERIALS AND METHODS of all the existing streams, digitization of the drainage
basin was carried out for morphometric analysis in
The present study is based on Department of Survey,
GIS environment using Arc GIS 10.2 software. The
Nepal (DOS) topographic maps of 2883 12 and 2884
attributes were assigned to create the digital data base
09 on the scale 1: 50,000. Topographical maps were
for drainage layer of the basin. Various morphometric
rectified/ referenced geographically and mosaiced and
parameters such as linear, aerial and relief aspects of
entire study area was delineated in GIS environment with
the basin were computed. The different morphometric
the help of Arc-GIS 10.2 software assigning Universal
parameters were determined by using the standard
Transverse Mercator (UTM), World Geodetic System
methodologies as shown in Table 1. Moreover, GIS
(WGS dating from 1984 and last revised in 2004) and
technology was used to generate other layers of maps
44N Zone Projection System. Since, morphometric
such as map of elevation zones of the basin and map of
analysis of a drainage basin requires the delineation
the geological setup of the area.

Table 1: Morphometric parameters with formulae

Morphometric Param-
S.N. Formulae Reference
eters
A Linear Morphometric Parameters
Hierarchical rank Strahler
1 Stream Order
(1964)
Count of the no of stream of same order Strahler
2 No. of Stream
(1964)
Length of the Stream Horton
3 Stream Length (Lu)
(1945)
Lsm = Lu / Nu, Where, Lsm = Mean Stream Length
Mean Stream Length Strahler
4 Lu = Total stream length of order ‘u’
(Lsm) (1964)
Nu = Total no. of stream segments of order ‘u’
RL = Lu / Lu – 1, Where, RL = Stream Length Ratio
Stream Length Ratio
5 Lu = The total stream length of the order ‘u’ Horton
(RL)
Lu – 1 = The total stream length of its next lower order (1945)
Rb = Nu / Nu + 1, Where, Rb = Bifurcation Ratio
Bifurcation Ratio (Rb) Schumn
6 Nu = Total no. of stream segments of order ‘u’
(1956)
Nu + 1 = Number of segments of the next higher order
Length of Overland Lg = 1 / D * 2, Where, Lg = Length of Overland flow Horton
7
Flow D = Drainage Density (1945)

B Relief Morphometric Parameters

H=Z–z
Basin Relief (H) Schumm
1 Where, Z = Maximum elevation of the basin (m) and
(1963)
z = Minimum elevation of the basin (m)
Rh = H / Lb, Where, Rh = Relief Ratio
Schumm
2 Relief Ratio (Rh) H = Total relief (Relative relief) of the basin in Km
(1956)
Lb = Basin length

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Bulletin of Nepal Hydrogeological Association, Vol. 2, August 2017

DI = H / Ra, Where, H = basin relief (m) and

3 Dissection Index DI Singh (1994)
Ra = Absolute relief (m)
Ruggedness Number Rn = Bh*Dd, Where, Bh = Basin Relief Strahler
4
(Rn) Dd = Drainage Density (1964)

C Aerial Morphometric Parameters

D = Lu / A, Where, D = Drainage Density
Drainage Density (D) Horton
1 Lu = Total stream length of all orders
(1932)
A = Area of the Basin (km2)
Fs = Nu / A, Where, Fs = Stream Frequency
Stream Frequency (Fs) Horton
2 Nu = Total no. of streams of all orders
(1932)
A = Area of the Basin (km2)
If = Dd × Fs, Where, Dd = Drainage density (Km/Km2) Zavoiance
3 Infiltration Number I
and Fs = Drainage frequency. (1985)
Rt = Nu / P, Where, Rt = Drainage Texture
Drainage Texture (Rt) Horton
4 Nu = Total no. of streams of all orders
(1945)
P = Perimeter (km)
Rf = A / Lb², Where, Rf = Form Factor
Form Factor (Rf) Horton
5 A = Area of the Basin (km2)
(1932)
Lb² = Square of Basin length
Rc = 4 * Pi * A / P², Where, Rc = Circularity Ratio
Circularity Ratio (Rc) Pi = ‘Pi’ value i.e., 3.14
6 Miller (1953)
A = Area of the Basin (km2)
P² = Square of the Perimeter (Km)
Re = 2 v (A / Pi) / Lb, Where, Re = Elongation Ratio
Elongation Ratio (Re) A = Area of the Basin (km2) Schumn
7
Pi = ‘Pi’ value i.e., 3.14 (1956)

Lb = Basin length

Geology of the area Rocks of Kunchha Formation around Kalikhola

Pokhara is tectonics controlled valley which is located
at the midland of Lesser Himalaya immediately to the
south of the Mt. Machhapuchhre. Armala Valley is
characterized by a diverse geological record ranging
in age from Pre-Cambrian to Recent. The geology of
the study area is dominated by the Recent Deposits and
Ghachok Formations at the valley floors to Kunchha
Formation, Fagfog Quartzite and Phyllite-Quartzite
Units at the hill slope (Fig. 2)
Watershed consists of flysch like, yellowish, bluish
grey and greenish grey phyllite having silky luster
with quartzites veins and alteration of phyllitic
gritstones with phyllites while Fagfog Quartzite in the
area consists of fine to coarse grained thick horizon
of white quartz. 15 to 20 meters bed of amphibolite
is interbedded with white medium to thick bedded
quartzite. Rock exposures of the lower part of
Phyllite Quartzite Unit of the watershed consists of

70

fine grained, parallel laminated dark green phyllite
alternating with thin to thick bedded gray quartzite. In
the upper part of this unit variegated colored phyllite,
slate, and quartzite were observed. geology of the
upper ridge of the unit is unknown, but fragments
of calcareous gravels in the recent alluvial deposits
within the valley traced the presence of calcareous
units at the upper ridge of the watershed. Ghachok
Formation at the valley floor consist of pebble and
cobble sized extremely hardened conglomerate with a
light brown silty matrix and calcareous cement which
Fig. 2: Geological map of Kalikhola Watershed
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
The study of watershed morphometry relates watershed
and stream network geometries to the transmission
of water and sediment through the basin. Systematic
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Khatiwada et al. : Application of Morphometric Analysis for Hydrogeological Studies
contains angular to surrounded clasts of laminated gray
limestones, laminated sandstone, and shale and some
clasts of granite, gneiss, quartzite, and schists Recent
Deposits of the Kalikhola Watershed consists of very
well sorted, thin layers of fine sand, silt, and clay
with organic materials of lacustrine deposits in depth
to some sub rounded to rounded pebbles on the layer
of fine sandy layer in a fining upward sections. River
sections of the area are rich of angular to sub rounded
very recent gravels transported by Kalikhola and other
associated streams (Khatiwada, 2015).
description of the geometry of a drainage basin and its
stream channel requires measurement of linear, areal
and relief (gradient) aspects of the channel network
and contributing ground slopes (Strahler, 1964).
Bulletin of Nepal Hydrogeological Association, Vol. 2, August 2017

Fig. 3: Drainage map of Kalikhola Watershed with stream order

In this study, morphometric analysis has been carried out about parameters as stream order, stream length,
bifurcation ratio, stream length ratio, basin length, drainage density, stream frequency, elongation ratio,
circularity ratio, form factor, basin relief, relief ratio, underlying rocks. The drainage pattern of Kalikhola
channel gradient using mathematical formulae as Watershed is a mini watershed with dendritic to sub-
given in Table 1 and the results are summarized in dendritic in nature.
Tables 2-5. Morphometric parameters such as basin
relief, basin shape and stream length also influence Linear morphometric parameters
drainage basin’s discharge pattern strongly through Linear aspects of the watersheds are closely linked
their varying effects on lag time. The natural runoff is with the channel patterns of the drainage network. The
one of the most potent geomorphic agencies in shaping morphometric investigation of the linear parameters of
the landscape of an area, the land area that contributes the watershed includes stream order (Sμ), bifurcation
water to the main stream through smaller ones forms ratio (Rb), stream length (Lμ), mean stream length
its catchment area or the drainage basin (Hajam et. (Lsm), stream length ratio (RL), length of overland
al., 2013). The arrangement of streams in a drainage flow (Lg), basin perimeter (P), basin length (Lb). Some
system constitutes the drainage pattern, that in turn of the important linear aspects have been calculated
reflects mainly structural/or lithologic controls of the and as shown in Tables 2 and 3.

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 Khatiwada et al. : Application of Morphometric Analysis for Hydrogeological Studies

Table 2: Linear morphometric parameters of the drainage network of Kalikhola Watershed

Stream Stream Stream Stream Mean Bifur-

Bifurcation Mean Stream
Order Number Length (Lu) Length cation ratio
ratio (Rb) Length (Lsm) (Km)
(u) (Nu) (KM) Ratio (Rl) (Rbm)
1st 109 4.19 48.68 0.44

2nd 25 3.57 15.38 0.61 1.38

3.58
3rd 6 3 10.49 1.74 2.85

4th 1 6.94 6.94 3.98

Note, Figures in parenthesis show Percentage stream length contributed by different stream
orders
Table 3 Calculated Linear Parameters

S.N. Parameter Calculated Value

1 Length of Overland Flow 0.18km

2 Watershed Perimeter 22.61 km

3 Basin Length 8.82 km

Stream order (Sμ) Bifurcation ratio (Rb)

As per the Strahler’s (1964) ordering scheme, the
study area is a 4th order drainage basin as shown in
Fig.3. Higher stream order is associated with greater
discharge. The trunk stream, Kalikhola, through which
all discharge of water and sediment passes is therefore
the stream segment of highest order.
Stream number (Nμ)
The count of stream channels in a given order is
known as stream number (Horton, 1945) Results of
the study revealed that Kalikhola stream is having 141
streams linked with 4 orders of streams as shown in
Fig. 3 sprawling over an area of 29.83 km2. Stream
frequency decreases as the stream order increases.
Stream number is directly proportional to size of the
contributing basin and to channel dimensions as shown
in Table 2. A higher stream number indicates lesser
permeability and infiltration.
Bifurcation ratio is closely related to the branching
pattern of a drainage network (Schumn, 1956). From
the Table 2, clearly the bifurcation ratio values for
the Kalikhola Watershed basin vary from 3 to 4.91
because of possibility of variations in basin geometry
and lithology, but tend to be constant throughout the
series with the mean bifurcation ratio of 3.58. The
highest Rb (4.19) is found between 1st and 2nd order
that indicates corresponding highest overland flow
and discharge attributable to hilly less permeable rock
formation associated with high slope configuration.
The relatively high bifurcation ratio in the 1st and 2nd
order stream indicates early hydrograph peak with a
potential for flash flooding during the storm events
in the areas in which these stream orders dominate.
The relatively lower value of mean bifurcation ratio
also suggests the geological heterogeneity, higher
permeability and lesser structural control in the area.

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Bulletin of Nepal Hydrogeological Association, Vol. 2, August 2017
Stream length (Lμ)
The number of streams of various orders in a
watershed are counted and their lengths from mouth
to drainage divide are measured (Table 2) with the
help of GIS software. The stream length (Lu) Stream
length is indicative of chronological developments
of the stream segments including interlude tectonic
disturbances. In the present work, results show that the
total length of stream segments is more in case of first
order streams and decreases with the increase in the
stream order Table 2. Individual streams of 4th order
passes more distance than streams of other order, this
discrepancy is attributable to variations in relief and
lithology. It is noticed that stream segments up to 3rd
order traverse parts of the high to moderate altitudinal
zones characterized by steep to moderate slopes while
the 4th order stream segments occur in comparatively
plain lands.
Stream length ratio (RL)
The stream length ratio has important relationship with
surface flow, discharge and erosion stage of the basin.
The values of RL vary haphazardly from 1.38 to 3.98
attributable to differences in slope and topographic
conditions. Since the Kalikhola watershed shows
changes in RL from one order to the next, it is deduced
that it is characterized by the late youth to early mature
stage of geomorphic development.
Length of overland flow (Lg)
Length of overland flow is one of the most important
independent variables affecting both hydrologic and
physiographic development of drainage basins (Horton,
1932) and it is significantly affected by infiltration/
percolation through the soil that vary in time and space
(Kanta et. al., 2012 and Schmid, 1997). The length
of overland flow of the Kalikhola Watershed is 0.18
kilometers, which shows gentler slopes in the valleys
and hence low surface runoff and longer flow paths.
Areal morphometric parameters
Area of a basin (A) and perimeter (P) are the important
parameters in quantitative geo-morphology. Basin area
directly affects the size of the storm hydrograph, the
magnitudes of peak and mean runoff. The maximum
flood discharge per unit area is inversely related
to size (Smart et. al., 1967). The total area of the
74
Kalikhola Watershed is 29.81km2. The aerial aspects
of the drainage basin such as basin area (A) drainage
density (Dd), stream frequency (Fs), texture ratio (Rt),
elongation ratio (Re), circularity ratio (Rc) and form
factor ratio (Rf) were calculated and results have been
given in Table 4.
Table 4: Areal Morphometric Parameters
S.N. Parameter Calculated Value
1 Drainage Area 29.83 km2
2 Drainage Density 2.73 km/km2
3 Stream Frequency 1.73 km/km2
4 Texture Ratio (0.04-4.82)/km
5 Infiltration Index 4.72
6 Form Factor Ratio 0.44
7 Elongation Ratio 0.75
8 Circulatory Ratio 0.73
Drainage density (Dd)
The drainage density determines the time travel by
water and its measurement is a useful numerical
measure of landscape dissection and runoff potential.
A high drainage density reflects a highly dissected
drainage basin with a relatively rapid hydrological
response to rainfall events, while a low drainage
density means a poorly drained basin with a slow
hydrologic response (Melton, 1967). Dd is known
to vary with climate and vegetation, soil and rock
properties, relief and landscape evolution processes. In
general, the hydrology of basin changes significantly
in response to the changes in the drainage density. The
Dd of the Kalikhola Watershed is moderate (2.73 km/
km2) indicates clearly that the basin has permeable
subsurface material, good vegetation cover and
medium relief, causing more infiltration of water and
recharging groundwater aquifers. There exists a close
relationship between drainage density and mean annual
flood. So, the basin as a whole is less prone to flooding.
Drainage frequency (Fs)
The stream frequency (Fs) or channel frequency or
drainage frequency of the whole basin is 1.73/km2 as
shown in Table 4. The Stream frequency depends on the

rock structure, infiltration capacity, vegetation cover,
relief, nature and amount of rainfall and subsurface
material permeability. The stream frequency of
Kalikhola Watershed shows that the basin has good
vegetation, medium relief, medium infiltration capacity
and moderate peak discharges owing to high runoff
rate.
Drainage texture (Dt)
The drainage texture depends upon several natural
factors such as climate, rock and soil type, vegetation
type and density, infiltration capacity, relief and stage
of development. Low drainage density leads to coarse
drainage texture while high drainage density leads
to fine drainage texture, that in turn depends on the
infiltration capacity of the mantle rock or bed rock. The
drainage texture values are 4.82 (1st order streams),
1.10 (2nd order streams), 0.26 (3rd order streams), 0.04
(4th order streams). Generally, the Kalikhola Watershed
falls into very medium to coarse texture category
and indicates moderate permeability of sub-surface
material and infiltration capacity, lower run off rate,
and significant recharge of the ground water except the
area occupied by the first and second order streams.
Infiltration number (If)
Infiltration number plays a significant role in observing
the infiltration characteristics of the basin and it is
inversely proportional to the infiltration capacity of
the basin. The infiltration number of the Kalikhola
Watershed is 4.73) very low. It indicates that runoff
will be moderate and the infiltration capacity is high
high.
Form factor ratio (Rf)
Basin shape can be indexed by simple dimensionless
ratios of the basic measurements of area, perimeter and
length (Thornbury, 1969). The form factor value of the
basin is low, 0.44 that represents circulatory shape.
Basin morphology has profound impact on basin
hydrology. So, the Kalikhola drainage basin has high
peaks of flow for shorter duration.
Elongation ratio (Re)
Elongation ratio (Re) is a significant index in the
analysis of basin shape which helps to give an idea
about the hydrological character of a drainage basin.
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Khatiwada et al. : Application of Morphometric Analysis for Hydrogeological Studies
The influence of varied basin morphology on the
hydrological response will be similar as that of the form
factor discussed here. The value of Re in the study area
was found to be 0.75 indicating relatively high relief of
the terrain and circulatory shape of the drainage basin.
Circularity ratio (Rc)
The circularity ratio (Rc) is used as a quantitative
measure for visualizing the shape of the basin and
is affected by the lithological characteristics of the
basin. The calculated Rc value, 0.73 indicates that the
drainage basin is less elongated and is characterized
by medium to high relief. Such drainage systems are
partially controlled by the structural disturbances.
Relief morphometric parameters
The relief aspects of the drainage basins are
significantly linked with the study of three dimensional
features involving area, volume and altitude of
vertical dimension of landforms to analyze different
geohydrological characteristics. Some of the important
relief parameters that are related to the study have been
analyzed as shown in Table 5.
Table 5: Calculated relief parameter
Calculated
S.N. Parameter
Value
1 Maximum Basin Height (Z) 2627m (amsl)
2 Minimum Basin Height (z) 960 (amsl)
3 Basin Relief 1667m
4 Relief ratio 0.2
5 Dissection Index 0.63
6 Ruggedness Number (Rn) 4.53
Basin relief (H)
Basin relief is an important factor in understanding the
geomorphic processes and landform characteristics.
The total basin relief of the Kalikhola Watershed is
1667m (1.67km). It has been observed that a high
degree of correlation exists among relief and drainage
frequency and stream channel slopes.
Relief ratio (Rr)
Relief ratio (Rr) measures the overall steepness of a
drainage basin and is an indicator of the intensity of
Bulletin of Nepal Hydrogeological Association, Vol. 2, August 2017
erosional process operating on slope of the watershed.
The relief ratio of the watershed is 0.2 that indicates
high relief and steep to moderate slope.
Dissection index (DI)
Dissection index (DI) is a parameter implies the
degree of dissection or vertical erosion and expounds
the stages of terrain or landscape development in any
given physiographic region or basin (Thornbury, 1969
and Sharma et. al., 2013). On average, the values of
DI vary between ‘0’ (complete absence of vertical
dissection/erosion and hence dominance of flat surface)
and ‘1’ (in exceptional cases, vertical cliffs, it may be
at vertical escarpment of hill slope or at seashore). DI
value of Kalikhola Watershed is 0.63 that indicates the
basin is significantly dissected as shown in Table 5.
But, actually this is not the state of whole basin and
is found in upper reaches or mountainous areas of the
basin occupied by first order streams.
CONCLUSIONS
The Watershed is often selected as a unit of
morphometric investigation because of its topographic
and hydrological unity. GIS software have resulted
to be of immense utility in the quantitative analysis
of the geo-morphometric aspects of the watershed.
Geologically Kalikhola Watershed falls on the
Recent Alluvial deposits to Lesser Himalayan Rocks.
Presence of alluvial fans at lower parts supports the
unconfined to confined aquifer systems in lower part.
Kalikhola Watershed is a fourth order basin. Lower
order streams dominate the basin. The study reveals
that the basin is passing through an early mature stage
of the fluvial geomorphic cycle. The development of
stream segments in the basin area is affected by rainfall
and groundwater discharge. Kalikhola Watershed,
categorized as Mini Watershed by its size has longer
stream flow path with moderate permeability, medium
infiltration capacity and high groundwater potential
with good vegetation coverage. Recharge capacity
is high except the area occupied by 1st order stream,
where groundwater recharge capacity is low. The 4th
order stream segments occur in comparatively flat
lands wherein maximum infiltration of precipitation
occurs. Morphometric analysis shows that Kalikhola
Watershed is medium to high groundwater potential
zone except steep hill slope. Hence from the study
it is highly comprehensible that GIS technique is
76
a competent tool in geomorphometric analysis for
hydrogeological studies of drainage basins and these
studies are very useful for planning and management
of drainage basin.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Authors express their thankfulness to the local people
of Armala Valley for the support during geological
mapping.
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