Morphometric analysis of Vaitarna and Ulhas river basins, Maharashtra, India: using geospatial techniques

Drainage network quantification with respect to the climate, tectonics, lithology and geomorphology provides significant evidence of the drainage development, hydro-geomorphic and denudation characteristics of an area. The present study was carried out by using Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission DEM to study the drainage morphometry and its influence on the hydrological characteristics of Vaitarna and Ulhas basins in Maharashtra, India. Results of the morphometric analysis reveal that the catchment of Vaitarna and Ulhas can be described as of 6th and 7th order drainage basins, encompassing an area of 3795 and 4733 km(2), respectively. Additionally, Vaitarna basin is characterised by relatively higher mean bifurcation ratio as compared to the Ulhas basin, indicative of higher structural control and steeper gradient in Vaitarna basin. Lower drainage density and stream frequency affirm availability of permeable sub-surface material and homogeneous lithological characteristics in both basins. The shape parameters show both basins are semicircular with dendritic and sub-dendritic drainage pattern. The relief parameters of Vaitarna and Ulhas suggest both of these basins are characterised by very high relief and steep slope. GIS-based analysis of all these morphometric parameters indicates the drainage development of the study area progressed well beyond maturity stage and lithology have a major impact on the drainage development in Vaitarna and Ulhas basins.