Quantification of Morphometric Parameters to Analyze the Watershed Characteristics: A Case Study of Rosti Watershed, Iraq

Abstract

Management of natural resources is becoming a very high demand in the future than any other times. Therefore, it is very crucial to make a deep study and analysis of the area of interest through geo morphometric study, which is a significant tool for controlling watershed natural resources. In this paper, the morphometric parameters of Rosti valley watershed are analyzed and evaluated by Horton and Strahler methods. Image processing has been done for ASTER image to create Digital Elevation Model (DEM). For morphometric interpretation with evaluation of different morphometric parameters, the Advanced Space Borne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER-DEM) image was used. The Rosti basin's geo morphometric analysis was delineated, using image processing and GIS by calculating linear, aerial and relief parameters. The Rosti watershed is stretched over an area of 201.41 km2 and the watershed slope is varying from 0% to 68.97 %. While the bifurcation ratio extends from 0.96 to 2.34 showing the geological structure's influence and the structural disturbances increased. However, the result of the form factor is 0.39 denotations that the basin shape is the total number of stream segments equal to 1424 Segments. This paper endeavours to use the effective methods, based on geomorphometric analysis along with the proper tools and software such as GIS to achieve the highest level of certainty in regard with the area of interest ‘’Rosti Basin’’.