Characterization of Upper Indus Basin based on DEM Hypsometric Analysis

Authors

  • I. Ahmad Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad
  • Z. Ahmad University of Wah
  • S. Munir SUPARCO, Islamabad
  • Obaid ur Rehman SUPARCO, Islamabad
  • S. R. Ali SUPARCO, Islamabad
  • Y. Shabbir

Abstract

Assessment of geomorphic stages of catchment areas within Upper Indus Basin (UIB) is carried out through analysis of hypsometry. Hypsometric curves were extracted for each sub-basin from Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM). Parameters of the Hypsometric Integral (HI), statistical moments like skewness, kurtosis, density skewness and density kurtosis of the curves were also analyzed. Study concluded that UIB is comprised of sub-basins of differential characteristics i.e. young, moderate and well developed. There is a correlation of 0.76 between the basin size and the HI. None of the basins appear to be in Monadnock Stage. The topographic analyses of slope, aspect and percentage snow-cover and land cover classes also validate the high erosion potential of upper reaches of Indus basin.

Author Biographies

I. Ahmad, Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad

Department of Earth Sciences

Z. Ahmad, University of Wah

University of Wah, Wah Cantt

S. Munir, SUPARCO, Islamabad

Space Applications and Research Complex

Obaid ur Rehman, SUPARCO, Islamabad

Space Applications and Research Complex

S. R. Ali, SUPARCO, Islamabad

Space Applications and Research Complex

Y. Shabbir

Space Applications and Research Complex

References

Y.C. Chen, “Along-strike variations of morphotectonic features in the Western Foothills of Taiwan: tectonic implications based on stream-gradient and hypsometric analysis”, Geomorphology, vol. 56, no. 1, pp. 109-137, 2003.

W.B. Langbein, “Topographic characteristics of drainage basins”, Water-Supply Paper 968-C, US Government Printing Office, Washington, 1947.

N.A. Lifton, “Tectonic, climatic and lithologic influences on landscape fractal dimension and hypsometry: implications for landscape evolution in the San Gabriel Mountains, California”, Geomorphology, vol. 5, no. 1-2, pp. 77-114, 1992.

H. Ohmori, “Changes in the hypsometric curve through mountain building resulting from concurrent tectonics and denudation”, Geomorphology, vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 263-277, 1993.

A. N. Strahler, “Hypsometric (area-altitude) analysis of erosional topography”, Geological Society of America Bulletin, vol. 63,

no. 11, pp. 1117-1142, 1952.

G. Willgoose and G. Hancock, “Revisiting the hypsometric curve as an indicator of form and process in transport-limited catchment”, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, vol. 23, no. 7, pp. 611-623, 1998.

G. Willgoose, “A physical explanation for an observed area, slope and elevation relationship for catchments with declining relief”, Water Resources Research, vol. 30, no. 2, pp. 151-159, 1994.

A. Azor, E. A. Keller and R. S. Yeats, “Geomorphic indicators of active fold growth: South Mountain–Oak Ridge anticline, Ventura basin, Geo-science World, vol. 114, no. 6, pp. 745-753, 2002.

S.A. Mahmood, “Analyzing spatial autocorrelation for the hypsometric integral to discriminate neotectonics and lithologies using DEMs and GIS”, GIS & Remote Sensing, vol. 48, no. 4,

pp. 541-565, 2011.

J.E. Hurtrez, “Effect of drainage area on hypsometry from an analysis of small scale drainage basins in the Siwalik Hills (Central Nepal)”, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, vol. 24, no. 9,

pp. 799-808, 1999.

R.C. Walcott and M. A. Summerfield, “Scale dependence of hypsometric integrals: An analysis of southeast African basins”, Geomorphology, vol. 96, no. 1–2, pp. 174–186, 2008.

A. D. Howard, “Role of hypsometry and platform in basin hydrologic response”, Hydrological Processes, vol. 4, no. 4, 373-385, 1990.

M.E. Marani, “Geomorphic controls on regional base flow”, Water Resources Research, vol. 37, no. 10, pp. 2619-2630, 2001.

S.H. Brocklehurst, “Hypsometry of glaciated landscapes”, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, vol. 29, no. 7, pp. 907-926, 2004.

J. M. Harlin, “Statistical moments of the hypsometric curve and its density function”, Mathematical Geosciences, vol. 10, pp. 59–72, 1978.

W.A. Luo, “A theoretical travel time based on watershed hypsometry”, Journal of the American Water Resources Association, vol. 39, pp. 785–792, 2003.

J. G. Masek, B. L. Isacks, T. L. Gubbels and E. J. Fieldings, “Erosion and tectonics at the margins of continental plateaus”, Journal of Geophysical Research, vol. 99, no. B7, pp. 13941-13956, 1994.

R.A.K. Tahirkheli, M. Mattauer, F. Proust and P. Tapponier, “The India-Eurasia suture zone in northern Pakistan: Some new data for interpretation at plate scale, in Geodynamics of Pakistan”, Farah, A. and DeJong, K. A. Eds., Geological Survey Pakistan, pp. 125–130, 1979.

M. Lisa, A.A. Khwaja and M.Q. Jan, “Seismic Hazard Assessment of the NW Himalayan Fold-and-Thrust Belt, Pakistan, Using Probabilistic Approach’, J. Earthquake Engineering, vol 11, no. 2, pp. 257-301, 2007.

I.A.K. Jadoon, “Thin-skinned tectonics on continent/ocean transitional crust, Sulaiman Range, Pakistan”, Ph.D. thesis. Geology Dept. Oregon State University, USA, 1992. Retrieved from https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/downloads/vt150m664

A.H. Kazmi and M. Jan, “Geology and Tectonics of Pakistan”, Graphic Publishers, 5-C, 6/10 Nazimabad Karachi, Pakistan, ISBN 969-8375-00-7, pp. 819-842, 1997.

Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER), Global Digital Elevation Model (GDEM), Version 2, 2011.

A. Koch and P. Lohmann, “Quality assessment and validation of digital surface models derived from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM)”, International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, vol. XXXIII, Supplement B4. Amsterdam, 2000.

C.M. George, and C. Paraschou, ‘Vertical accuracy of the SRTM DTED level 1 of Crete”, International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, vol. 7, pp. 49-59, 2005. doi:10.1016/j.jag.2004.12.001.

SRTM 90m Digital Elevation Database v4.1. http://www.cgiar-csi.org/data/srtm-90m-digitalelevation-database-v4-1, as accessed on 30th of September, 2013.

J.P. Muller, “Quantitative assessment of C-band and X-band SRTM datasets over the CEOS-WGCVTMSG test sites and inter-comparison of C-band and DEM with the OS, PANORAMA DTM”, 2005.

A. Jarvis, H.I. Reuter, A. Nelson. & E. Guevara., “Hole-filled SRTM for the globe Version 4”, available from the CGIAR-CSI SRTM 90 m database (http://srtm.csi.cgiar.org), 2008.

A.N. Strahler, “Hypsometric (area-altitude) analysis of erosional topography”, Geological Society American Bulletin, vol. 63, no. 11, pp. 1117–1142, 1952.

Downloads

Published

13-04-2018

How to Cite

[1]
I. Ahmad, Z. Ahmad, S. Munir, O. ur Rehman, S. R. Ali, and Y. Shabbir, “Characterization of Upper Indus Basin based on DEM Hypsometric Analysis”, The Nucleus, vol. 55, no. 1, pp. 8–16, Apr. 2018.

Issue

Section

Articles

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 > >>