Hydro-geomorphic characterisation and erosion risk assessment of sub-watersheds by hypsometric analysis using geo-spatial techniques

Various components of topographic evolution, such as hypsometric, clinometric, and altimetric analysis, are highly effective for hydro-geomorphic and geomorphometric characterization as well as Erosion Risk Assessment (ERA) of watersheds, further contributing to sustainable watershed development and management from micro to macro levels. Overall development plans and present status of development are mostly dependent on geomorphic, topographic, morphometric and finally hypsometric analysis of the present watershed, which has distinct geo-litho- structural prints of ancient terrain and at the same time neo-tectonic episodes like tertiary deposits as well. The present study aims to determine the hydro-geomorphic status of the sub-watersheds at the same spatial level to infer the evolutionary stages of geomorphic development, thereby assessing the status of watershed resources. Geo-morphometric observation and analysis are accomplished and executed at the subwatershed level to appreciate and comprehend the underlying geo-hydrological and geomorphic processes and to extract the inferences from the considered watershed parameters. For this purpose, Hypsometric as well as statistical analysis are taken into consideration to determine the hydrogeomorphic status of the sub watersheds to carried out at the same spatial level to infer the evolutionary stages of geomorphic evolution, which can help to determine the status of watershed resources. Moreover, derived hypsometric Integral (HI) quantifies as well as qualifies the geomorphic and erosional status of development in the sub-watershed level of Upper Kasai watershed. Inferences from the result, analysis and interpretation offer the most effective and crucial points for micro- level development and planning to economists, land planners, decision makers and finally to the geoscientists in relation to human-watershed interface.