MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS TO INFER HYDROLOGICAL BEHAVIOUR OF CORUH RIVER BASIN (NORTHERN TURKEY) USING GIS TECHNIQUE

Morphometric analysis is a very practical approach for evaluating hydrological processes for watersheds. The combination of morphometric, geological, and geomorphological characteristics of the river basin helps to gain further insights in forecasting hydrological phenomena (such as flooding, soil erosion, and groundwater potential). In this study, the morphometric analysis of the Coruh River Basin was conducted using GIS to establish effective water management. Firstly, the basic morphometric parameters (basin area, basin length, basin perimeter, stream order, stream number, and total stream length) were calculated for both CRB and its subbasins. Then, characteristic morphometric parameters (drainage density, drainage texture, form factor, length of the overland flow, topographic wetness index, and stream power index) were determined. Results showed that the infiltration capacity of the subsurface material was low, and the surface runoff was slow in the subbasins located close to the CRB's outlet. Therefore, these subbasins are more sensitive to flooding, erosion, and landslides compared to others. Soil erosion and thus sediment loss is higher in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th subbasins, and the groundwater potential is higher in headwater areas of the basin. This study revealed that the GIS-based morphometric analysis is beneficial to implement water management tool at the watershed scale.