Remote Sensing and GIS-Based Evaluation of Morphometric Parameters of Madhupur Tract Basin

Abstract: Evaluating the complexity of the water system is essential to balance its utilization, maintenance, and management. A quantitative description of the drainage system, an essential aspect of the characteristics of a basin, can be assessed by the morphometric characteristics at a defined scale. Morphometric analysis quantitatively studies landforms' physical dimensions and characteristics within a drainage basin. The Madhupur Tract, a large upland area in central Bangladesh, is surrounded by the Jamuna-Brahmaputra River floodplain. Geologically, the Madhupur Tract predominantly consists of older Pleistocene deposits, with a mix of clay, silt, and sand. The drainage pattern in the Madhupur Tract is primarily dendritic, resembling a tree-like structure. Madhupur Tract Drainage Basin is a basin with 9,025 streams of different order, covering an area of almost 3,677 km2. It is very elongated in shape with rapid discharge in a short period. Lower-order streams are high in number, probably due to the elevated nature of the area. A gradual decrease in the number of streams can be seen inversely decreasing with increasing stream order. The consistent decrease in the number of streams in relation to stream order throughout the basin indicates the dominance of erosional landforms. The changes in stream length ratio throughout the basin show that the area is in the early stages of irregular hydrological behavior. The overall drainage density of the Madhupur Tract Basin is high in lower reaches, indicating less porous rock in the bed surface, high slope, and high-water flow regimes. The low form factor value indicated the elongated nature of basins with low peak flow for longer. Flood flows of elongated basins can be more easily managed than circular basins. The relief ratio of Madhupur Tract Basin was measured to be around 0.156, apparently very low, indicating minimal elevation differences with a relatively flat or gently undulating terrain. The ruggedness number of the Madhupur Tract Basin is 33.54. A low ruggedness indicates a relatively smooth and uniform landscape with gradual elevation changes. Both surface water and groundwater interactions influence the Madhupur Tract's drainage system. The lateritic formations in the region contribute to the formation of aquifers, affecting the groundwater flow and the overall drainage dynamics.