A study of the morphometric analysis and cycle of erosion in Wainganga Basin, India

The stages of landscape brought by Wainganga river cycle of erosion are precisely characterized and determined by progressive returns of maximum relief ratio (above 70%), maximum amount of slope (40-100%), high dissection index (above 30%) high hypsometric integral (above 60%), high percentage of unconsumed upland (above 30%), and low circularity index. A total number of streams are 9472 in which 6502 are first-order, 2190 are second-order, 605 are third-order, 153 are fourth-order, 17 are fifth-order, and 4 are sixth-order streams. Bifurcation values range from 2.97 to 9.00 and the average bifurcation value is 3.97. The elongation ratios are 0.12. The values reveal that the basin is strongly elongated and it is composed of highly permeable homogenous geologic materials. The drainage density of the river basin is 0.66. With the advancement of the cyclic landscape, the trend of hypsometric integrals, relief ratio, amount of slope, dissection index, and percentage of unconsumed upland trends to decrease to a minimum, while circularity index increases. The penultimate stage of the landscape finally achieves maximum circularity with minimum returns of other variables progressively. The study recommends that the river basin needs a hydrogeological and geophysical study in the future for proper water management and choice of artificial recharge structures for recharge of groundwater in the area under consideration.