Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sub-basins prioritization based on morphometric analysis and geographic information systems: a case study of the Barada river basin, Damascus countryside governorate, Syria

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Proceedings of the Indian National Science Academy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Sub-basins prioritization is considered an essential procedure in ecosystem management and planning on watershed scales. Integrating morphometric parameters and remote-sensing data (RS) in a geographic information system (GIS) environment provides an advanced platform that effectively investigates sub-basins prioritization. In the current study, prioritization in eight sub-basins belonging to the Barada river basin was investigated by utilizing morphometric assessment in order to comprehensively specify the sub-basins prioritization for conservation strategies. The final map evaluates sub-basins prioritization classes: low, moderate, high, and very high. The results also determines the SB8, SB4, SB3, SB7 and SB6 sub-basins have the highest prioritization, which, in turn, refers to the urgent need conserving measures. Totally, the spatial outcomes of the present study constructively proved the efficiency of extracted morphometric layers from RS-data in regard to the spatial evaluation of prioritization in the Barada river basin; they also include an important tool for post-war environmental rehabilitation in river basins in Syria.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

References

  • Abdelkareem, M.: Targeting flash flood potential areas using remotely sensed data and GIS techniques. Nat. Hazards 85(1), 19–37 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abdo, H.G.: Evolving a total-evaluation map of flash flood hazard for hydro-prioritization based on geohydromorphometric parameters and GIS–RS manner in Al-Hussain river basin Tartous Syria. Nat. Haz. 104(1), 681–703 (2020) https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-020-04186-3

  • Abdo, H.G.: Estimating water erosion using RUSLE GIS and remote sensing in Wadi-Qandeel river basin Lattakia Syria. Proce. Indian. Nati. Sci. Acad. 87(3), 514–523 (2021) https://doi.org/10.1007/s43538-021-00047-0

  • Abdo, H.G.: Assessment of landslide susceptibility zonation using frequency ratio and statistical index: a case study of Al-Fawar basin, Tartous, Syria. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 1–20 (2021)

  • Abdo, H.G., Almohamad, H., Al Dughairi, A.A., & Al-Mutiry, M.: GIS-Based Frequency Ratio and Analytic Hierarchy Process for Forest Fire Susceptibility Mapping in the Western Region of Syria. Sust. 14(8), 4668 (2022) https://doi.org/10.3390/su14084668

  • Abdo, H.G., Aljohani, T.H.D., Almohamad, H., Al-Dughairi, A.A., & Al-Mutiry, M.: Sanitary municipal landfill site selection by integration of GIS and multi-criteria techniques for environmental sustainability in Safita area Tartous governorate Syria. Env. Sci. Pollut. Res. 30(11), 30834–30854 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-24287-9

  • Aher, P.D., Adinarayana, J., Gorantiwar, S.D.: Quantification of morphometric characterization and prioritization for management planning in semi-arid tropics of India: a remote sensing and GIS approach. J. Hydrol. 511, 850–860 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alam, A., Ahmed, B., Sammonds, P.: Flash flood susceptibility assessment using the parameters of drainage basin morphometry in SE Bangladesh. Quatern. Int. 575, 295–307 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alqahtani, F., & Qaddah, A.A.: GIS digital mapping of flood hazard in Jeddah–Makkah region from morphometric analysis. Arab. J. Geo. 12(6), (2019) https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-019-4338-8

  • Alsafadi, K., Bi, S., Abdo, H.G., Al Sayah, M.J., Ratonyi, T., Harsanyi, E., & Mohammed, S.: Spatial–temporal dynamic impact of changes in rainfall erosivity and vegetation coverage on soil erosion in the Eastern Mediterranean. Env. Sci. Pollut. Res. (2022) https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-24012-6

  • Alsafadi, K., Bi, S., Abdo, H.G., Al Sayah, M.J., Ratonyi, T., Harsanyi, E., & Mohammed, S.: Modeling the impacts of projected climate change on wheat crop suitability in semi-arid regions using the AHP-based weighted climatic suitability index and CMIP6. Abst. Geos. Lett. 10(1), (2023) https://doi.org/10.1186/s40562-023-00273-y

  • Al-Saady, Y.I., Al-Suhail, Q.A., Al-Tawash, B.S., Othman, A.A.: Drainage network extraction and morphometric analysis using remote sensing and GIS mapping techniques (Lesser Zab River Basin, Iraq and Iran). Environ. Earth Sci. 75(18), 1243 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Altaf, F., Meraj, G., Romshoo, S.A.: Morphometric analysis to infer hydrological behaviour of Lidder watershed, Western Himalaya, India. Geography J. (2013)

  • Arulbalaji, P., Padmalal, D.: Sub-watershed prioritization based on drainage morphometric analysis: a case study of Cauvery River Basin in South India. J. Geol. Soc. India 95, 25–35 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bajabaa, S., Masoud, M., & Al-Amri, N.: Flash flood hazard mapping based on quantitative hydrology geomorphology and GIS techniques (case study of Wadi Al Lith Saudi Arabia). Arab. J. Geo. 7(6), 2469–2481 (2014) https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-013-0941-2

  • Bharath, A., Kumar, K.K., Maddamsetty, R., Manjunatha, M., Tangadagi, R.B., Preethi, S.: Drainage morphometry based sub-watershed prioritization of Kalinadi basin using geospatial technology. Environ. Challenges 5, 100277 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhat, M.S., Alam, A., Ahmad, S., Farooq, H., Ahmad, B.: Flood hazard assessment of upper Jhelum basin using morphometric parameters. Environ. Earth Sci. 78(2), 54 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhatt, S., Ahmed, S.A.: Morphometric analysis to determine floods in the Upper Krishna basin using Cartosat DEM. Geocarto Int. 29(8), 878–894 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Black, B.A., Perron, J.T., Hemingway, D., Bailey, E., Nimmo, F., Zebker, H.: Global drainage patterns and the origins of topographic relief on Earth, Mars, and Titan. Science 356(6339), 727–731 (2017)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bouramtane, T., Yameogo, S., Touzani, M., Tiouiouine, A., Ouardi, J., Kacimi, I., Barbiero, L.: Statistical approach of factors controlling drainage network patterns in arid areas. Application to the Eastern Anti Atlas (Morocco). J. African Earth Sci. 162, 103707 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chaithong, T.: Flash flood susceptibility assessment based on morphometric aspects and hydrological approaches in the Pai River Basin, Mae Hong Son, Thailand. Water 14(19), 3174 (2022)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chorley, R.J., Malm, D.E.G., Pogorzelski, H.A.: A new standard for estimating basin shape. Am. J. Sci. 255, 138–141 (1957)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chorley, R.J.: The drainage basin as the fundamental geomorphic unit. Water Earth Man 77–98 (1969)

  • El-Fakharany, M.A., Mansour, N.M.: Morphometric analysis and flash floods hazards assessment for Wadi Al Aawag drainage Basins, southwest Sinai, Egypt. Environ. Earth Sci. 80, 1–17 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farhan, Y., Anaba, O.: Flash flood risk estimation of Wadi Yutum (Southern Jordan) watershed using GIS based morphometric analysis and remote sensing techniques. Open J. Mod. Hydrol. 6(02), 79 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farhan, Y., Anbar, A., Al-Shaikh, N., & Mousa, R.: Prioritization of Semi-Arid Agricultural Watershed Using Morphometric and Principal Component Analysis Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques the Zerqa River Watershed Northern Jordan. Agric. Sci. 8(01), 113–148 (2017) https://doi.org/10.4236/as.2017.81009

  • Ganie, P.A., Posti, R., Kunal, K., Kunal, G., Bharti, V.S., Sehgal, V.K., Pandey, P.K.: Modelling of the Himalayan Mountain river basin through hydro-morphological and compound factor-based approaches using geoinformatics tools. Modeling Earth Syst. Environ. 1–32 (2023)

  • Gravelius, H.: Flusskunde. Goschen’sche Verlagshandlung, Berlin (1914)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Gregory, K.J., Walling, D.E.: Drainage Basin Form and Process: A Geomorphological Approach, p. 456. Edward Arnold, London (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hateffard, F., Mohammed, S., Alsafadi, K., Enaruvbe, G.O., Heidari, A., Abdo, H.G., Rodrigo-Comino, J.: CMIP5 climate projections and RUSLE-based soil erosion assessment in the central part of Iran. Sci. Rep. 11(1), 1–17 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horton, R.E.: Drainage-basin characteristics. EOS Trans. Am. Geophys. Union 13(1), 350–361 (1932)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horton, R.E.: Erosional development of streams and their drainage basins; hydrophysical approach to quantitative morphology. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 56(3), 275–370 (1945)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Islam, M.R., Khan, M.N.I., Khan, M.Z., Roy, B.: A three decade assessment of forest cover changes in Nijhum dwip national park using remote sensing and GIS. Environ. Challenges 4, 100162 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Javed, A., Khanday, M.Y., Ahmed, R.: Prioritization of sub-basins s based on morphometric and land use analysis using remote sensing and GIS techniques. J. Indian Soc. Remote Sens. 37(2), 261 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khallouf, A., Talukdar, S., Harsányi, E., Abdo, H.G., Mohammed, S.: Risk assessment of soil erosion by using CORINE model in the western part of Syrian Arab Republic. Agric. Food Secur. 10(1), 1–15 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khare, D., Mondal, A., Mishra, P.K., Kundu, S., Meena, P.K.: Morphometric analysis for prioritization using remote sensing and GIS Techniques in a Hilly Catchment in the State of Uttarakhand, India. Indian J. Sci. Technol. 7(10), 1650–1662 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khiavi, A.N., Vafakhah, M., Sadeghi, S.H.: Comparative prioritization of sub-watersheds based on Flood Generation potential using physical, hydrological and co-managerial approaches. Water Resour. Manag. 36(6), 1897–1917 (2022)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Makwana, J., Tiwari, M.K.: Prioritization of agricultural sub-basins s in semi arid middle region of Gujarat using remote sensing and GIS. Environ. Earth Sci. 75(2), 137 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mallick, J., Shivhare, V., Singh, C.K., Al Subih, M.: Prioritizing watershed restoration, management, and development based on geo-morphometric analysis in Asir Region of Saudi Arabia using Geospatial Technology. Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 31(2) (2022).

  • Masoud, M.H.: Geoinformatics application for assessing the morphometric characteristics’ effect on hydrological response at watershed (case study of Wadi Qanunah, Saudi Arabia). Arab. J. Geosci. 9(4), 280 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Melhem, R., Higano, Y.: Policy measures for river water management in Barada Basin, Syria. Stud. Regional Sci. 32(3), 1–23 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Melton, M.A.: An analysis of the relations among elements of climate, surface properties, and geomorphology (No. CU-TR-11). Columbia Univ New York (1957)

  • Miller, V.C.: Quantitative geomorphic study of drainage basin characteristics in the Clinch Mountain area, Virginia and Tennessee. Technical report (Columbia University. Department of Geology); no. 3 (1953)

  • Mohammed, S., Abdo, H.G., Szabo, S., Pham, Q.B., Holb, I.J., Linh, N.T.T., Rodrigo-Comino, J.: Estimating human impacts on soil erosion considering different hillslope inclinations and land uses in the coastal region of Syria. Water 12(10), 2786 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mukta, A.Y., Haque, M.E., Islam, A.R.M.T., Fattah, M.A., Gustave, W., Almohamad, H., Ghassan Abdo, H.: Impact of canal encroachment on flood and economic vulnerability in Northern Bangladesh. Sustainability 14(14), 8341 (2022)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naceur, H.A., Abdo, H.G., Igmoullan, B., Namous, M., Almohamad, H., Al Dughairi, A.A., & Al-Mutiry, M.: Performance assessment of the landslide susceptibility modelling using the support vector machine radial basis function network and weight of evidence models in the N'fis river basin Morocco Abstract. Geo. Lett. 9(1), (2022) https://doi.org/10.1186/s40562-022-00249-4

  • Nasir, M.J., Iqbal, J., Ahmad, W.: Flash flood risk modeling of swat river sub-basins : a comparative analysis of morphometric ranking approach and El-Shamy approach. Arab. J. Geosci. 13(20), 1–19 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nitheshnirmal, S., Thilagaraj, P., Rahaman, S.A., Jegankumar, R.: Erosion risk assessment through morphometric indices for prioritisation of Arjuna watershed using ALOS-PALSAR DEM. Modeling Earth Syst. Environ. 5(3), 907–924 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Potter, K.W., Faulkner, E.B.: catchment response time as a predictor of flood quantiles 1. Jawra J. Am. Water Resour. Assoc. 23(5), 857–861 (1987)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sajadi, P., Singh, A., Mukherjee, S., Sang, Y.F., Chapi, K., Salari, M.: Drainage network extraction and morphometric analysis in an Iranian basin using integrating factor analysis and geospatial techniques. Geocarto Int. 37(3), 896–925 (2022)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sankriti, R., Subbarayan, S., Aluru, M., Reddy, N., & Ayyakkannu, S.: Morphometric analysis and prioritization of sub-basins s of Himayatsagar catchment, Ranga Reddy District, Telangana, India using remote sensing and GIS techniques. Int. J. Syst. Assur. Eng. Manag. 1–13 (2021)

  • Sarkar, D., Mondal, P., Sutradhar, S., Sarkar, P.: Morphometric analysis using SRTM-DEM and GIS of Nagar River Basin, Indo-Bangladesh Barind Tract. J. Indian Soc. Remote Sens. 48(4), 597–614 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schumn, S.A.: Evaluation of drainage systems and slopes in badlands at Perth Amboy, New Jersy. Bull. Geol. Soc. Am. 67, 597–646 (1956)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, S., Singh, M.C.: Morphometric analysis of Kanhar river basin. Natl. Geogr. J. India 43(1), 31–43 (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  • Singha, C., Swain, K.C., Meliho, M., Abdo, H.G., Almohamad, H., Al-Mutiry, M.: Spatial analysis of flood hazard zoning map using novel hybrid machine learning technique in Assam, India. Remote Sens. 14(24), 6229 (2022)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, K.G.: Standards for grading texture of erosional topography. Am. J. Sci. 248(9), 655–668 (1950)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strahler, A.N.: Quantitative analysis of watershed geomorphology. Trans. Am. Geophys. Union. 38, 913–920 (1957)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strahler, A.N.: Quantitative geomorphology of drainage basins and channel networks. In: Chow, V.T. (ed.) Handbook of Applied Hydrology. McGraw Hill Book Company, New York (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Strahler, A.N.: Dynamic basis of geomorphology. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 63(9), 923–938 (1952)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strahler, A.N.: Quantitative slope analysis. Geo. Soc. Am. Bull. 67(5), 571–596 (1956)

  • Strahler, A.N.: Quantitative geomorphology. In: Fairbridge RW (ed) The encyclopedia of geomorphology. Reinhold Book Crop., New York (1968)

  • Sutradhar, S., Mondal, P.: Prioritization of watersheds based on morphometric assessment in relation to flood management: a case study of Ajay river basin, Eastern India. Watershed Ecol. Environ. 5, 1–11 (2023)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taha, M.M., Elbarbary, S.M., Naguib, D.M., El-Shamy, I.Z.: Flash flood hazard zonation based on basin morphometry using remote sensing and GIS techniques: a case study of Wadi Qena basin, Eastern Desert, Egypt. Remote Sens. Appl. 8, 157–167 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  • Youssef, A.M., Pradhan, B., Hassan, A.M.: Flash flood risk estimation along the St. Katherine road, southern Sinai, Egypt using GIS based morphometry and satellite imagery. Environ. Earth Sci. 62(3), 611–623 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geography Department, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Tartous University, Tartous, Syria

    Hazem Ghassan Abdo

  2. Geography Department, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria

    Hazem Ghassan Abdo

  3. Geography Department, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria

    Hazem Ghassan Abdo

  4. Department of Geography, College of Arabic Language and Social Studies, Qassim University, Buraydah, 51452, Saudi Arabia

    Hussein Almohamad & Ahmed Abdullah Al Dughairi

  5. Department of Geography, Justus Liebig University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany

    Hussein Almohamad

  6. Department of Applied Geology, School of Applied Natural Science, Adama Science and Technology University, Adama, Ethiopia

    Shankar Karuppannan

Authors
  1. Hazem Ghassan Abdo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hussein Almohamad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ahmed Abdullah Al Dughairi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Shankar Karuppannan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hazem Ghassan Abdo.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

This article does not contain any studies with human or living participants.

Compliance with ethical standards

This article does not contain any studies involving human participants performed by any of the authors.

Consent for publication

The research does not involve human subjects or living participants in the study, so no consent is required from any individual for publication.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Abdo, H.G., Almohamad, H., Al Dughairi, A.A. et al. Sub-basins prioritization based on morphometric analysis and geographic information systems: a case study of the Barada river basin, Damascus countryside governorate, Syria. Proc.Indian Natl. Sci. Acad. 89, 376–385 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43538-023-00168-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43538-023-00168-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation