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Morphometric analysis of a subtropical Andean basin (Tucumán, Argentina)

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

A morphometric analysis was done to determine the drainage characteristics of Lules River basin using land-sat imageries and topographical maps. This catchment was divided into seven sub-basins for the analysis: Liquimayo, Hoyada, Ciénaga, De Las Tablas, Siambón, Potrerillo and San Javier. Yungas ecoregion covers almost all the watershed. The drainage patterns of the sub-basins are dendritic and parallel. The basin includes seventh order stream and lower streams order mostly dominate the basin. The development of stream segments is affected by slope and local relief. The mean bifurcation ratio indicates that the drainage pattern is not much influenced by geological structures. The shape parameters also reveal the elongation of the basin and sub-basins.

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Acknowledgements

Particular thanks to Geól. E Guido Cátedra de Geografía Física UNT, for their outstanding help with this paper, and to Fernández HR and Cisterna E for providing ideas and contributing data used. This work was supported by Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica PICT:01-12529 and the Argentine National Council of Scientific Research (CONICET).

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Correspondence to L. M. Mesa.

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Mesa, L.M. Morphometric analysis of a subtropical Andean basin (Tucumán, Argentina). Environ Geol 50, 1235–1242 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0297-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0297-y

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