An Analysis of Landscape Diversity of the Kaljani River Basin of Eastern India using Morphometric Variables and WCA-PCA Methods

Morphometric analysis provides crucial insights into the hydrological dynamics of surface lithology and the development of drainage networks within a drainage basin. This study aims to examine the morphometric features and landscape variability of the Kaljani River basin (KRB) through the application of remote sensing and GIS methodologies. This study focused on three key dimensions of basin morphometry: linear, areal, and relief. It included a range of parameters such as stream order, stream frequency, drainage density, drainage texture, constant of channel maintenance, length of overland flow, drainage intensity, infiltration number, absolute relief, average slope, relative relief, dissection index, ruggedness index, and roughness index. Understanding these elements is vital for assessing the basin's infiltration rates and runoff conditions, which play a significant role in river basin management practices, including soil erosion control, agricultural viability evaluation, and effective watershed management. A landscape diversity model of the KRB was developed using weighted compositing analysis (WCA) and principal component analysis (PCA). The PCA mapping of landscape diversity highlights that those three specific morphometric parameters, namely stream frequency, relative relief, and ruggedness index exhibit, a stronger correlation with landscape diversity, as indicated by their elevated loading values among the total of 13 parameters assessed. The resulting maps reveal that the northern part of the KRB displays a higher degree of landscape diversity. Conversely, most of the basin is categorized as having a very low level of landscape diversity. The lower catchment area shows a low to very low level of landscape diversity due to diminished factor loading in these areas. This region benefits from increased infiltration and reduced surface runoff, leading to lower risks of soil erosion and flash flooding. Furthermore, significant sediment deposition during the monsoon season enriches soil nutrients and productivity, enhancing its suitability for agriculture and human settlement.