Morphometric Analysis of Sakran River Basin Using GIS Technologies

Abstract

CrossRef DOI 

The main Sakaran River basin is located in the far north-east of Iraq, east of Erbil Governorate. Within the zone of “distorted” creeping and thrusting faults. Where structures rush over each other, overturning folds, and complex mountainous terrain. An analysis of some of the most important hydromorphometric characteristics of the main Sakran River basin and its subbasins was carried out using geographic information systems. And an evaluation of some topographic and morphometric features and the extent of their impact on water surface runoff rates and the speed of arrival of flood waves, and thus, soil erosion, in order to improve watershed management. The study revealed that the main Sakran River basin is going through a young stage in the development of the river geomorphological cycle, in which the forces of uplift and depression are balanced, and moderate amounts of sediment are produced, in an area characterized by rain and snowfall. Also, the river consists of a sixth-order stream, a fifth-order channel for its two secondary basins, Sikanian and Sakran 1, and a fourth-order channel for its secondary basin, Sakran 2. An anomaly of  was found for class 4 order, which indicates the length of their surface runoff, and thus the increased opportunities for underground recharge in them. As for the upper watercourses, they flow through steep and dissected mountainous terrain, which facilitates surface runoff and reduces groundwater recharge opportunities and, consequently, lower groundwater potential in areas of these orders. The morphological characteristics indicated that the structural factor, the extension of the folds, and the length of the water dividing lines influenced the definition of the basin in an oval shape, with medium flood peaks. As the values of , , , ,  and  increase, the opportunities for surface runoff increase and the opportunities for ground recharge decrease. The nature of the region was dominated by steep slope and complex mountain slopes, thus reducing groundwater potential.