Geomorphometric Analysis of Maroon River by Digital Elevation Model

Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) are used to estimate different morphologies, analysis of river profile, delineating drainage basin and drainage pattern associated with lithological and structural changes. The study area is Maroon River located in Khuzestan Province, Iran. In this study geomorphometric analysis based on DEM carried out to understand Maroon river uplift rate and tectonic- erosion relationships in its catchment. Geomorphic processes, such as stream length gradient, Hypsometric Integral, Isobase map, Incision map and concavity of the river were extracted from digital elevation model. Slope- Area plot was used for analysis of uplift rate and stream power of the river. Results show that the changes in stream length (SL) are because of lithological change in the study area. More erodible lithologies cause low SL values. Isobase map of the study area was obtained by relating drainage network and topographic surface. Isobase map delineate structural and lithological erosional processes. Hypsometric integral and hypsometric curve of the Maroon River catchment indicates a old catchment, so erosion is more effective in landscape evolution than tectonics. Uplift rate map of Maroon River shows different rates in upstream and downstream of the river. Concavity and Steepness indices were obtained using stream profile analysis and by using power function, uplift rate is calculated. Logarithmic regression of the area and slope values of the Maroon River lead to calculating concavity and steepness values. It is concluded form this investigation that erosional condition is more powerful in the study area.