Prioritization of Sub-Watersheds by Hypsometric Studies for Shimsha Watershed, Cauvery Basin, Karnataka, India Using Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques

Hypsometric of drainage basins (area-elevation analysis) have generally been used to reveal the stages of geomorphic development (stabilized, mature and young). In the present study, sub-watersheds of Shimsha basin were considered towards dimensionless properties of hypsometric integral and curve analysis using Cartosat-1 digital elevation model (DEM) version 1 of resolution 1 arc Sec (~32 m) data obtained from Bhuvan is processed in ArcGIS 10.3v and are effectively used for prioritization. It is observed from the hypsometric curves and hypsometric integral values in the sixth ordered (0.11 to 0.49) and seventh ordered (0.15 to 0.38) sub-watersheds are distributed equilibrium to inequilibrium as well as monadnock stage of geomorphic development. The erosion stage of the lower order watersheds influences its stage to the higher order watershed. If the watersheds will attain a maximum number of identical stage of development will directly indicates the higher watersheds will able to attain the equivalent feature. Basin hypsometry clearly depends on lithology, whereas lithological effect is minor on relief amplitude at various spatial scales. Thus, the hypsometric integral value can be used as an estimator of erosion status of watersheds leading to watershed prioritization for taking up soil and water conservation measures in watershed systems.