The document presents a geomorphological analysis of the upper Cauvery landforms in Karnataka, India, detailing its drainage density, hypsometric properties, and morphometric characteristics. The study area, encompassing 10,874.65 km², indicates a mature watershed stage with a hypsometric integral value of 0.57 and various drainage and relief metrics demonstrating low infiltration and high runoff characteristics. Key findings include a circularity ratio of 0.26 and a drainage density of 1.43 km/km², reflecting the area's coarse texture and mature geomorphic development.

1. © 2019, IJSRMS All Rights Reserved 33
International Journal of Scientific Research in _______________________________ Research Paper .
Multidisciplinary Studies E-ISSN: 2454-9312
Vol.5, Issue.10, pp.33-38, October (2019) P-ISSN: 2454-6143
Geomorphological Analysis of Landforms of Upper Cauvery Karnataka
India
Mohammed Badiuddin Parvez1
*, M Inayathulla2
1,2
Dept. of Civil Engineering, UVCE, Bangalore University, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
*Corresponding Author: parvezuvce@gmail.com Tel.: +919060506390
Available online at: www.isroset.org
Received: 29/Sept/2019, Accepted: 16/Oct/2019, Online: 31/Oct/2019
Abstract: Landforms together make up a given terrain, and their arrangement in the landscape is known as topography. The
Study Area lies between 750
29’ 19” E and 760
37’ 40” E longitude and 110
55’ 54” N and 130
23’ 12.8” N latitude. The study
area covers an area of 10874.65 km2
, having maximum length of 143.73 km. Drainage density is 1.43 km/km2
hence area is of
coarse texture. The length of overlandflow is less than 0.4 indicating more runoff less infiltration. The study of hypsometric
properties of watershed using hypsometric integral (HI) and hypsometric curve retrieved in that, HI value is 0.57 and hence
watershed falls under the Mature Stage. Circularity ratio is 0.26 which shows that the drainage area is less circular.
Keywords: DEM, Drainage Density, GIS, Hypsometry, Stream Frequency, Stream Length.
I. INTRODUCTION
The Cauvery river enters Tamil Nadu at Hognekal of
Dharmapuri district from the west and takes a southern
course from Mettur and again takes south-eastern course at
Erode and then flows to Bay of Bengal flowing through
Trichirapalli, Thanjavur and Cuddalore districts. The study
area forms part of Cauvery basin, which lies on left banks of
Cauvery river. Lakshmantirtha river is a major tributary to
river Cauvery and has its originates in Brahmagiri Devasi
Hills of Western Ghats in southern Kodagu district and
flows through a distance of about 130 km. It enters the
Mysore district near Chikkahejjur, south west of Konana
Hosahalli in Hunsur taluk and flows through Hangodu,
Hunsur and Kattemalavadi before its confluence with
Cauvery on the right side at Sagarkatte in Krishnarajanagar
taluk.
Watershed is a natural hydrological entity from which runoff
resulting from precipitation flows past a single point into
large stream, river, lake or ocean. Morphometric analysis
provides quantitative description of the basin geometry to
understand initial slope or inequalities in the rock hardness,
structural controls, recent diastrophism, geological and
geomorphic history of drainage basin (Strahler, 1964).
Morphometric analysis requires measurement of linear
features, gradient of channel network and contributing
ground slopes of the drainage basin. . A major emphasis in
geomorphology over the past several decades has been on
the development of quantitative physiographic methods to
describe the evolution and behavior of surface drainage
networks (Horton, 1945). The influence of drainage
morphometry is very significant in understanding the
landform processes, soil physical properties and erosional
characteristics. The hypsometric analysis can be used as a
morphometric parameter, i.e. hypsometric integral, to
deduce its relationship with the area of watersheds.
Statistical analysis of these parameters has been carried out
by classifying them into different classes based on the
natural breaks method. This brings out strong relationships
for hypsometric integral classes and area classes with the
number of watersheds in respective classes and the total area
occupied by respective hypsometric and area classes.
II. MATERIALS AND METHODS
2.1 Study Area
The study area geographically lies between 750
29’ 19” E
and 760
37’ 40” E longitude and 110
55’ 54” N and 130
23’ 12.8” N latitude, as shown in Fig 1, the study area has an
area of 10874.65 Sq km. The maximum length and width of
the study area is approximately equal to 143.73 km and
96.75 km respectively. The maximum and minimum
elevation of the basin is 1867 m and 714 m above MSL,
respectively. The study area covers five district of Karnataka
state i.e., Chikmangalur, Hassan, Kodagu, Mandya and
Mysore as shown in Fig 2. The maximum average annual
rainfall in the catchment is 1072.66 mm has been recorded in
the year 2005 and minimum average annual rainfall of
524.58 mm in 1998. June, July and August are the months
with heavy rainfall and rainfall in July was the heavies

2. Int. J. Sci. Res. in Multidisciplinary Studies Vol. 5(10), Oct 2019
© 2019, IJSRMS All Rights Reserved 34
Fig 1 Location Map of Study Area
Fig 2 Districts in study area
Table 1: Distribution of district area
Sl
No
District Name Area
(sq_km)
Percentage
area
1 Chikmangalur 761.12 7.00
2 Hassan 4476.15 41.16
3 Kodagu 2559.4 23.54
4 Mandya 1006.56 9.26
5 Mysore 2071.42 19.05
Total Area 10874.65 100%
2.2 Methodology
2.2.1 Morphometric analysis
DEM data is used to calculate the flow direction a staple for
determining many important hydrologic parameters stream
network is determined by using Arc GIS tools. Quantitative
morphometric analysis was carried out for watershed for
linear aspects, areal aspects and relief aspects. The analysis
was carried out using Arc GIS.
Fig 3 DEM Map
Fig 4 Flow Direction

3. Int. J. Sci. Res. in Multidisciplinary Studies Vol. 5(10), Oct 2019
© 2019, IJSRMS All Rights Reserved 35
Fig 5 Stream Order
2.2.2 Hypsometric Analysis
The curve shows how much area lies above and below
marked elevation intervals. The areas used are therefore
those of horizontal slices of the topography at any given
level. This method produces a cumulative curve, any point
on which expresses the total area (reduced to horizontal
projection) lying above that plane [4].
The curve can also be shown in non-dimensional or
standardized form by scaling elevation and area by the
maximum values. The non-dimensional hypsometric curve
provides a hydrologist or a geo-morphologist with a way to
assess the similarity of watersheds.
A hypsometric curve is a histogram or cumulative
distribution function of elevations in a geographical area.
Differences in hypsometric curves between landscapes arise
because the geomorphic processes that shape the landscape
may be different.
Hypsometric curve is developed and maintained in a steady
state as relief slowly diminishes. The monadnock phase with
abnormally low hypsometric integral, when it does occur,
can be regarded as transitory, because removal of the
monadnock will result in restoration of the curve to the
equilibrium form. From inspection of many natural
hypsometric curves and the corresponding maps, A N
Strahler estimates that transition from the inequilibrium
(youthful) stage to the equilibrium (mature) stage
corresponds roughly to a hypsometric integral of 60%, but
that where monadnocks become conspicuous features the
integrals drop below 35%.The hypsometric integral was
estimated using the elevation-releif ratio method proposed
by Pike and Wison (1971).
The relationship is expressed as
Where,
Emean = mean elevation of the watershed
Emin = minimum elevation within the watershed
Emax = maximum elevation within the watershed.
Fig 6 Elevation Map
Fig 7 Drainage Map

4. Int. J. Sci. Res. in Multidisciplinary Studies Vol. 5(10), Oct 2019
© 2019, IJSRMS All Rights Reserved 36
III. RESULTS
3.1 Morphometric analysis
Quantitative Morphometric analysis were carried out for watershed. The results of Morphometric characteristics are presented
in Tables 1 and 2.
Table 2 Morphometric Parameters
Sl No Watershed Parameters Units Values
1 Watershed Area Sq.Km 10874.65
2 Perimeter of the Watershed Km 717.76
3 Watershed Stream Highest Order No. 8
4 Maximum Length of watershed Km 143.73
5 Maximum width of Watershed Km 96.75
6 Cumulative Stream Segment Km 15939.00
7 Cumulative Stream Length Km 15566.55
8 Drainage Density Km /Sq.km 1.43
9 Constant of Channel Maintenance Sq.Km/Km 0.70
10 Stream Frequency No/Sq.Km 1.47
11 Bifurcation Ratio 3.98
12 Length Ratio 2.13
13 Form Factor 0.53
14 Shape Factor 1.90
15 Circularity Ratio 0.26
16 Elongation Ratio 0.82
17 Compactness Coefficient 1.94
18 Total Watershed Relief m 1123
19 Relief Ratio 0.0078
20 Relative Relief 0.0016
21 Ruggedness Number 0.0016
22 Texture Ratio 17.49
Table 3 Morphometric Characteristics
Stream order No. Of streams
Total length of
streams (km)
Cumulative length
(km)
Mean stream
length (km)
Bifurcation
ratio (km) Length ratio
1 12557 8020.617 8020.617 0.639
2 2648 3946.756 11967.373 1.490 4.742 2.333
3 561 1801.898 13769.271 3.212 4.720 2.155
4 132 914.479 14683.750 6.928 4.250 2.157
5 31 333.676 15017.426 10.764 4.258 1.554
6 7 324.379 15341.805 46.340 4.429 4.305
7 2 207.446 15549.251 103.723 3.500 2.238
8 1 17.300 15566.551 17.300 2.000 0.167
3.2 Hypsometric analysis
Table 4 Calculations of Percentage Hypsometric curve
Sl No
Elevation
(m)
Area
(sq.km)
Altitude
(m)
Elevation
difference
e/E
cumulative
area
(Sq.km)
a/A
1 714 0.000 1837.00 1123.00 1.000 0.000 0.000
2 714-750 94.492 1800.00 1086.00 0.967 94.492 0.009
3 750-800 802.933 1750.00 1036.00 0.923 897.426 0.083
4 800-850 1998.343 1700.00 986.00 0.878 2895.769 0.266
5 850-900 2517.978 1650.00 936.00 0.833 5413.747 0.498
6 900-950 2371.564 1600.00 886.00 0.789 7785.310 0.716
7 950-1000 1572.583 1550.00 836.00 0.744 9357.894 0.861
8 1000-1050 681.033 1500.00 786.00 0.700 10038.927 0.923

5. Int. J. Sci. Res. in Multidisciplinary Studies Vol. 5(10), Oct 2019
© 2019, IJSRMS All Rights Reserved 37
9 1050-1100 326.892 1450.00 736.00 0.655 10365.819 0.953
10 1100-1150 196.987 1400.00 686.00 0.611 10562.806 0.971
11 1150-1200 122.348 1350.00 636.00 0.566 10685.153 0.983
12 1200-1250 74.248 1300.00 586.00 0.522 10759.401 0.989
13 1250-1300 47.615 1250.00 536.00 0.477 10807.016 0.994
14 1300-1350 25.698 1200.00 486.00 0.433 10832.714 0.996
15 1350-1400 16.019 1150.00 436.00 0.388 10848.733 0.998
16 1400-1450 13.735 1100.00 386.00 0.344 10862.468 0.999
17 1450-1500 5.742 1050.00 336.00 0.299 10868.210 0.999
18 1500-1550 3.025 1000.00 286.00 0.255 10871.235 1.000
19 1550-1600 1.801 950.00 236.00 0.210 10873.036 1.000
20 1600-1650 0.877 900.00 186.00 0.166 10873.913 1.000
21 1650-1700 0.501 850.00 136.00 0.121 10874.414 1.000
22 1700-1750 0.199 800.00 86.00 0.077 10874.613 1.000
23 1750-1800 0.081 750.00 36.00 0.032 10874.694 1.000
24 1800-1837 0.018 714.00 0.00 0.000 10874.711 1.000
The study of hypsometric properties of the present area
using hypsometric integral (HI) and hypsometric curve
retrieved in that, HI value is 0.57 and hence the sub basin
falls under the mature stage.
Fig 6 Hypsometric Curve
Fig 7:Stream Order vs No of Streams
Fig 8 : Stream Order vs Mean stream length
IV. CONCLUSIONS
The length of overland flow in present study is less than 0.4.
Hence, the Watersheds selected for study have smaller flow
paths associated with less infiltration and high runoff. The
drainage density reflects the land use, affects the infiltration
and watershed response time between precipitation and
discharge. The drainage density of the area is 1.43 km/km2
indicating that the area is coarse texture. The shape ratio
shows the Study area is less elongated to oval shape. Stream
frequency is Low. The bifurcation ratio is a dimensional
property and it ranges between 3 and 5 for watersheds in
which the geologic structures do not distort the drainage
pattern. The values of relief is 1123 m indicates that the
watershed has enough slope for the runoff to occur from the
remote point of the watershed to mouth. Circularity ratio is
0.26 which indicates the area under consideration is in the
mature stage. The higher relative relief indicates that it is
composed of resistant rock patches and lower relief ratio
indicates less resistant patches of rocks. The study of
hypsometric properties of Subbasin using hypsometric
integral (HI) and hypsometric curve retrieved in that, HI
value is 0.57 and hence Area falls under the Mature Stage.
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
-0.500 0.000 0.500 1.000 1.500
e/E
a/A
Hypsometric curve

6. Int. J. Sci. Res. in Multidisciplinary Studies Vol. 5(10), Oct 2019
© 2019, IJSRMS All Rights Reserved 38
REFERENCES
[1] A1 Saud M.Morphometric Analysis of Wadi Aurnah Drainage
System Western Arabian Peninsula.(2009)
[2] Mohammed Badiuddin Parvez, Chalapathi K and M Inayathulla. "
Analysis of Landforms of a Mini Watershed of Manvi Taluk,
Raichur District Karnataka" International Journal of Innovative
Research in Technology Volume 6 Issue 4 September 2019 Page
105-109
[3] Mohammed Badiuddin Parvez, and M .Inayathulla. "Morphometry,
Hypsometry Analysis and Runoff Estimation of Aam Talab
Watershed Raichur, Karnataka" International Journal Of Advance
Research And Innovative Ideas In Education Volume 5 Issue 3 2019
Page 1713-1727
[4] Mohammed Badiuddin Parvez, M Inayathulla, "Rainfall Analysis
for Modelling of IDF Curves for Bangalore Rural, Karnataka",
International Journal of Scientific Research in Multidisciplinary
Studies , Vol.5, Issue.8, pp.114-132, 2019
[5] Schumn,S.A.(1956).Evolution of drainage systems and slopes in
Badland, at Perth Amboy, NewJersey. Geological Society of
America, Bulletin.67:597-646.
Authors Profile
Mohammed Badiuddin Parvez Is a life
member of Indian Water Resources Society,
ASCE Born in Gangavathi, Obtained his
BE in Civil Engineering in the year 2009-
2013 from UVCE, Banagalore and M.E
with specialization in Water Resources
Engineering during 2013-2015 from UVCE, Bangalore
University and Pursuing Ph.D from Bangalore University.
And has 3 years of teaching experience. Till date, has
presented and published several technical papers in many
National and International seminars, Journals and
conferences.
Dr M Inayathulla Is a life member of
Environmental and Water Resources
Engineering (EWRI), ASCE, WWI,
ASTEE, ASFPM. Born in Karnataka,
Obtained his BE in Civil Engineering in the
year 1987-1991 from UBDT, Davanagere
and M.E with specialization on Water Resources
Engineering during 1992-1994 from UVCE, Bangalore
University and got Doctorate from Bangalore University 5.
Presently working as Professor at UVCE, Bangalore
University, India. And has more than 25 years of teaching
experience. Till date, has presented and published several
technical papers in many National and International
seminars and conferences.