GIS-Based Comparative Assessment of Erosional Status in Two Tropical River Basins

Hypsometric analysis is a powerful tool in identifying geomorphic stages and erosion status of a river basin. This study focuses on conducting hypsometric analyses on two prominent river basins in southern India, the Bharathapuzha River basin (BRB) and the Chaliyar River basin (CRB). The primary aim is to assess the erosion status of these basins by dividing them into sub-watersheds and analyzing the hypsometric parameters of each. The BRB was subdivided into 15 sub-watersheds, and we conducted individual hypsometric analyses for each of them. Among these sub-watersheds, W6, W8, W9, and W10 (eastern part of BRB) were identified as highly vulnerable to erosion. In the case of the CRB, hypsometric analysis indicated that 4 sub-watersheds are in mature stage and remaining in old stage. The four sub-watersheds in mature stage are susceptible to soil erosion when compared to others. This approach would also aid in the development of guidelines for managing soil, land, and water resources on a watershed level.