Comparative analysis of morphometric variables of river basins based on digital terrain modeling in GIS

Tambov State University named after G.R. Derzhavin, Tambov, Russia

¹ Corresponding author: ka_kuzmin@mail.ru

Abstract

The results of a comparative morphometric analysis of the relief of river basins, made on the basis of a digital elevation model (DEM) in software environments QGIS and SAGA GIS, are presented. The basins of the Polnoy Voronezh and the Chembar rivers became the objects of digital modeling and calculations. The first basin is located on the Oka- Don Lowland with a relatively flat relief, the second is significantly dissected and located on the Volga Upland. A hypsometric map is constructed and the distribution of the surface area of the basins in terms of absolute height is shown. Calculations of leading morphometric variables were made for the rivers Polnoy Voronezh, Chembar and their tributaries, whose catchment areas exceed 50 km². Among these variables: the shape and slope of the longitudinal profile, river fall, vertical dissection, the average gradient of catchment slopes Based on the principles of basin nature management, the obtained quantitative data on the relief can be useful for carrying out balance calculations of the movement of liquid and solid runoff, determining the living conditions of aquatic organisms within catchments, developing projects for soil and water protection measures, improving the structure of land use, and implementing projects to preserve the species biodiversity of river ecosystems.