Drainage Basin Morphometric Parameters of River Lamurde: Implication for Hydrologic and Geomorphic Processes

This study has examined the drainage basin morphometric parameters of River Lamurde and its implication on hydrologic and geomorphic processes. Various morphometric parameters of the drainage basin were calculated based on literatures. Lamurde basin is a fourth stream order with dendritic pattern of drainage. The results of the study indicated that the drainage basin area is 553.9 km2, basin perimeter 197.5 km, form factor 0.19, circulatory ratio 0.5 and drainage texture is 03. The stream frequency of the study area is 0.11 stream segments per square kilometer, drainage density (Dd) is 0.389 km/km2, bifurcation ratio 3.85 and length of overland flow is 0.13 km. The drainage density, bifurcation ratio and circulatory ratio values indicate that the basin has a gentle slope, more elongated and highly permeable bedrock. The relief ratio of the basin is characterized by less resistant rocks. Both values of stream frequency and drainage density show that Lamurde basin has a low relief and by implication has a low response to surface runoff. This basin shape parameters indicates that the basin has a flatter peak of flow for longer duration. The morphometric parameters studied using GIS has helped us to understand various terrain characteristics such as the nature of the bedrock, infiltration capacity, runoff etc.