geo-hydrological study of gandheshwari sub-watershed using ... · generation of slope using ‘3d...

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEOMATICS AND GEOSCIENCES

Volume 3, No 1, 2012

© Copyright by the authors - Licensee IPA- Under Creative Commons license 3.0

Research article ISSN 0976 – 4380

Submitted on May 2012 published on July 2012 204

Geo-Hydrological study of Gandheshwari Sub-watershed using Remote

Sensing and GIS Techniques Subodh Chandra Pal

1, Manisa Shit

2

1- Research Scholar, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, W.B., India

2- M.A. in Geography, C.S.J.M. University, Kanpur, India

[email protected]

ABSTRACT

The present study was conducted on Gandheshwari sub-watershed situated in Bankura

district of West Bengal. The remote sensing and GIS techniques have been proved to be very

efficient in identification geo-hydrological aspects of the study area. The various thematic

maps have been generated like Geology, geomorphology, hydro-geomorphology, geo-

hydrology, structure, soils and land use land cover helped in identification of the potential

zones for development planning and forecasting. Lineaments and their intersections appear to

be potential sites for groundwater. The study shows that the integration of all attributes

provide more accurate results in identification of geo-hydrological characteristics.

Key words: Geo-hydrology, hydro-geomorphology, remote sensing, GIS and GPS.

1. Introduction

Geo-hydrology and groundwater exploration means to identify and to locate the zone of

recharge of groundwater in a particular river basin or a catchment. Geological set up is

established for knowing about surface and subsurface nature of terrain. Topographic and

surface features are mapped in order to determine from highest to lowest area, where water

from different higher places can move and accumulate. These particular zones are present in

various terrains. The identification of such places from the entire area, are thus selected for

groundwater exploration. Remote sensing and GIS providing some useful information for

integrated resources development and environmental management in composition with

ground truths on soils, land use, vegetation, surface & groundwater, geology, landforms,

topography, settlements, among others, in a regional perspective. Remote Sensing techniques

are now being widely used for land resource surveys like this.

1.1 Study area

The study area is located in the upper reaches of Dwarkeswar watershed, from latitudes

23013'15", to 23

031'25" and from longitudes 86

053'11" to 87

08'. Gandheshwari is a tributary

of Dwarkeswar River which covers an area of 388.6015 km2. The climate is extreme with

maximum temperature up to 420C

and minimum temperature down to 6

0C. The annual

rainfall of the study area varies between 1055 and 1070.3 mm. The maximum amount of

rainfall received during the monsoon season from June to September about 80.73%. The

relative humidity in the month of April is 61(2008) and in the month of September is 99

(2008). The maximum altitude is 435 mt., demarcated in the middle part and the minimum

elevation is about 80 mt. observed in the southern part of the sub-watershed. This absolute

relief map is generated as shown in figure-6.

Geo-Hydrological Study of Gandheshwari Sub-watershed using Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques

Subodh Chandra Pal, Manisa Shit

International Journal of Geomatics and Geosciences

Volume 3 Issue 1, 2012 205

Figure 1: Map showing the study area

1.2 Data used

Survey of India (SOl) topographical sheets (73 M/3, 73 I/14 and 73 I/15) on 1:50,000 scales

have been used as a base map for the preparation of geo-hydrological study. Contours

available on SOI topographical maps have been used for the preparation of Digital Elevation

Model (DEM). SRTM data, Geological map (1:253,440 scale) published by Geological

Survey of India was also used. Except these, one satellite data (Table-1) is also used for this

work which is in the following.





Table 1: Details of the satellite data used in this study

Satellite Sensor Path/Row Bands Date of

acquisition

Spatial

Resolution

LANDSAT ETM+ 108/56 1,2,3,4 Nov. 18th

2006 30*30mts.

2. Objectives

The main objective of the present paper is to identify the geo-hydrological condition of the

entire study area.

2.1 Methodology

The methodology includes the generation of thematic layers on geomorphology, lithology,

slope and land use/ land cover of the area (described earlier). Geographic Information System

(ArcGIS 9.1) was used for the preparation of thematic layers. The weightages of individual

themes and feature score were fixed and added to each layers depending on their suitability to

hold groundwater. This process includes overlay analysis of several no of layers. A

probability weighted approach has been adopted that allows a linear combination of

probability weights of each thematic map and different categories of derived thematic maps

have been assigned scores, by assessing the importance of it in groundwater occurrence.

The maximum value is given to the feature with highest groundwater potentiality and the

minimum being to the lowest potential feature. The procedure of weighted linear combination

dominates in raster based GIS software systems. After assigning the weightages and scores to

the themes and features, all the themes were converted to raster format using ‘Spatial

analyst’, extension of ArcGIS software. The hydrogeomorphological map of the area was

finalized after field checks at selected locations for verifying the doubtful units. A detailed

ground water quality survey was also conducted to understand the groundwater flow of the

entire study area.

3. Results and discussion

3.1 Drainage Network

Drainage network analysis is important for geo-hydrological studies. Drainage pattern

reflects the characteristic of surface as well as subsurface formation. Drainage density (in

terms of km/km2) indicates closeness of spacing of channels as well as the nature of surface

material. More the drainage density, higher would be runoff. Thus, the drainage density

characterizes the runoff in the area or in other words, the quantum of relative rainwater that

could have infiltrated. Hence lesser the drainage density (Figure-3), higher is the probability

of recharge or potential groundwater zone. Hence, drainage density is an important index in

geo-hydrological studies, and can be evaluated from the satellite images or others. Drainage

map (Figure-2) of the study area reveals only two types of drainage patterns viz. dendritic and

radial.





Figure 2: Map showing the Stream Orders

Figure 3: Map showing the Drainage Density





3.2 Slope Analysis

Slope is one of the factors controlling the infiltration of groundwater into subsurface; hence

an indicator for the suitability for groundwater prospect. In the gentle slope area the surface

runoff is slow allowing more time for rainwater to percolate, whereas high slope area

facilitate high runoff allowing less residence time for rainwater hence comparatively less

infiltration. For the generation of slope, the digital elevation model (DEM) has done (Figure-

5) by the interpolation of contours, which in turn digitized from SOI Toposheets using

ArcGIS. DEM is a digital representation of continuous variation of topographic surface with

the elevation or ground height above any geodetic datum. The generated DEM is used for

generation of slope using ‘3D analyst’ an extension tool of ArcGIS. This helps for

appreciating, the terrain and a supporting factor for the slope analysis. The slope analysis has

been carried out in the sub-watershed level (Figure-4) and is divided into several classes

according to groundwater holding capacity.

Figure 4: Map showing the Average Slope





Figure 5: Map showing the Digital Elevation Model

Figure 6: Map showing the Absolute Relief





3.3 Lithology

In order to understand the groundwater conditions of the study area, a general lithological

map has been prepared with the help of LANDSAT ETM+ satellite imagery, geological map

(GSI) and ground truth. This may provide some information about the movement and storage

of ground water. As it is the extended part of the Chotonagpur plateau region therefore the

area is mainly covered with gneiss, granitic gneiss, pyroxene granulite, felspathic schist etc

(Figure-7). At places these are out cropped while at other places there are underlain by

weathered formation as evinced from the lithology of wells in the area. It is this weathered

and fractured zone, which forms potential groundwater zones. There are thin strips of

alluvium deposits seen along the stream course, which could be potential groundwater zones.

Figure 7: Map showing the Geological Structure

3.4 Structure

Lineament study (Figure-8) of the area from remotely sensed data provides important

information on sub-surface fractures that may control the movement and storage of ground

water (Pradeep Raj et al., 1996). Sub-surface permeability is a function of fracture density of

rocks (Sharma, 1979). In all 22 lineaments have been identified and marked in the area. They

are having varying dimensions and areal extents as well. Lineaments are nothing but the

manifestation of linear features that are identified from remote sensing data. These linear

features usually represent faults, fractures or shear zones and are identified on satellite images

on the basis of tonal contrast, stream / river alignment, and differences in vegetation and

knick-points in topography. The concentrations of lineaments are more in southern region of

the study area than the northern region. Therefore the density of lineaments increases to

words the lower reach of Gandheshwari river basin than the upper reach as well.





Figure 8: Map showing the Lineament Density

Figure 9: Map showing the Hydrogeomorphological Units





3.5 Hydro-Geomorphology

The drainage basin is a fundamental geomorphic unit and the watershed acts as a source area

for precipitation that eventually provide to the stream channels by various path. The drainage

basin morphology being an important aspect of geomorphic analysis has been undertaken in

the present context to determine the various properties of form elements, their distributional

variation, interrelationship, determination of correlation coefficients etc. Remote sensing

studies provide an opportunity for better observation and more systematic analysis of various

hydro-geomorphological units coupled with geological parameters in this study area which is

considered very useful technique in preparing integrated hydro-geomorphological maps for

targeting groundwater. The study area was broadly divided into several hydrogeomorphic

units (Figure-9), which are based on the visual interpretation of satellite imagery,

topographical map and field check. The delineation of the hydrogeomorphic unit aimed at

demarcating areas of ground water potential zones for development. These hydrogeomorphic

units (Table-2) were identified and verified during field checks and then a hydro-

geomorphological map was prepared.

Table 2: Details of hydro-geomorphological units and their characteristics

Hydro-

geomorphological

units

Description

Soil characteristics and

existing land use /land

cover

Groundwater

prospects

Alluvial plain/Flood

plain

Flat surface adjacent to

stream/river, composed by

Clay, Silt and Sand.

Moderately deep to deep, fine

textured moderately well drained

soils. Moderate limitation of

wetness. Single crop cultivation.

Good

Colluvial Valley fills

Accumulation zone of

colluvial materials derived

from surrounding uplands;

shallow to deep; fine loamy

to clayey soils.


textured moderately well drained

soils. Moderate limitation of

wetness. Single crop mainly

terrace cultivation.

Moderate to

good

Buried pediment

(shallow)

Nearly flat to gently

sloping topography,

shallow to moderately

deep, loamy soils

followed by regolith

zone.

Very shallow to shallow coarse

textured soil with occasional

weathered outcrops of country

rocks. Wastelands with or

without scrub. Shallow to

moderately deep, loamy skeletal

soil. Single crop area low

productive potential

Poor

Buried pediment

(moderate)

Gently sloping topography;

very deep, clayey to fine

loamy soils.


textured loamy skeletal to coarse

loamy soil. Single crop area with

marginal ‘rabi’ crops. Medium

productive potential.

Moderate

Buried pediment

(deep)

Gently sloping zone of

colluvial and alluvial

sediments at the foot of the

hill.


textured loamy soil. Single crop

cultivation with low productive

potential.

Moderate

Washed plains

Nearly flat surface along the

rivers formed of recent

sediments.


textured loamy soil. Single crop

cultivation with moderate

productive potential.

Good

Denudational upland

with Inselberg

Broad uplands of

considerable elevation,

steeply sloping on all

Very shallow, coarse loamy soil

on moderately steep to very steep

hill slopes and escarpments

Poor





3.6 Land Use and Land Cover

Land use/land cover is one of the important parameter for the geo-hydrological study because

the land use pattern of any terrain is a reflection of the complex physical processes acting

upon the surface of the earth. These processes include impact of climate, geologic and

topographic conditions on the distribution of soils, vegetation and occurrence of water. So it

is necessary for future development and management to have timely and reliable information

on environmental status through land use studies. The land use /land cover data sets are

generated from the digital image classification of LANDSAT, ETM+ satellite images. This

classification is performed taking nine classes within the entire study area, namely water

body, dense forest, mixed forest, agriculture, agriculture fallow land, lateritic up land, built

up land, dry fallow land and sand (Figure-10). Overall accuracy achieved is 89%, after

carrying out an accuracy assessment using ground truth (reference sample points) data sets.

Figure 10: Land use/ Land cover Map

directions.

having different degrees of

hardness. Open to dense forest

and plantation. Not suitable for

agriculture / pasture /orchards.

Lineaments/faults Linear fractures of joints,

fractures, faults. -----------------------

Good to

moderate





3.7 Groundwater Potential Zones

After the integration of all thematic maps, resulted map has been classified into several

groundwater potential zones (Figure-11). Groundwater potential map clearly indicate that

alluvial plain which is composed of sand, silt and clay with nearly level slope and very low

drainage density has very good potentiality and development and valley fills associated with

lineaments is highly promising area for groundwater extraction. The structural hills,

denudational hills and residual hills are considered as poor to very poor groundwater

potential zone. However, these land landforms act as run-off zones because of their steep

slope. Lineaments particularly joints, fractures and their intersection enhances the potential of

hydrogeomorphic units. Thus the generated groundwater potential map serves as a base line

for future exploration.

Figure 11: Map of the Groundwater Potential Zones

3.8 Ground Water Scenario

The occurrence and movement of groundwater depend upon the rock formations present in

the area. It also depends upon the topography, structure, and geomorphology, as well as

hydro-geological properties of the water-bearing materials. The movement of groundwater

concentrating towards the north-north-west direction to south-south-east direction where the

seasonal groundwater fluctuation are also take in to account which is fully based on the field

data of open dug-well (Figure-12 and 13). Alluvium comprises of silt, sand, and clay





particles; it is an excellent aquifer; while rests of the others are showing moderate or poor

aquifer.

3.9 Groundwater favourable Zone

The hydro-geomorphological units (Figure-9) such as Alluvial Plain, Valley Fills, are most

favourable zones for groundwater exploration & development in the study. Hence, these areas

are marked as good to very good favourable zones. In case of Buried Pediment with lateritic

upland (deep, moderate, shallow) region have been identified as a moderate favourable zone

and the region of denudational upland with inselberg with low lineament density has been

identified as the least favourable zone for groundwater exploration & development in the

study. A glance at Figure-11 reveals that the southern part of the study area have excellent

groundwater potential as compared to the upper middle basin and north-north-eastern part of

the basin. These are also verified from field. This information is very useful for the further

groundwater development in the study area.

Figure 12: Map showing the Groundwater condition at Pre-monsoon season





Figure 13: Map showing the Groundwater condition at Post-monsoon season

4. Conclusion

Remote sensing and GIS techniques have been used to integrate various geoinformative

thematic maps, which play major role for the geo-hydrological study. The integrated

groundwater potential map has been categorized on the basis of cumulative weightage

assigned to different features of thematic maps. Further, comparison of groundwater yield

data collected from the field also supports that there are more number of high-yield wells in

the favourable zones derived from GIS. The integrated map thus deciphered could be useful

for various purposes such as development of sustainable scheme for groundwater in the area.

From the results it is suggested that, proper rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge

methods and measures should be implemented in the moderate to nil potential zones to

overcome the water scarcity problem.





Acknowledgement

Author express special thanks to Mr. Subrata Pan, Assistant Professor of Geography Dept.

(HOD), Bankura Christian College for given guide lines written this paper.

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