Morphometric analysis of Klina River basin using geospatial technology and open access datasets

According to the Water Framework Directive 2000/60 EC, the river basin is the basic unit for integrated water management at the basin level. In this sense, the knowledge of the morphometric parameters of the river takes on special importance. Morphometric analysis helps in understanding the geo-hydrological characteristics of a river basin. Various authors point out that the morphometric analyses of a drainage watershed demonstrate the dynamic equilibrium that has been achieved due to the interaction between matter and energy. The analysis of morphometric parameters also facilitates and helps to understand the hydrological relations of the basin. This paper deals with the morphometric analysis of sub-basins in the Klina River basin which is located in the northeastern part of the Dukagjini depression. To determine the morphometric parameters in the Klina River basin, the digital relief model from the Advanced Land Observation Satellite (ALOS) platform with a resolution of 20 × 20 m and the ArcMap 10.5 software were used. The results reveal that the total number of streams is 753 of which 602 are 1st order streams, 119 - 2nd order, 23 - 3rd order, 6 - 4th order, 2 - 5th order, and 1 - 6th order streams. The mean bifurcation ratio is 3.81, drainage density is 1.52 km∙km-2. The data and information presented in this study will be helpful and interesting in the plan of the management of Klina River basin which covers an area of 477 km2 within which is estimated to live about 100,000 inhabitants.