INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEOMATICS AND GEOSCIENCES

Volume 2, No 1, 2011
Copyright 2010 All rights reserved Integrated Publishing services

Research article

ISSN 0976 4380

Hypsometric Analysis of Varattaru River Basin of Harur Taluk,

Dharmapuri Districts, Tamilnadu, India using Geomatics Technology
Sivakumar. V1, Biju. C1, Benidhar Deshmukh2
1- Geomatics Solutions Development Group, Centre for Development of Advanced
Computing (C-DAC), Pune - 411007, India.
2- Discipline of Geology, School of Sciences, IGNOU, New Delhi, India.
vsivakumar@cdac.in

ABSTRACT
Hypsometric analysis describes the distribution of horizontal cross-sectional area of river
morphology with respect to elevation (area-altitude analysis). Morphology of a river basin
plays primary role in the dynamics of surface and subsurface water runoff generation. It is
also an essential tool to measure and represent the form of a watershed and its evolution. Aim
of the paper is to carry out the Hypsometric analysis of Varattaru river basin of Harur taluk,
Dharmapuri district, Tamilnadu using remote sensing and GIS technologies. Hypsometric
data were derived and analyzed for each of the divided sub zone of Varattaru river basin from
the 30 meter ASTER DEM. It was found that high-medium hypsometric integrals/elevationrelief ratios indicating a youthful to mature stage landscape, medium to complex
denudational processes, the linear river morphological changes of this river basin and remote
sensing data and open source tools it becomes less tedious to make hypsometric integrals and
curves. This paper emphasizes the rainwater harvest practices and management for the
watershed at suitable locations for controlling further erosion, reducing the runoff and
increases the groundwater potential.
Keywords: Hypsometric analysis, Geomatics technology, Harur, Varattaru river
1. Introduction
Hypsometric analysis (area-altitude analysis) is the study of the distribution of horizontal
cross-sectional area of a landmass with respect to elevation (Strahler, 1952). Naturally,
hypsometric analysis has been used to differentiate between erosional landforms at different
stages during their evolution (Strahler, 1952, Schumm, 1956). The statistical characteristic in
the hypsometric analysis includes the hypsometric integral (I), hypsometric curve,
hypsometric skewness, etc. (Wei Luo et al, 2003). Hypsometric integrals and hypsometric
curve are important indicators of watershed conditions (Ritter et al. 2002). The hypsometric
integral is the area beneath the curve, which relates the percentage of total relief to
cumulative percent of area and shape of the hypsometric curve, indicates age of the
catchment.
Hypsometric integrals and curves can be interpreted in terms of degree of basin dissection
and relative landform age: Convex-up curves with high integrals are typical for youthful
stage, undissected landscapes; smooth, s-shaped curves crossing the center of the diagram
characterize mature (equilibrium stage) landscapes, and concave-up with low integrals typify
old and deeply dissected landscapes (Strahler, 1952). It was also found by Strahler (1952)
that the hypsometric integral is inversely correlated with total relief, slope steepness, drainage
density and channel gradients. This provides a measure of the landform distribution of
landmass volume remaining beneath or above a basal reference plane. The hypsometric
Submitted on September 2011 published on November 2011

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Hypsometric Analysis of Varattaru River Basin of Harur Taluk, Dharmapuri Districts, Tamilnadu, India
using Geomatics Technology
Sivakumar. V, Biju. C, Benidhar Deshmukh

integral helps in explaining the erosion that had taken place in the watershed during the
health of watersheds. There is a lack of hypsometric analysis based studies for small river
basin like Varattaru river to analyze the watershed health, which is due to the tedious nature
of data acquisition and analysis involved for estimation. However, due to advent of remote
sensing data (including derived digital elevation models) and open source GIS tools, the
estimation process becomes easier than conventional methods. Considering the above facts,
this study was undertaken to highlight the rainwater harvest practices and management for
the watershed at suitable locations for controlling further erosion, reducing the runoff,
increases the groundwater potential and stages of landform development in the Varattaru
river basin.
2. Study Area
Varattaru river basin is located in the southeastern part of Harur Taluk, Dharmapuri district,
TamilNadu. It is located between Latitudes 1112 and Longitudes 78 79 (Figure 1).
Varattaru river is one of the major tributary of Vaniar river. . This river originates from
Chitteri hills and passes through Velimadurai, Keraipatti, Ellapudiampatti and joins the
Vaniar river at north east of Harur town. River basin boundary derived from Berkley
tophosheet scale 1:25000. The river basin has a total geographical area of 1005 sq km.
Varattaru river pass through major geomorphologic units such as valley fills denudation hills,
weathered pediplains, etc. Geologically the area broadly consists of Charnockite and Gneissic
rock. The important soil types encountered in the area can be broadly categorized into black
to mixed loam and red sandy soils. Elevation varies from 330m to 1300m approximately. The
yearly average rainfall observed is ~895 mm in the basin.

Figure 1: Study area map

3. Data and Method
ASTER DEMs were downloaded from USGS via internet and adjacent DEM were mosaicked
together because some part of basin span across few quadrangles. Landsat ETM 30m data
were downloaded to know the land use land cover pattern of this basin
International Journal of Geomatics and Geosciences
Volume 2 Issue 1, 2011

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Hypsometric Analysis of Varattaru River Basin of Harur Taluk, Dharmapuri Districts, Tamilnadu, India
using Geomatics Technology
Sivakumar. V, Biju. C, Benidhar Deshmukh

(http://www.landcover.org/index.shtml). Landsat ETM-MSS data of 30m spatial resolution

were fused with pan data of 15m spatial resolution to obtain detailed landcover information.
ASTER DEMs and Landsat fused imageries were clipped with reference to approximate
basin boundary (Figure 2 & 3). Hypsometric cure was derived for Varattaru river basin from
the 30m ASTER DEM. Figure 3 shows the DEM that was used for the landscape
characterization of the study area as suggested by Kokkas (2008). Calculation of the
hypsometric integral (i.e area under the hypsometric curve) was automated in System for
Automated Geoscientific Analyses (SAGA), an open source software using the hypsometric
function in morphomertric analysis (http://www.saga-gis.org). Integration of the hypsometric
curve gives the hypsometric integral (I). Pike and Wilson (1971) proved mathematically that
the elevation-relief ratio (E) which is defined as Integration of the hypsometric curve gives
the hypsometric integral (I). Pike and Wilson (1971) proved mathematically that the
elevation-relief ratio (E), which is defined as
E = (mean elevation minimum elevation)/ (maximum elevation minimum elevation)
is identical to the hypsometric integral (I) but has the advantage that it is much more easy to
obtain numerically (Singh et al. 2008). The output table contains the relative elevation,
relative area, absolute elevation and absolute area information. The output data were
normalised and generated hypsometric curve. Elevation contour was derived from DEM and
overlaid on Landsat ETM (Figure. 4). Slope map was derived from ASTER DEM for
understanding the topography relief variation (Figure. 5).

Figure 2: PAN-merged Landsat ETM - FCC Satellite imagery of study area. Reddish black
color shows vegetation cover including forest cover. Light red green color shows
agriculture and scrubs.

International Journal of Geomatics and Geosciences

Volume 2 Issue 1, 2011

243

Hypsometric Analysis of Varattaru River Basin of Harur Taluk, Dharmapuri Districts, Tamilnadu, India
using Geomatics Technology
Sivakumar. V, Biju. C, Benidhar Deshmukh

Figure 3: ASTER DEM of study area (Unit In meter)

Figure 4: Elevation contour overlaid on satellite image.

International Journal of Geomatics and Geosciences

Volume 2 Issue 1, 2011

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Hypsometric Analysis of Varattaru River Basin of Harur Taluk, Dharmapuri Districts, Tamilnadu, India
using Geomatics Technology
Sivakumar. V, Biju. C, Benidhar Deshmukh

Figure 5: Slope map.

4. Results and Discusion
Figure 6 shows the results of hypsometric analysis for the Varataru river basin. Hypsometric
curves show high-medium hypsometric integrals/elevation-relief ratios indicating a youthful
to mature stage landscape. Due to run-off there is more kinetic energy, the ground is cut away
faster so the curve of elevation versus area falls off more quickly. Sapping is a lower energy
process and so its curve appears rather flat at first and then falls off. In the study area,
approximately more than 80% of area (or volume) lay at elevations than mean elevation. It
was also observed that there was a combination of moderate convex-concave and slightly S
shape of the hypsometric curves for the Varattaru river basin. This could be due to the soil
erosion from the basin and down slope movement of topsoil and bedrock material, washout
of the soil mass and cutting of stream banks. The hydrologic response of the basin has
youthful stage, will have high to moderate rate of erosion during peak runoff and need
appropriate soil and water conservation measures. The hypsometric curve expresses medium
to complex denudational processes and the linear river morphological changes of this river
basin. This study suggests that many artificial recharge structures are suggested at many
places to increase the groundwater potential and to control the soil erosion. Low hypsometric
integral indicates suitable locations for recharge structures (Keripatti, Kilaparai,
Ellapudiampatti and near Harur) and moderate values are suitable sites for preventing soil
erosion and also runoff.

International Journal of Geomatics and Geosciences

Volume 2 Issue 1, 2011

245

Hypsometric Analysis of Varattaru River Basin of Harur Taluk, Dharmapuri Districts, Tamilnadu, India
using Geomatics Technology
Sivakumar. V, Biju. C, Benidhar Deshmukh

Figure 6: Hypsometric curve as obtained for river Varattaru.

5. Conclusions
This study highlights the importance of hypsomertic analysis for rainwater harvest practices
and management for the river basin at suitable locations for controlling further erosion,
reducing the runoff, increasing the groundwater potential and various stages of landform
processes in the Varattaru river basin. So with remote sensing data and open source tools it is
becomes less tedious to make hypsometric integrals and curves. Though, the available data
and the software module has some limitations, it can be considered to be an encouragement
for further study.
References
1.

Kokkas, N.A. and Miliaresis, G., (2008), Geomorphometric Mapping Of Grand

Canyon From The 1-Degree USGS DEMs, ISPRS, proceedings, XXXV,
www.isprs.org/proceedings/XXXV/congress/comm4/papers/460.pdf, Accessed on
20-Feb-2011.

2.

Pike, R.J. and Wilson, S.E. (1971), Elevation-relief ratio, hypsometric integral and
geomorphic area-altitude analysis, Geological Soc. Am. Bull., 82:1079-1084.

3.

Ritter, D.F., Kochel, R.C. and Miller, I.R. (2002), Process Geomorphology.
McGraw Hill, Boston.

4.

Strahler, A.N. (1952), Hypsometric (area-altitude) analysis of erosional

topography, Geological Soc. Am. Bull., 63, pp 1117-1141.

International Journal of Geomatics and Geosciences

Volume 2 Issue 1, 2011

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Hypsometric Analysis of Varattaru River Basin of Harur Taluk, Dharmapuri Districts, Tamilnadu, India
using Geomatics Technology
Sivakumar. V, Biju. C, Benidhar Deshmukh

5.

Schumm, S.A. (1956), Evolution of drainage systems and slopes in bad-lands at

Perth Amboy, New Jersey, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 67, pp 597646.

6.

Singh, O., Sarangi, A. and Sharma, M.C. (2008), Hypsometric integral estimation
methods and its relevance on erosion status of north-western Lesser Himalayan
Watersheds, Water Res. Mgt., 22, pp 1545-1560.

7.

Wei Luo and John M. Harlin, (2003), Theoretical Travel Time Based on Watershed
Hypsometry, Journal of the American Water Resources Association, pp 785 792.

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