Abstract
Drainage network pattern preserves an important history of river activity in response to regional tectonics and morphologic evolution. Various drainage morphometric parameters in the Lishui River basin and their correlation with tectonics have long been a challenge. In this paper, a detailed morphometric analysis including drainage asymmetry and anomalous morphological features was made by utilizing field data and a Digital Elevation Model (DEM), using Geographic Information System (GIS). The entire study basin was divided into 32 sub-basins so that the spatial variation of morphological parameters and its link to tectonics could be analyzed. Our study indicates that higher values in parameters occurred in the north Lishui River basin, which are associated with more mature drainage networks and largely differ from those of the south Lishui catchment. The basin asymmetry and relief features suggested the different stages of morphologic evolution on both sides. At least seven tectonic events have been identified in the study area. We speculate that these tectonic events initiated an important role in the formation of the geomorphic configuration of the Lishui Catchment. In addition, higher terrace sequences are selectively presented in the Loushui, Maoxi, and Youshui River valleys with structural complexity and active uplift in the late Early Pleistocene, highlighting a relatively earlier morphologic evolution. This, however, was followed by the later prompt incision of most areas in the Daoshui, Dieshui, and Suoxi River valleys, probably during the Middle Pleistocene. As a result, the hard rocks of these sub-basins were incised, producing the dissected topography. Our study further suggests that seven structural systems and later neotectonic events are the major controlling factors which frame the geomorphic pattern of the Lishui River valley. The outcome of the study may be of value to sustainable watershed level planning and management while implementing soil and water conservation measures in the region.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Altın TB, Altın BN (2011) Development and morphometry of drainage network in volcanic terrain, Central Anatolia, Turkey. Geomorphology 125:485–503
Bridgland DR, Westaway R (2008) Preservation patterns of Late Cenozoic fluvial deposits and their implications: results from IGCP 449. Quat Int 189:5–38
Burbank DW, Pinter N (1999) Landscape evolution: the interactions of tectonics and surface processes. Basin Res 11:1–6
Chen CM (1988) On the neotectonic movement of northwestern Hunan. Hunan Geol 7:65–72 (in Chinese with English abstract)
Chen YC, Sung Q, Cheng KY (2003) Along-strike variations of morphotectonic features in the western foothills of Taiwan: tectonic implications based on stream-gradient and hypsometric analysis. Geomorphology 56:109–137
Chen JG, Pan S, Pi JG (2004) Characteristics of structural subsidence in Dongting Lake area. West-China Explor Eng 100(9):108–111 (in Chinese)
Cox RT (1994) Analysis of drainage and basin symmetry as a rapid technique to identify areas of possible Quaternary tilt-block tectonics: an example from the Mississippi Embayment. GSA Bull 106(5):571–581
Deffontaines B, Chotin P, AitBrahim L, Rozanov M (1992) Investigation of active faults in Morocco using morphometric methods and drainage pattern analysis. Geol Rundsch 81:199–210
Ding WC, Li TD, Fan BX, Geng SF, Ding XZ, Cui YJ, Yang Q, Wang ZY, Ju YJ (2012) Three-dimensional realization of geological structure map based on DEM data: a case study of Hunan Province. Geol Bull China 31(7):1078–1085 (in Chinese with English abstract)
Garrote J, Cox RT, Swann C, Ellis M (2006) Tectonic geomorphology of the southeastern Mississippi Embayment in northern Mississippi, USA. GSA Bull 118(9-10):1160–1170
Garrote J, Heydt GG, Cox RT (2008) Multi-stream order analyses in basin asymmetry: a tool to discriminate the influence of neotectonics in fluvial landscape development (Madrid Basin, Central Spain). Geomorphology 102(1):130–144
Grohmann CH (2004) Morphometric analysis in Geographic Information Systems: applications of free software GRASS and R. Comput Geosci 30(9-10):1055–1067
Grohmann CH, Riccomini C, Alves FM (2007) SRTM-based morphotectonic analysis of the Pocos de Caldas alkaline Massif, southeastern Brazil. Comput Geosci 33(1):10–19
Gupta S (1997) Himalayan drainage patterns and the origin of fluvial megefans in the Ganges forel and basin. Geology 25:11–14
Guth PL (2006) Geomorphometry from SRTM: comparison to NED. Photogramm Eng Remote Sens 72:269–278
Hunan Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources (1988) Hunan Regional Geology. Geological Publishing House, Beijing (in Chinese)
Jacqus PD, Salvador ED, Machado R, Grohmann CH, Nummer AR (2014) Application of morphometry in neotectonic studies at the eastern edge of the Paraná Basin, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. Geomorphology 213:13–23
Jia BH (1994) Tectonic deformation of the Xuefeng uplift area in Hunan. Reg Geol China 1:65–71 (in Chinese with English abstract)
Jordan G, Meijninger BML, Hinsbergen DJJV, Meulenkamp JE, Dijk PMV (2005) Extraction of morphotectonic features from DEMs: development and applications for study areas in Hungary and NW Greece. Int J Appl Earth Obs Geoinf 7(3):163–182
Keller EA, Pinter N (2002) Active tectonics: earthquakes, uplift, and landscape. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, 432
Khadri SFR, Kanak M (2013) Detailed morphometric analysis of Man River Basin in Akola and Buldhana Districts of Maharashtra, India using Cartosat-1 (DEM) data and GIS techniques. Int J Sci Eng Res 4(11):832–861
Kirby E, Whipple KX (2001) Quantifying differential rock-uplift rates via stream profile analysis. Geology 29(5):415–418
Li JJ, Fan XM, Van de Voo R, Zhu JJ, Niocaill CM, Ono Y, Pan BT, Zhong W, Wang JL, Sasaki T, Zhang YT, Cao JX, Kang SC, Wang JM (1997) Magnetostratigraphic dating of river terraces: rapid and intermittent incision by the Yellow River of the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau during the Quaternary. J Geophys Res 102:10121–10132
Li JJ, Xie SY, Kuang MS (2001) Geomorphic evolution of the Yangtze Gorges and the time of their formation. Geomorphology 41:125–135
Li XB, Mo DW, Zhu ZL (2006) Developments of alluvial fans and their catchments in Houma Basin. Acta Geograph Sin 61(3):241–248 (in Chinese with English abstract)
Lifton NA, Chase CG (1992) Tectonic, climatic and lithologic influences on landscape fractal dimension and hypsometry: Implications for landscape evolution in the San Gabriel Mountains, California. Geomorphology 5(1):77–114
Martz LW, Garbrechet J (1992) Numerical definition of drainage network and sub catchment areas from digital elevation models. Comput Geosci 18(6):747–761
Mesa ML (2006) Morphometric analysis of a subtropical Andean Basin (Tucuman, Argentina). Environ Geol 50:1235–1242
Modenesi-Gauttieri MC, Hiruma ST, Riccomini C (2002) Morphotectonics of a high plateau on the northwestern flank of the Continental Rift of southeastern Brazil. Geomorphology 43:257–271
Moore ID, Grayson RB, Ladson AR (1991) Digital terrain modelling: a review of hydrological, geomorphological and biological applications. Hydrol Process 5(1):3–30
Obi Reddy GP, Maji AK, Gajbhiye KS (2004) Drainage morphometry and its influence on landform characteristics in a basaltic terrain, Central India--a remote sensing and GIS approach. Int J Appl Earth Obs Geoinf 6:1–16
Ozdemir H, Bird D (2009) Evaluation of morphometric parameters of drainage networks derived from topographic maps and DEM in point of floods. Environ Geol 56:1405–1415
Pande CB, Moharir K (2017) GIS based quantitative morphometric analysis and its consequences: a case study from Shanur River Basin, Maharashtra India. Appl Water Sci 7(2):861–871
Pandey PK, Das SS (2016) Morphometric analysis of Usri River basin, Chhotanagpur Plateau, India, using remote sensing and GIS. Arab J Geosci 9(3):1–13
Pubellier M, Deffontaines B, Quebral R, Rangin C (1994) Drainage network analysis and tectonics of Mindanao Southern Philippines. Geomorphology 9:325–342
Sreedevi PD, Owais S, Khan HH, Ahmed S (2009) Morphometric analysis of a watershed of south India using SRTM data and GIS. J Geol Soc India 73:543–552
Sreedevi PD, Sreekanth PD, Khan HH, Ahmed S (2013) Drainage morphometry and its influence on hydrology in a semi-arid region: using SRTM data and GIS. Environ Earth Sci 70:839–848
Strahler AN (1964) Quantitative geomorphology of drainage basins and channel networks. In: Chow VT (ed) Handbook of applied hydrology. McGraw-Hill, New York, pp 39–76
Thompson JR, Taylor MP, Fryirs KA, Brieerley GJ (2001) A geomorphological frame work for river characterization and habitat assessment. Aquat Conserv Freshw Ecosyst 11:373–389
Valeriano MM, Kuplich TM, Storino M, Amaral BD, Mendes JN Jr, Lima DJ (2006) Modeling small watershed in Brazilian Amazinia with shuttle radar topographic mission-90 m data. Comput Geosci 32:1169–1181
Verstappen HT (1983) Applied geomorphology for environmental management. Elsevier, Amsterdam, p 437
Wang CL (1991) Study on neotectonics in Hunan Province. J Xiangtan Teach Coll 12:61–68 (in Chinese with English abstract)
Wang PR, Quan ZY, Hu NY (1993) Metallogenic conditions and regularities of distributions and enrichment of gold deposits in Hunan. Hunan Geol 12:163–170 (in Chinese with English abstract)
Yang GF, Yang Z, Zhang XJ, Tian MZ, Chen AZ, Ge ZL, Ping YM, Ni ZY (2011a) RS-based geomorphic analysis of Zhangjiajie Sandstone Peak Forest Geopark, China. J Cult Herit 12:88–97
Yang GF, Zhang XJ, Tian MZ, Brierley G, Chen AZ, Ping YM, Ge ZL, Ni ZY, Yang Z (2011b) Alluvial terrace systems in Zhangjiajie of northwest Hunan, China: implications for climatic change, tectonic uplift and geomorphic evolution. Quat Int 233:27–39
Yang GF, Tian MZ, Zhang XJ, Chen ZH, Wray RAL, Ge ZL, Ping YM, Ni ZY, Yang Z (2012) Quartz sandstone peak forest landforms of Zhangjiajie geopark, northwest Hunan Province, China: pattern, constrain and comparison. Environ Earth Sci 65:1877–1894
Yang GF, Li XM, Zhang XJ, Tian MZ (2013) Fluvial terraces in northwest Hunan and their importance to climate change and neotectonic movement. Geol Rev 59(Supp):241–242 (in Chinese)
Zhang GW, Cheng SY, Guo AL, Dong YP, Lai SC, Yao AP (2004) Mainlue paleo-suture on the southern margin of the Central Orogenic System in Qingling-Dabie: with a discussion of the assembly of the main part of the continent of China. Geol Bull China 23(9-10):846–853 (in Chinese with English abstract)
Zheng HB, Wei XC, Wang P, He MY, Luo C, Yang Q (2017) Geological evolution of the Yangtze River. Sci Sin Terrae 47:385–393 (in Chinese)
Acknowledgments
We thank Pengcheng Zhu and Xiuming Li for their help with in-situ survey. We would like to thank Prof. Changsheng Huang for his helpful comments on the geological setting of the study area. In particular, we sincerely thank the two anonymous reviewers and editors for their excellent comments and suggestions.
Funding
This study is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41172167), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Nos. 2652017216 and 2652017285), and the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (special financial grant no. 2014T70059).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Additional information
Responsible Editor: Stefan Grab
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yang, G., Chen, Z. & Jiang, J. Drainage morphometry of the Lishui catchment in the middle Yangtze basin, China: morphologic and tectonic implications. Arab J Geosci 13, 561 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-020-05481-w
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-020-05481-w