Takhar Province Morphometric Analysis for the Watershed Management of Amu River Basin in Afghanistan by using Remote Sensing & GIS

Abstract

The drainage characteristics are basic information for watershed management. The morphometric analysis carried the slope contribution and linear, areal, and relief aspects. Takhar province is 390 km distance from Kabul. Located in the North Eastern Region of the country, the capital of Takhar province is Taluqan (Provincial Center). Badakhshan borders Takhar in the North-East, Panjsher in the south, Baghlan in the South-West and Kunduz in the North-West. Takhar is situated at an elevation of 801 meters above sea level and covers a land area of 12328.684 Km^2, representing 1.91 percent of the total Afghan territory. The SRTM (90 m) Digital Elevation Model (DEM), in conjunction with SOI toposheets, have been used to delineate the hydrological boundaries of the study area. The finding variation in the elongated shapes of the basins is due to the guiding effect of faulting and thrusting in the basin. The R_c of the basins is fewer than 1. It indicates that the infiltration rate varies throughout the basin. The Bangi, Farkhar, and Warsaj districts have low F_s, which indicates that there is less side flow for a shorter duration and high main flow for a longer duration. High F_s in Khwaja ghar, Taluqan, and Darqad districts with high side flow for a longer duration and low main flow for a shorter duration causing high peak flows in a shorter duration.