Morphotectonic Analysis of the Muchkundi River Basin, Ratnagiri District, Maharashtra, India: A Remote Sensing and GIS Approach.

Abstract. The Muchkundi River basin is located on the Central West Coast of India, in Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra. Remote sensing techniques using IRS-P6 satellite images are useful tools for morphotectonic analysis of a drainage basin. To assess the tectonic activity in the Muchkundi River basin area, various morphometric indices, including the Sinuosity index, Stream length gradient index (Sl), Hypsometric analysis and integral (HI), and Drainage basin asymmetry, are applied. Morphotectonic study of a drainage basin involves significant measurement and numerical analysis of linear, areal, and relief parameters related to the basin using satellite images. The morphotectonic parameters carried out, bifurcation ratio, drainage density, channel maintenance constant, stream frequency, stream length, form factor, circulatory ratio, elongation ratio, and hypsometric analysis. 
The bifurcation ratio of the basin indicates that it is a structurally controlled drainage basin. Poor stream frequency values suggest permeable subsurface material and low relief. Also, the basin is elongated having a fine drainage texture which indicates a higher susceptibility to moderate to severe flooding and increased sediment transport in the river system. The Muchkundi river basin features a very steep slope and is highly dissected. Basin relief is a key factor in understanding erosional characteristics and influences the development of landforms. High hypsometric integral values indicate deep incision and rugged topography. Intermediate and low values of the integral are associated with more evenly dissected drainage basins. An asymmetry factor significantly less than 50 suggests tectonic tilt in SSW direction.