Abstract: Evaluating the complexity of the water system is essential to balance its utilization, maintenance, and management. A quantitative description of the drainage system, an essential aspect of the characteristics of a basin, can be assessed by the morphometric characteristics at a defined scale. Morphometric analysis quantitatively studies landforms' physical dimensions and characteristics within a drainage basin. The Madhupur Tract, a large upland area in central Bangladesh, is surrounded by the Jamuna-Brahmaputra River floodplain. Geologically, the Madhupur Tract predominantly consists of older Pleistocene deposits, with a mix of clay, silt, and sand. The drainage pattern in the Madhupur Tract is primarily dendritic, resembling a tree-like structure. Madhupur Tract Drainage Basin is a basin with 9,025 streams of different order, covering an area of almost 3,677 km². It is very elongated in shape with rapid discharge in a short period. Lower-order streams are high in number, probably due to the elevated nature of the area. A gradual decrease in the number of streams can be seen inversely decreasing with increasing stream order. The consistent decrease in the number of streams in relation to stream order throughout the basin indicates the dominance of erosional landforms. The changes in stream length ratio throughout the basin show that the area is in the early stages of irregular hydrological behavior. The overall drainage density of the Madhupur Tract Basin is high in lower reaches, indicating less porous rock in the bed surface, high slope, and high-water flow regimes. The low form factor value indicated the elongated nature of basins with low peak flow for longer. Flood flows of elongated basins can be more easily managed than circular basins. The relief ratio of Madhupur Tract Basin was measured to be around 0.156, apparently very low, indicating minimal elevation differences with a relatively flat or gently undulating terrain. The ruggedness number of the Madhupur Tract Basin is 33.54. A low ruggedness indicates a relatively smooth and uniform landscape with gradual elevation changes. Both surface water and groundwater interactions influence the Madhupur Tract's drainage system. The lateritic formations in the region contribute to the formation of aquifers, affecting the groundwater flow and the overall drainage dynamics.

Geomorphology, Geology, GIS

1. Adhikari, S. (2020). Morphometric Analysis of a Drainage Basin: A Study of Ghatganga River, Bajhang District, Nepal. The Geographic BaseVol. 7: 127-144, 2020. Doi:10.3126/tgb.v7i0.34280. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Alam, M.N. (2007). Stratigraphic and Structural Features of the Surma Basin and the Upliftment of the Madhupur Tract of Northeastern Bengal Basin. Journal of Geological Society of India, 69, 1319-1327. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Arulbalaji, P. & Gurugnanam, B. (2017). Geospatial tool-based morphometric analysis using SRTM data in Sarabanga Basin, Cauvery River, Salem district, Tamil Nadu, India. Appl Water Sci (2017) 7:3875–3883. DOI 10.1007/s13201-017-0539-z. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Bali, R., Agarwal, K.K., Ali, S.N., Rastogi, S.K., & Krishna, K. (2011). Drainage morphometry of Himalayan Glacio-fluvial basin, India: hydrologic and neotectonic implications. Environ Earth Sci 66(4):1163–1174. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Bhat, M.S., Alam, A., Ahmad, S., Farooq, H., & Ahmad, B. (2019). Flood hazard assessment of Upper Jhelum basin using morphometric parameters. Environ Earth Sci. 78(2):54. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Bogale, A. (2020). Morphometric analysis of a drainage basin using geographical information system in Gilgel Abay basin, Lake Tana Basin, upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia. Applied Water Science (2021) 11:122. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-021-01447-9 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Castillo, V., Diazsegovia, A, & Alonso, S.G. (1988). Quantitative study of fluvial landscapes, case study in Madrid, Spain. Landsc Urb Plan 16:201–217. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. De Reu, J., Bourgeois, J., Bats, M., Zwertvaegher, A., Gelorini, V., De Smedt, P., Chu, W., Antrop, M., De Maeyer, P., Finke, P., Van Meirvenne, M., Verniers, J., & Crombé, P. (2013). Application of the topographic position index to heterogeneous landscapes. Geomorphology 186, 39–49. doi: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2012.12.015. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Ehsani, A.H., Qulel, F., & Maleklan, A. (2010). Effect of SRTM resolution on morphometric feature identification using neural network-self organizing map. Geoinformatica 14:405–424. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Günther, A., Van Den Eeckhaut, M., Malet, J.P., Reichenbach, P., & Hervás, J. (2014). Climate- physiographically differentiated Pan-European landslide susceptibility assessment using spatial multi-criteria evaluation and transnational landslide information. Geomor- phology 224, 69–85. doi: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2014.07.011. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Haghipour N, Burg JP (2014) Geomorphological analysis of the drainage system on the growing Makran accretionary wedge. Geomorphology 209:111–132. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Horton, R.E. (1945). Erosional development of streams and their drainage basins: Hydrophysical approach to quantitative morphology. Geo. Soc. Am. Bulletin., 56: 275-37°. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Hossain, A., Akhter, S.H., Steckler, M.S., & Caldwell, R. (2014) Tectonics of Madhupur Tract, and its Influence on the Cenozoic Sediments and Jamuna River Avulsion. American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2014, abstract id. T31C-4636. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Joji, V.S., Nair, A.S., & Baiju, K.V. (2013). Drainage basin delineation and quantitative analysis of Panamaram Basin of Kabani River Basin, Kerala, using remote sensing and GIS. J Geol Soc Ind 82:368–378. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Kabir, A.S.M.S., Delwar Hossain, & Rashed Abdullah. “2-D Electrical Imaging in Some Geotechnical Investigation of Madhupur Clays, Bangladesh.” Journal Geological Society of India, 77 (2011): 73–81. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-011-0009-4. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Khan, M.Y.A. & ElKashouty, M. (2023). Basin prioritization and hydro-morphometric analysis for the potential development of Tabuk Basin, Saudi Arabia using multivariate statistical analysis and coupled RS-GIS approach. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Kumar R, Kumar S, Lohani AK, Nema RK, Singh RD (2000) Evaluation of geomorphological characteristics of a catchment using GIS. GIS India 9(3):13–17. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Mahala, A. (2020). The significance of morphometric analysis to understand the hydrological and morphological characteristics in two different morpho‑climatic settings. Applied Water Science (2020) 10:33. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-019-1118-2. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Maitra, M.K. & Akhter, S.H. (2010). Neotectonic Activities along Madhupur Tract and Its Adjoining Areas. Proceedings, 3rd International Earthquake Symposium, Bangladesh, Dhaka, March.5-6 2010. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Miller, V. (1953) A Quantitative Geomorphic Study of Drainage Basin Characteristics in the Clinch Mountain Area, Virginia and Tennessee. Project NR 389-402, Technical Report 3, Columbia University, Department of Geology, ONR, New York [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Pickering, J.L., Goodbred, S.L., Beam, J.C., Ayers, J.C., Covey, A.K., Rajapara, H.M., & Singhvi, A.K. (2018). Terrace formation in the upper Bengal basin since the Middle Pleistocene: Brahmaputra fan delta construction during multiple highstands. Basin Research, 30. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Rahman, M.A., Moslehuddin, A.Z.M., & Saha, D.K. (2005). Mineralogy of Soils from Different Agroecological Regions of Bangladesh: Region 28 - Madhupur Tract. Clay Science 12,333-339(2005). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Saha, S., Das, J., & Mandal, T. (2022). Investigation of the basin hydro-morphologic characteristics through the morphometric analysis: A study on Rayeng basin in Darjeeling Himalaya. Environmental Challenges 7 (2022) 100463. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envc.2022.100463. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Schumm, S.A. (1956) Evolution of Drainage Systems & Slopes in Badlands at Perth, New Jersey. Bulletin of the Geological Society of America, 67, 597-646. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Selvan, M.T., Ahmad, S., & Rashid, S.M. (2011). Analysis of the geomorphometric parameters in high altitude Glacierised terrain using SRTM DEM data in Central Himalaya, India. ARPN J Sci Technol 1(1):22–27. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Smith, K.G. (1950) Standards for Grading Textures of Erosional Topography. American Journal of Science, 248, 655-668. http://dx.doi.org/10.2475/ajs.248.9.655 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Sreedevi, P.D., Subrahmanyam, K., & Ahmed, S. (2005). The significance of morphometric analysis for obtaining groundwater potential zones in a structurally controlled terrain. Environ Geol 47(3):412–420. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. Strahler, A.N. (1952) Dynamic Basis of Geomorphology. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 63, 923-938. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. Strahler, A.N. (1957). Quantitative analysis of basin geomorphology. Transactions of the American Geophysical Union, 33(6), 913-920. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. Strahler, A.N. (1964). Quantitative geomorphology of drainage basins and channel networks. In Chow, V.T. (ed.) Handbook of Applied Hydrology, McGraw-Hill, New York. pp 439-476. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

31. Thomas, J., Joseph, S., & Thrivikramaji, K.P. (2010). Morphometric aspects of a small tropical mountain river system, the southern Western Ghats, India. Int J Digit Earth 3(2):135–156. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

32. Towhida, R., Hossain, M.M., & Suzuki, S. (2006). A Review on the Quaternary Characteristics of Pleistocene Tracts of Bangladesh. Geology. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

33. Verstappen, H. (1983) Applied Geomorphology: Geomorphological Surveys for Environmental Development. Elsevier, New York. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Examining Fatal Motorcycle Crashes in Malaysia: Rider Age, Road Attributes and Collision Partner Dynamics
• Resources-Blessed but Energy-Poor: A Critical Review of the Paradox of Energy Delivery in Nigeria
• Algorithmic Trading Bot Using Artificial Intelligence Supertrend Strategy
• Improving the Hybrid FSO/LI-FI/UWOC Network's
• Constructive Strategies for Enhancing Public Engagement in County Governance: A Focus on Nandi, Kenya, 2024.