Morphometric Analysis Using Geographical Information System and the Relationship with Precipitation Quantiles of Major Dam Basins in South Korea

Abstract

Geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) technologies are potent tools for evaluating various aspects of basin hydrology. This study conducted a morphological analysis using GIS tools on seven major dam basins in Korea. Additionally, long-term RS-based precipitation data were obtained, the probability of precipitation was estimated, and their relationship was examined. The findings are summarized as follows. It was observed that most major dam basins in Korea, which were the focus of this study, had a broad radial shape, and due to the mountainous topography, there was a notable presence of numerous river branches. Through the estimation of probability precipitation and its comparison with morphological indices, it was noted that wider basins tend to have higher rainfall amounts and a relatively uniform spatial distribution. Furthermore, it was found that the more uniform the spatial distribution, the simpler the river network. This trend becomes more pronounced in relation to basin size for longer durations, and in spatial dispersion for shorter durations. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that the complexity of these relationships is also affected by other factors such as climate, altitude, and local geographical conditions.