A GIS-BASED SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF BASIN MORPHOLOGY, SURFACE FLOW ACCUMULATION AND LAND-COVER PATTERNS IN ONDO STATE, NIGER DELTA REGION OF NIGERIA
Keywords:
Basin Morphology, Flow Accumulation, GIS, Digital Elevation Model, Land Cover, NigeriaAbstract
This study presents a GIS-based spatial analysis of basin morphology, surface flow accumulation, and land-cover associations in Ondo State, located within the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. In the absence of officially delineated basin boundaries, the drainage basin was derived exclusively from digital elevation data, allowing for an objective terrain-based definition of the hydrological unit. The analysis was guided by established geomorphometric principles proposed by Horton and Strahler and implemented through digital terrain processing using the D8 flow direction algorithm. A Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) Digital Elevation Model with 30 m spatial resolution was employed to generate basin boundaries, slope, relief, flow direction, and flow accumulation grids. In addition, a single-date Sentinel-2 land-cover dataset at 10 m spatial resolution was integrated with the hydrological outputs to examine spatial associations between surface characteristics and zones of flow convergence. The results reveal a predominantly convergent drainage configuration towards a central low-lying area, indicative of terrain-controlled runoff organisation and potential surface water retention. Areas characterised by bare or degraded land cover show notable spatial coincidence with high flow accumulation zones, whereas densely vegetated areas are generally associated with more diffuse flow patterns. These observed relationships indicate spatial association rather than direct causative links between land-cover distribution and hydrological behaviour. The study is constrained by reliance on a single-date land-cover dataset, the absence of rainfall and discharge records, and the lack of field-based validation. Based on the findings, the study recommends targeted vegetation restoration in high-convergence zones, the incorporation of flow-accumulation maps into land-use planning, and the integration of multi-temporal remote sensing and hydrometeorological data in future research. Notwithstanding these limitations, the analysis demonstrates the utility of GIS-based terrain modelling for preliminary morphometric and surface-flow assessment in data-scarce regions.
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