Environmental Research Journal

Year: 2008
Volume: 2
Issue: 1
Page No. 23 - 27

Relationship Between Drainage Basin Area and Stream Length for River Gongola, Nigeria

Authors : S.O. Oyegoke and C. Ifeadi

Abstract: Many discharge basin features that are important to the hydrologist can be quantified in terms of length, length squared and length cubed. Examples are elevation, stream length, basin perimeter, drainage area and volume. The concept of geometric similarity can be applied to drainage basins just as it is to many systems. Most readers would be aware of model-prototype studies of aircraft, dams and turbo machinery. Such studies involve considerations as well as dynamic similarity. In the same manner that inferences as to the operation of a prototype can sometimes be drawn from a geometrically similar model, inferences can also be drawn about the operation of one drainage area on the basis of information obtained from a similar one. Perfect similarity will never be realized if drainage systems are compared but striking similarities have been observed which can often be put to practical use. The objective of the project is to evaluate a power equation relating drainage basin area to stream length with respect to the Gongola River Basin. The Gongola River is one of the 2 major rivers in Bauchi State within Northern Nigeria and is a tributary of the River Benue. This area has poor rainfall and hence the need to properly study the River for water resource management. The logarithm of cumulative stream length is plotted against the logarithm of drainage area basin. Theories postulated shows that drainage area and stream length are related in a power function. The result obtained which affirmed the theory also gives a foundation for the comparison or computation of drainage basin morphology given that the new basin being considered is of a similar geometry and exists within the same hydrologic cycle.

How to cite this article:

S.O. Oyegoke and C. Ifeadi , 2008. Relationship Between Drainage Basin Area and Stream Length for River Gongola, Nigeria . Environmental Research Journal, 2: 23-27.

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