Catchment geomorphology and its relationship with streamflow - a case study of selected drainage basins in Peninsular Malaysia

Hydrogeomorphologica l studies have stressed th e s ignificance of catchment geomor phology and it s causal link with streamflow parameters. Such studies are in va lu able not onl y fro m the standpoint of the dynamics of fluvi al geomorphology but its practic al value for streamflow prediction/ estim ation purposes . A c lassic example of such stud ies is illustrated by th e work of Carl ston (1963). Utilizing a single morphometric property, drainage density, the theoretical link between catchment geomorphology and basin runoff response can be summarized in the modified Jacob groundwater flo w model equation T = WD- 2/8h o ' in whj ch T is transmissibi li ty, W is recharge, D is dra in age densit y and ho is the height of the water table at the water table divide. T hi s study of 15 dramage basins in Penin su lar Malaysia att empts to test the signifi cance of basin morphometric vari ables suc/l as drain age density, stream magnitude, re li ef ratio, ruggedness number and bi f urcati on ratjo in influenc in g bas in runoff response such us baseflow , peakflow and flood run off. Correlation and mul tiple regress ion analyses are used to e~tab lish the re lati onships between basin morphometri c variables and basi n runoff response. It is conclu ded th at basin morphometric vari ables are c losely re lated to runoff response and th e empirical equations establi shed can be utilized for streamflow estimation on ungauged basin s.