Morphometric Characterization of the Watersheds of the Main Water Bodies in the Peri-Urban Area of Dakar Using GIS and Remote Sensing: The Case of the Mbao Stream, Lake Mbeubeuss, and Lake Rose
The watersheds of Dakar’s peri-urban water bodies are undergoing significant urban transformation, yet their morphometric characteristics remain poorly documented. To address this, this study provides a detailed morphometric characterization of the watersheds of the Mbao backwater, Lac Rose, and Lac de Mbeubeuss, using advanced Geographic Information System (GIS) tools. The delineation of the watersheds and the extraction of the hydrographic network were performed using the 30-meter SRTMGL1 v003 dataset processed in ArcGIS 10.7. After hydrological conditioning of the elevation model, selection of outflow points, and extraction of the network at a threshold of 500 cells (0.45 km2), the linear, shape, relief, and hypsometric parameters were calculated. The extracted networks are of order 3 to 5, and their drainage densities range from 1.02 to 1.22 km/km2. Shape factors ranging from 0.29 to 0.51 and Gravelius compactness coefficients ranging from 1.44 to 1.69 indicate generally elongated basins. The Lake Rose basin has the largest surface area and the most developed drainage network, while Lake Mbeubeuss has the flattest topography. These results indicate low channelization at the selected threshold and provide a morphometric basis for hydrological analysis and water body management. However, their interpretation remains limited by the SRTM’s resolution, sensitivity to the threshold, low relief, and incomplete representation of urban drainage.
References
[1]
Courouble, M., Davidson, N.C., Dinesen, L. and Fennessy, S. (2021) Global Wetland Outlook: Special Edition 2021. https://www.ramsar.org/document/global-wetland-outlook-special-edition-2021
[2]
Díaz, S., Settele, J., Brondízio, E.S., et al. (2019) Summary for Policymakers of the Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. https://zenodo.org/records/3553579
[3]
Horton, R.E. (1945) Erosional Development of Streams and Their Drainage Basins; Hydrophysical Approach to Quantitative Morphology. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 56, 275. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1945)56[275:edosat]2.0.co;2
[4]
Dione, P.M., Faye, C. and Sadio, C.A.A.S. (2025) From Mapping to Morphometric Analysis: Multiparametric Characteristics of the Aga-Foua-Djilas Watershed (Senegal) Using GIS. Lucr？rileSeminaruluiGeografic Dimitrie Cantemir, 53, 1.
[5]
Brahim, B., Larbi, B., Abdallah, D. and Driss, S. (2016) Use of GIS in the Morphometric Analysis and Prioritization of Sub-Watersheds in Oued Inaouene (Northeastern Morocco). European Scientific Journal, 12, 266. (In Fran？ais) https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2016.v12n6p266
[6]
(2023) étude d’Impact Environnemental PROGEP II. https://fr.scribd.com/document/861593282/P175830064e3820109dcf0c6faf508aa9b
[7]
Ludat, A.L. and Kübler, S. (2023) Tectonic Controls on the Ecosystem of the Mara River Basin, East Africa, from Geomorphological and Spectral Index Analysis. Biogeosciences, 20, 1991-2012. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-1991-2023
[8]
Mensah-Brako, B., Ampiaw, F., Kotei, R. and Kyaku, P. (2025) Flash Flood Susceptibility Assessment Using Geospatial Technology-Based Morphometric Analysis in Waya Watershed, Volta River Basin, Ghana. Watershed Ecology and the Environment, 7, 58-73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsee.2025.02.002
[9]
Cheikh, F., Sidy, D. and Guilgane, F. (2021) Morphometric and Hydrological Analysis of the Niaoule Sub-Watershed (Gambia River Basin) Using GIS Techniques. https://dspace.univ-ouargla.dz/jspui/bitstream/123456789/27345/1/E110105.pdf
[10]
Saidi, M.E. (2013) Morphometry and Watershed Delineation Using ArcGIS. https://saidi.ma/saidi2013.pdf
[11]
Sukristiyanti, S., Maria, R. and Lestiana, H. (2018) Watershed-Based Morphometric Analysis: A Review. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 118, Article 012028. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/118/1/012028
[12]
Bryan, K. (1950) The Place of Geomorphology in the Geographic Sciences. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 40, 196-208. https://doi.org/10.1080/00045605009352068
[13]
Raja Shekar, P. and Mathew, A. (2024) Morphometric Analysis of Watersheds: A Comprehensive Review of Data Sources, Quality, and Geospatial Techniques. Watershed Ecology and the Environment, 6, 13-25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsee.2023.12.001
[14]
Asma, B. (2024) Hydromorphometric Analysis of the Oued el-Main Sub-Watershed in Bordj Bou Arreridj Using Geospatial Tools. Thesis, Mohammed El Bachir El Ibrahimi, Bordj Bou Arreridj University.
[15]
Miti, F.T. and Mukanu, A. (2021) Analysis of the Morphology of the Hydrologic Network in the Funa Watershed Using GIS and Remote Sensing. https://fr.scribd.com/document/941062230/Analyse-de-La-Morphographie-Du-Reseau-Hydrologique-Du-Bassin-Versant-de-La-Funa-a-Kinshasa-Mukanu-Et-Miti
[16]
Strahler, A. (1964) Quantitative Geomorphology of Drainage Basins and Channel Networks. In: Chow, V., Ed., Handbook of Applied Hydrology, McGraw Hill, 439-476.
[17]
Schumm, S.A. (1956) Evolution of Drainage Systems and Slopes in Badlands at Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 67, 597. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1956)67[597:eodsas]2.0.co;2
[18]
Gravelius, H. (1914) Grundrifi der gesamten Gewcisserkunde. Band I: Flufikunde (Compendium of Hydrology, Vol. I. Rivers, in German). Goschen, 10 p.
[19]
Miller, V.C. (1953) A Quantitative Geomorphic Study of Drainage Basin Characteristic in the Clinch, Mountain Area, Verdinia and Tennessee. Tech Report 3 Office of Novel Research, Department of Geology, Columbia University, 1-30.
[20]
Umair, A. and Syed, A.A. (2014) Analysis of Drainage Morphometry and Watershed Prioritization of Romushi-Sasar Catchment, Kashmir Valley, India Using Remote Sensing and GIS Technology. International Journal of Advanced Research, 2, 5-23.
[21]
Arya, R.K. and Sarda, V.K. (2017) Morphometric Analysis of a Semi-Arid Region Using GIS. International Journal of Engineering Research and Applications, 7, 8-17.
[22]
Farhan, Y. and Anaba, O. (2016) Watershed Prioritization Based on Morphometric Analysis and Soil Loss Modeling in Wadi Kerak (Southern Jordan) Using GIS Techniques. International Journal of Plant & Soil Science, 10, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijpss/2016/25321
[23]
Gosavi, V.E., KumarThakur, P. and Kumar, K. (2018) Study of Drainage System and Its Hydrological Implications Using Geo-Spatial Techniques: A Morphometric Analysis in Mohal Khad Watershed of Kullu District, Himachal Pradesh, India. International Journal of Advanced Research, 6, 456-463. https://doi.org/10.21474/ijar01/8158
[24]
Dubreuil, P. (1966) The Physical and Morphological Characteristics of Watersheds: Determining Them with Acceptable Accuracy. https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/divers15-06/14832.pdf
[25]
Mashauri, F., Mbuluyo, M. and Nkongolo, N. (2023) Hydromorphometric and Climatic Characterization of the Tshopo River Sub-Watersheds (Democratic Republic of the Congo) Using Geomatics Tools. https://www.sciencedirect.com/org/science/article/pii/S126058752300004X
[26]
Faye, C. (2014) Method for the Statistical Analysis of Morphometric Data: Correlation of Morphometric Parameters and Their Influence on Flow in the Subbasins of the Senegal River. https://cinqcontinents.geo.unibuc.ro/4/4_10_Complete.pdf
[27]
Pratte, A. (2008) Relationships between Morphometric Variables and Hydrogeological Data in the Chateauguay and Beaurivage River Watersheds, Quebec.
[28]
Luo, W. (1998) Hypsometric Analysis with a Geographic Information System. Computers & Geosciences, 24, 815-821. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0098-3004(98)00076-
[29]
Strahler, A.N. (1957) Quantitative Analysis of Watershed Geomorphology. Eos, Transactions American Geophysical Union.
[30]
Willgoose, G. and Hancock, G. (1998) Revisiting the Hypsometric Curve as an Indicator of Form and Process in Transport-Limited Catchment. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 23, 611-623. https://doi.org/10.1002/(sici)1096-9837(199807)23:7<611::aid-esp872>3.0.co;2-y
[31]
Strahler, A.N. (1952) Hypsometric (Area-Altitude) Analysis of Erosional Topography. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 63, 1117-1142. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1952)63[1117:haaoet]2.0.co;2
