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Morphometric Analysis and Prioritization of Sub-Watersheds Located in Heterogeneous Geographical Units—Case Study: The Buzău River Basin

Author

Listed:
  • Ioana Pastor

    (Department of Geography, Faculty of Humanities, Valahia University of Targoviște, 130004 Targoviște, Romania)

  • Danut Tanislav

    (Department of Geography, Faculty of Humanities, Valahia University of Targoviște, 130004 Targoviște, Romania)

  • Alexandru Nedelea

    (Department of Geomorphology—Pedology—Geomatics, Faculty of Geography, University of Bucharest, St. Nicolae Bălcescu, No. 1, 010041 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Daniel Dunea

    (Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Food Science, Valahia University of Targoviște, 13, Aleea Sinaia, 130004 Targoviște, Romania)

  • Gheorghe Serban

    (Faculty of Geography, Babeș-Bolyai University, 5–7 Clinicilor, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

  • Ali Torabi Haghighi

    (Water, Energy, and Environmental Engineering Research Unit, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 4300, FIN-90014 Oulu, Finland)

  • Daniel Sabau

    (Faculty of Geography, Babeș-Bolyai University, 5–7 Clinicilor, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

  • Petre Bretcan

    (Department of Geography, Faculty of Humanities, Valahia University of Targoviște, 130004 Targoviște, Romania)

Abstract

The present study evaluates selected morphometric characteristics of 39 direct tributaries of the Buzău River (area of 4112 km 2 ) to prioritize development actions in these sub-watersheds, which are distributed in three geographical regions within the full Buzău River watershed: the Carpathian, Subcarpathian, and plains regions. By combining a variable number of morphometric parameters, using various mathematical models, we can evaluate the state of balance or imbalance in a watershed and identify sub-watersheds vulnerable to natural processes. Prioritization was achieved using composite (Cp) values by comparing two scenarios. In the first scenario, 11 derived morphometric parameters were used, and in the second scenario, another 7 parameters were added. The obtained values were grouped into five classes (very high, high, medium, low, and very low). Due to the heterogeneity of relief units among geographical regions, there are classification differences for sub-watersheds among those regions. Watersheds classed as very high priority for intervention actions are located in the Carpathian (SW1, SW2, SW15, SW16) and Subcarpathian areas (SW24, SW30), which are characterized by high relief energy and pronounced slope instability, which leads to an increase in the risk of flooding and land degradation. For comparison, all sub-watersheds in the plains region, are classified as very low or low priority. Since the arithmetic mean is sensitive to extreme values, its use in the calculation of composite (Cp) values causes the values to be “eclipsed” and the sub-watersheds to be placed in different prioritization classes (SW18 and SW34), depending on the analyzed scenario, due to the large number of parameters and classified sub-watersheds.

Suggested Citation

  • Ioana Pastor & Danut Tanislav & Alexandru Nedelea & Daniel Dunea & Gheorghe Serban & Ali Torabi Haghighi & Daniel Sabau & Petre Bretcan, 2024. "Morphometric Analysis and Prioritization of Sub-Watersheds Located in Heterogeneous Geographical Units—Case Study: The Buzău River Basin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-24, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:17:p:7567-:d:1468953
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Huu Duy Nguyen & Thi Ha Thanh Nguyen & Quoc-Huy Nguyen & Tien Giang Nguyen & Dinh Kha Dang & Y. Nhu Nguyen & Thu Huong Bui & Ngoc Diep Nguyen & Quang-Thanh Bui & Petre Brecan & Alexandru-Ionut Petriso, 2023. "Bottom-up approach for flood-risk management in developing countries: a case study in the Gianh River watershed of Vietnam," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 118(3), pages 1933-1959, September.
    2. D. A. Sabӑu & Gh. Şerban & P. Breţcan & D. Dunea & D. Petrea & I. Rus & D. Tanislav, 2023. "Combining radar quantitative precipitation estimates (QPEs) with distributed hydrological model for controlling transit of flash-flood upstream of crowded human habitats in Romania," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 116(1), pages 1209-1238, March.
    3. Petre Bretcan & Danut Tanislav & Cristiana Radulescu & Gheorghe Serban & Serban Danielescu & Michael Reid & Daniel Dunea, 2022. "Evaluation of Shallow Groundwater Quality at Regional Scales Using Adaptive Water Quality Indices," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-30, August.
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