Morphometric analysis of the Ekole River as a consequence of climate change: A case study in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Abstract

The effect of climate change on the morphometric features of the Ekole River in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria, is investigated in this study. The study employs morphometric analysis, which includes area, perimeter, mean stream length, drainage density, stream frequency, and basin length, as well as other factors like elongation ratio, form factor, shape factor, relief ratio, and density, with the assistance of the Shuttle radar topography mission (SRTM) and ArcGIS software. The Ekole River has an area of 83.76 km2 and a perimeter of 100.75 km, according to the findings. The average stream length was 0.41 km, and the average bifurcation ratio was 2.15. The drainage density was 2.28 km/km2 and the stream frequency was 5.56. The elogation ratio, form factor, shape factor, and relief ratio were also determined to be 0.20, 0.32 km/km, 3.14, and 3.11, respectively. These findings reveal that the Ekole River has a comparatively low discharge density and a dendritic drainage structure. The elongation ratio, form factor, and relief ratio, on the other hand, indicate that the basin of the river is comparatively elongated and narrow, with low relief. The present condition of the Ekole River is thought to be the result of climate change, which has impacted the river's hydrological processes. Finally, this research sheds light on the effects of climate change on the Ekole River and its morphometric features. Climate change has changed the river's hydrological processes and affected its morphometric parameters, according to the results.