Morphometric Characteristics of the Wadi Um Al-Saffar Basin Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) - Jabal Nafusa - Libya

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the morphometric characteristics of the Umm Al-Saffar Valley basin, located in northwestern Libya, using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing techniques. The study relied on a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) to delineate the basin boundaries and extract the drainage network, slope, aspect, and relief characteristics. The results showed that the basin area is 111.71734 km², its perimeter is 70.660332 km, and its basin length is approximately 25.5 km. The elevation within the basin ranges between 231 and 702 meters, with a total relief difference of 471 meters. The shape indices indicate that the basin tends to have an elongated form, as the elongation ratio reached approximately 0.47, the form factor was 0.17, and the circularity ratio was about 0.28. These values suggest that the basin has a relatively gradual surface runoff response compared with circular basins. The study also emphasizes the importance of GIS in the quantitative analysis of drainage basins and in supporting geomorphological and hydrological studies.