Morphometric analysis of the Cura Malal Grande basin (Argentina) applied to the potentiality to generate floods

Abstract

The morphometric properties of a river basin and its sub-basins are important in carrying out geomorphological and hydrological studies since they influence the development of multiple fluvial processes, such as the generation of floods and eventual floods. The objective of the work is to study the fluvial morphometry of the upper basin of the Cura Malal Grande stream as an input for the evaluation of the susceptibility to generating floods. The basin does not have gauging stations or information on its morphometry. The hydrological system is located on the northern slope of the Ventania System where intense precipitation events occur recurrently. For the analysis of the system, its subbasins were determined, obtaining the direct measurement parameters of each one and, based on these, various morphometric indices to establish relationships with respect to the probable hydrological response of the basin. The results allow us to infer that in the C and NO sub-basins it is possible to expect greater concentrated energy and a rapid response to intense precipitation events. For the upper basin as a whole, a hydrological response to the occurrence of intense precipitation events, short concentration times and therefore a rapid influx towards the main course of the stream is expected, which can generate flooding in rural areas downstream from the point of closure of the upper basin. The results constitute a baseline for the continuity of morphometric and flood threat studies in the area.