Climatic, Geomorphic and Environmental Characteristics of Savanna Morphogenetic Region: A Case Study of Maharashtra State, India

Arjun B. Doke¹ and Rajendra B. Zolekar^2,

¹Pune District Education Association’s Baburaoji Gholap College Sangavi, Pune, Maharashtra, India

²K.V.N. Naik Shikshan Prasarak Sanstha’s Arts, Commerce and Science College Nashik Tal: Nashik, Dist: Nashik. Pin: 422002, Maharashtra, India

Cite this paper:
Arjun B. Doke and Rajendra B. Zolekar. Climatic, Geomorphic and Environmental Characteristics of Savanna Morphogenetic Region: A Case Study of Maharashtra State, India. Applied Ecology and Environmental Sciences. 2020; 8(6):530-543. doi: 10.12691/aees-8-6-28

Abstract

The present study focuses on assessing climatic, geomorphic, and environmental factors at the regional scale. Peltier’s model, combined with RS data and GIS techniques, is employed to accomplish this study's goal and find out the characterization of the morphogenetic region. The climatic data of mean annual rainfall and temperature (last 63 years) are used to delineate the morphogenetic areas. Different thematic maps from various sources such as Geomorphology of India; Geological Survey of India (GSI), Geology and mineral map of Maharashtra (GSI), Soil region map of India; National Atlas of India, Soil map of Maharashtra; National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS) are used for analysing the characteristics of Savanna morphogenetic regions. Relative relief, slope, wind speed and humidity were used for the characterization. Maximum rainfall is received 861.14 mm, minimum occur 611.75 mm rainfall. The average annual temperature of the region is 26.27°C with a maximum 27.75°C and minimum 20.26°C temperature. The relative humidity is high during the southwest monsoon months and mostly dry during the rest of the year. The maximum humidity is recorded in SW part of the region (47.50%), whereas the lowest in NE direction (69.5%). The mean annual humidity is 54.75 % and the range of humidity is 22%. The maximum wind speed is 12.31 km/ph and a minimum 6.20 km/ph. The mean annual wind speed is 10.25 km/ph and range from 6.11 km/ph. The slope aspects of the area affect the denudation processes of the hilly tracts. The entire region is dominated by moderate chemical weathering. The whole region is dominated by maximum to moderate wind action. Maximum pluvial erosion and moderate weathering processes show in the study region. The study region covers different slope units with undissected and dissected. Undissected elements cover 1571.90 km² (1.84%), and dissected cover the area 30670.80 km² (35.95%).

Keywords:
geomorphic morphogenetic region savanna Maharashtra NDVI

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