Morphometric analysis of the Shushrin alluvial fans, northeast of Wasit Governorate

Abstract

This research presents a quantitative analysis of the morphometric characteristics of the Shosharin alluvial fans, located northeast of Wasit Governorate. These fans serve as complex geomorphic indicators documenting the active topographic dynamics within the transitional zone between the foothills of the Zagros fold belt and the Mesopotamian sedimentary plain basin. The study adopted a quantitative methodology, integrating Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques to process Digital Elevation Models (DEMs). This approach aimed to extract morphometric parameters (areal, shape, and relief), evaluate the efficiency of the drainage network, and track the spatiotemporal evolution of the fans.

The spatial analysis results indicated the predominance of gentle slopes (0–7.9%) over the majority of the study area (79.1%), coupled with a low drainage density, confirming the region's transition into a stable depositional environment. From a dynamic and geomorphological perspective, temporal analysis spanning the period (2000–2025) revealed a shift towards relative stability in the central cores of the alluvial fans. Conversely, a severe areal shrinkage was observed in their outer margins, amounting to 23.42% for the first fan and 24.12% for the second. This phenomenon occurred as a direct response to the disequilibrium between erosional and depositional processes, alongside a decline in sediment supply and surface runoff energy driven by climatic fluctuations.