Determination of the Potential of Groundwater Resources in the Urmia Plain Using the Morphometric Parameters and Indices

Morphometric analyses play an important role in understanding the geo-hydrological conditions of basins such as identification of the and potential management of groundwater resources. A hydrological DEM was prepared to draw the drainage network in four sub-basins of Lake Urmia. Linear, surface, and topographic morphometric parameters were calculated to prioritize the potential of groundwater resources in the sub-basins. The mean values obtained from the rank of the parameters in each sub-basin were close and the sub-basins were prioritized as Nazluchai, Baranduzchai, Shaharchai, and Rouzehchai, respectively. Furthermore, the morphometric indices of TPI, TRI, VRM, surface curvature, and surface ratio were studied to prepare the spatial value map of the groundwater resources. Each map was prepared and classified with the same cell size in seven classes and the morphometric index map was combined with the same weights. The map of potential groundwater areas under the study area was obtained with values of 2.2 to 5.0. The highest value in the map of the spatial value of groundwater resources belonged to the pixels that had the lowest TPI, the lowest TRI, the highest VRM, the lowest surface curvature, and the highest surface ratio. The findings were confirmed by examining the location of springs and yielding wells in the study area.