Contour Map of MuT`im Valley Basin An Analytical Geomorphology Study

Abstract

MuT`im valley is considered as a model of dry valleys in Najd Plateau and one of the main valleys in the provinces of Al-Hareeq and HawTat Bani Tamim. The main course of MuT`em valley consists of four tributaries: Sha`ib Al-Maleeh, Sha`ib Al-Salam, Sha`ib Ghaffar, and Sha`ib Al-`Ajma’, in addition to other small tributaries.The upper tributaries of MuT`im valley basin stem from a height of 1120 meters at the top of Twaiq edge. Its lower estuary ends at the height of 640 meters, where its length is 27 kilometers and the basin width is about 11 kilometers. The total number of its courses is about 161 with a total length of about 200 kilometers. The valley has carved its course in the rocks of Hanifah formation, while the watercourses in its middle and lower course have been covered by the sediments of Quaternary Period that are composed of pebbles, sand and mud. The study of the area shows limited vegetation. The present study focuses on the analysis of the contour map of MuT`im valley to explain the forms of land within the framework of continuous erosion processes due to prevailing climatic conditions, and the nature of the geological structure through the application of the geomorphological approach in order to identify the formal, terrain, and drainage network characteristics of the basin of Mut`em valley. It also focuses on the geomorphological analysis of the Earth surface forms by applying a series of geomorphological equations, with the analysis of the results of morphometric equations and their geomorphological significance, and the analysis of the hippocampal curve to determine the cycle of erosion in the basin. Computer programs are used to study the terrain forms in the basin and tributaries of MuT`im valley through using Hydrology tool in the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) program, especially Arc Map, to digitize watercourses in the study area. Erdas Imagine Program is also used to analyze satellite data visualizations, with clarity of 30 meters’ spatial analysis contour map of the study area. The study of the analysis of contour map will provide a geomorphological picture of MuT`im valley basin as a model of dry valleys to establish a geographic database for the dry valley basins in general, and in Saudi Arabia in particular.