Geomorphological Analysis and Terrain Characterization of the Du and Anambra Rivers System of Southeastern Nigeria

Abstract

The study, Geomorphological Analysis and Terrain Characterization Between the Du and Anambra River Systems was carried out in Uzo Uwani and Ayamdum Local Government Areas in Enugu and Anambra states, Southeastern Nigeria for agricultural and engineering purposes. Topographic and soil data were obtained by abstraction from the Nigeria 1: 50,000 topographic map sheets (Ilushi South East; Onitsha North East, Udi North West and Nsukka South West). Further topographic data were obtained from satellite photograph of the study area which was used for preliminary mapping of the topography of the study area. The result of the topographic analysis showed that the study area was an inverted undulating tectonic plain with a mean slope angle of 1.750. The Principal Component Analysis model was applied to the results of the soil analysis. The analysis showed a strong influence of topography on soil distribution in the study area. The Principal Components Analysis identified three soil types and explained 73.336% of the variations in the soil attributes in the study area. This paper was concluded on the note that the area has great promises for future economic development and constitutes a support for the execution of pre-development surveys for regional development on a geomorphological basis.