Geomorphometric and Terrain Analysis of the Nigerian Section of the Chad Basin (Bornu Basin) Northeastern Nigeria

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to characterize the geomorphology and analyze the terrain of the Bornu basin. This is critical to the understanding of the general landscape configuration, its evolution and morphodynamics in the basin. Mapping was carried using the Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM) and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data of the area. These set of data compliments the data generated from an extensive and detailed mapping of the area adopting the holistic approach geomorphologic field mapping technique. The basins slope generated from DEM of the area indicated five terrain categories. The western end of the basin has the highest slope of 755 to 1582m denoting the margins of the Biu and Jos plateau which slopes down to the lowest slope category of 256m at the shores of Lake Chad. These slope categories exhibits a variety of land forms ranging from rills, gullies, ponds, rivers, deltas, alluvial plains, ridges, hills and sand dunes of variable sizes, shapes and morphological characteristics. The Bama ridge which rises to height of 363m covering a distance of about 340 Km is a major land form in the basin. These land forms and others identified have been formed and are being fashioned by interplay of fluvial and Aeolian processes whose linkages are found to vary both in spatial and temporal dimensions.Detailed geomorphic and terrain analysis of the basin provides an exact and measurable picture of the relief form and land forms which are essential in the search for solid minerals, underground water, and oil and gas. In this 2 paper, the geomorphometric and terrain of the Nigerian section of the Chad basin (Bornu basin) was analyzed using information extracted and processed from the SRTM-DEM data, Landsat imagery, extensive field mapping and the review of previous literatures. The Study AreaNigerian section of the Chad Basin, known locally as the Bornu Basin forms the south western part of the Chad Basin in Nigeria and covers a landmass of about 2,335000Sq Km. It is one of Nigerian's inland basins occupying the northeastern part of the country and representing about one-tenth of the total area extent of the Chad Basin. The Basin is a large regional structural depression cutting across Cameroon, Central African Republic, Niger, Chad and Nigeria (Obaje, 2009). The Bornu Basin falls between latitudes 10 0 N and 15 0 N and longitudes 8 0 E and 14 0 E covering parts of Borno, Yobe and Jigawa States of Nigeria (Figure 1).

Orientation and Frequency Analysis of Topographic Lineaments in the Miringa Volcanic Zone of the Biu Plateau Region, Borno State, Nigeria

“…It is acknowledged that an area with high lineament density reflects high degree of rock fracturing, shearing, intensive deformation and enhanced permeability. Also these areas are associated with high groundwater yield and minerals especially associated with hydrothermal activities Prahakaran and Raj [22] and Mohammed et al, [23]. .…”