PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF DATA

The Rio Minho is a dendritic drainage basin of predominantly permeable rocks. As

shown in table 3 below, the Rio Minho has 40 seasonal streams. This drainage basin is larger

than the Black River basin as shown in figure 10 below. This fourth order river flows in a

southeasterly direction. It has three water management units; Rio Minho, Milk River and Gut

Alligator Hole. Their respective measurements are 796.8 km2, 852.8 km2 and 164.4 km2. As a

result, the total area of the drainage basin is calculated to be 1814.0 km2. The highest point of the

Rio Minho basin measured 848 km. The Rio Minho also has a perimeter of 1780 km with a basin

length of 99 km, while the Black River basin has a perimeter of 1345 km with a basin length of

85 km.

Figure 10: Map of the Black River and Rio Minho Drainage Basins

However, the Black River is a trellis drainage basin which flows in a southwesterly

direction. This drainage basin has 22 seasonal streams. The total area of the drainage basin is

calculated to be 1311.4 km2. The highest point of the Black River basin measured 811 km. The

Black River drainage basin, unlike the Rio Minho drainage basin, is a second order stream. This
basin has a swamp near its mouth indicating poor drainage. The values for each morphometric

variable calculated are shown in table 3 below.

The Rio Minho’s source is found in an area of white limestone formation. The river flows

through an area of limestone, shale conglomerates and tufts. The middle course of the river flows

in a southeast direction through a small area of yellow limestone formation into its white

limestone formation. From there it travels southerly where its lower course flows through an area

of alluvium in the interior valley deposits. Moreover, as shown in figure 11, the Black River

begins in an area of yellow limestone formation and its middle course travels in a southwest
direction across two faults into an area of white limestone formation. The lower course of the

river then flows through an area of alluvium and mangrove in the watershed’s interior valley

deposits.

Figure 11: Geology of the Black River and Rio Minho Drainage Basins

The first morphometric parameter to be analyzed are the linear aspects. Bifurcation ratio

is used with stream frequency and drainage texture to assess the possibility of flooding in the

drainage basin. The higher the second number in the ratio, the lower the risk of flooding in the

basin. There is a ratio of 1:4.34 in the Black River drainage basin and a ratio of 1:4.11 in the Rio

Minho drainage basin. This indicates that the Rio Minho basin is less susceptible to flooding than

the Black River basin.

By calculating the areal parameter, drainage density, it could be concluded that the Black

River drainage basin, 0.041km/km2, has a higher chance of flooding than the Rio Minho drainage

basin, 0.51kkm/km2. The drainage density is directly proportional to the stream frequency. The

stream frequency is dependent on the drainage texture and the basin rock type. The drainage

texture is an indicator of the infiltration capacity of the drainage basin. Based on the calculations,
the Rio Minho basin,0.068, has a higher infiltration capacity than the Black River basin, 0.0623.

It is also influenced by natural factors; climate, rainfall, vegetation and rock or soil type.

A basin shape or form factor of less than 0.5 highlights that the drainage basin is

elongated. Moreover, an elongated basin has a high infiltration capacity and a low surface runoff.

The Black River drainage basin has a basin shape of 0.182 while the Rio Minho has a basin

shape of 0.185. This is a clear indication that both basins are elongated which are characterized

by low to moderate relief. In addition to their shapes, it is highlighted by the difference in

numbers that the Black River drainage basin has a higher infiltration capacity as well as a lower

surface runoff than the Rio Minho drainage basin. This parameter is influenced by the land

cover, climate, relief and the slope of the basin.

Lastly, the length of overland flow indicates the lag time of the water flowing into the

basin when it rains. The shorter the length of overland flow the quicker the surface runoff. The

Rio Minho basin has a length of overland flow of 39.92 km whereas the Black River basin has a

length of 48.78 km for overland flow. The results obtained through calculation shows that the

Rio Minho basin has a quicker surface runoff than the Black River basin. This is likely the

reason for the Black River drainage basin having a swamp. It shows a sign of poor drainage, as

the water takes a longer time to reach the stream most of it is lost through infiltration. Therefore,

creating an area of swamp.

The last morphometric parameters to be calculated are the relief aspects. This parameter

consists of the relief ratio and the ruggedness number. The relief ratio is significant because it

indicates the overall steepness of the drainage basin, while the ruggedness number analysis is

used to indicate the steepness and the slope for the drainage network. The Rio Minho has a relief

ratio of 1:116.75 and a ruggedness number of 0.043 whereas the Black River has a relief ratio of
1:104.78 and a ruggedness number of 0.033. A high value for the relief ratio is associated with

steep slope and high relief whereas a low value of relief ratio is associated with gentle slope and

low relief. From the figures given above it can be concluded that the Rio Minho drainage basin

has a steep slope and a high relief. On the other hand, the Black River drainage basin has a gentle

slope and a low relief.

Graph 1: Log Rio Minho vs Stream Number Line Graph

Graph 2: Log Black River vs Stream Number Line Graph

Horton’s Law of stream orders states that the length of stream segments is high for first

order streams and decreases as the gradient stream order increases. As shown in graph 1 and
graph 2 their overall patterns of both drainage basins support Horton’s Law of stream order.

From observation of a topographic map of Jamaica, the source of the rivers commences on a

high elevation with a steep gradient while the lower course is located on a low, gentle slope. A

high gradient results in high velocity and increased energy in the river.

Graph 3: Log Rio Minho vs Stream Length Line Graph

Graph 4: Log Black River vs Stream Length Line Graph

Horton’s Law of stream orders states that the cumulative average stream length states that

there exists a geometric relationship between the average length of streams of a given order and

the corresponding order. The cumulative average length of the streams should increase as the
order increases. However, as shown in graph 3 and graph 4 the cumulative length decreases by

order. The overall patterns of both drainage basins refute Horton’s Law of stream order.

CONCLUSION

In comparing the morphometric parameters between the Rio Minho drainage basin and

the Black River drainage basin it was found that the Rio Minho drainage basin is the larger of the
two. Both rivers flow through areas of permeable white and yellow limestone and alluvium.

However, the Rio Minho also flows through an area of shale conglomerates and tufts.

Moreover, the river with a higher rate of erosion is the Black River as it has a gentle slope

and a low relief. The Rio Minho, however, has a lower rate of erosion due to its higher relief and

a steeper slope. The drainage basin that is more susceptible to flooding is the Black River

drainage basin. This is indicated by the bifurcation ratio, 1:4.34. The lower the second number

in the ratio, the higher the risk of flooding in the basin. On the other hand, the Rio Minho has a

lower possibility of flooding because its bifurcation ratio is 1:4.11. It is also indicated by the

basin shape that the Rio Minho basin has a higher infiltration capacity and a lower surface runoff

than the Black River basin. A basin shape of less than 0.5 indicates that the drainage basin is

elongated, moreover, an elongated basin has a high infiltration capacity and a low surface runoff.

It was observed that both basins are elongated but the Rio Minho, 0.182, is more elongated than

the Black River basin,0.185. Lastly, it was also proven that the Black River has an area of swamp

due to poor drainage.

Visiting the drainage basins would have given us the opportunity to properly assess the

factors that impact the basins’ characteristics. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, the geography

group was not able to carry out the necessary field work; instead maps dated thirty years ago

were used. The continuous change of the land could not be reflected on these maps. It is believed

that a drainage basin 3D software could have been used to accurately compare the basins.