Soil Erosion Susceptibility Assessment of the Seyhan River Basin Using Stream Power Index (SPI) and Topographic Wetness Index (TWI)

Onur Güven; Ümit Yıldırım

Soil Erosion Susceptibility Assessment of the Seyhan River Basin Using Stream Power Index (SPI) and Topographic Wetness Index (TWI)

Abstract

This study aims to identify soil erosion-sensitive areas in the Seyhan River Basin by jointly evaluating the Stream Power Index (SPI) and the Topographic Wetness Index (TWI). The analyses were conducted in a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment using topographic–hydrological parameters derived from a 30 m resolution Digital Elevation Model (DEM). SPI represents the erosive power of flowing water based on slope and flow accumulation, whereas TWI reflects the spatial distribution of water accumulation and soil saturation. The results indicate that high SPI values are concentrated in the middle and upper parts of the basin, where steep slopes and dense drainage networks prevail, highlighting areas with higher erosion susceptibility. In contrast, elevated TWI values are mainly observed in valley bottoms, low-slope areas, and basin outlet zones, indicating regions dominated by surface runoff and sediment accumulation processes. The combined interpretation of SPI and TWI maps enabled a clear spatial distinction between erosion- and deposition-dominated zones, revealing the strong topographic control on erosion dynamics across the basin. Unlike approaches that rely on subjective weighting or complex modeling, the proposed SPI–TWI-based framework offers a simple, objective, and data-efficient method for erosion susceptibility assessment, as it relies solely on DEM-derived topographic parameters without requiring additional soil, climate, land use, or field-based datasets, making it particularly suitable for data-scarce basins. The findings provide valuable insights for prioritizing soil conservation measures, land-use planning, and sustainable watershed management strategies in the Seyhan River Basin and similar Mediterranean environments.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

This study received no external funding.

Ethical Statement

In the study, the authors declare that there is no violation of research and publication ethics.

Thanks

AI–based tools were used during the preparation of this manuscript to assist with language refinement and readability. The tools did not contribute to the scientific analysis or conclusions, which remain entirely the responsibility of the author. This study received no external funding.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Geomorphology and Earth Surface Processes

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Onur Güven ^*
0000-0001-5608-7633
Türkiye

Ümit Yıldırım
0000-0002-7631-7245
Türkiye

Publication Date

March 30, 2026

Submission Date

February 6, 2026

Acceptance Date

March 26, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 8 Number: 1

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA52FY96MJ

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Güven, O., & Yıldırım, Ü. (2026). Soil Erosion Susceptibility Assessment of the Seyhan River Basin Using Stream Power Index (SPI) and Topographic Wetness Index (TWI). Turkish Journal of Applied Geoinformation Sciences, 8(1), 28-38. https://izlik.org/JA52FY96MJ

AMA

1.Güven O, Yıldırım Ü. Soil Erosion Susceptibility Assessment of the Seyhan River Basin Using Stream Power Index (SPI) and Topographic Wetness Index (TWI). Turk. J. Appl. Geoinf. Sci. 2026;8(1):28-38. https://izlik.org/JA52FY96MJ

Chicago

Güven, Onur, and Ümit Yıldırım. 2026. “Soil Erosion Susceptibility Assessment of the Seyhan River Basin Using Stream Power Index (SPI) and Topographic Wetness Index (TWI)”. Turkish Journal of Applied Geoinformation Sciences 8 (1): 28-38. https://izlik.org/JA52FY96MJ.

EndNote

Güven O, Yıldırım Ü (March 1, 2026) Soil Erosion Susceptibility Assessment of the Seyhan River Basin Using Stream Power Index (SPI) and Topographic Wetness Index (TWI). Turkish Journal of Applied Geoinformation Sciences 8 1 28–38.

IEEE

[1]O. Güven and Ü. Yıldırım, “Soil Erosion Susceptibility Assessment of the Seyhan River Basin Using Stream Power Index (SPI) and Topographic Wetness Index (TWI)”, Turk. J. Appl. Geoinf. Sci., vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 28–38, Mar. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA52FY96MJ

ISNAD

Güven, Onur - Yıldırım, Ümit. “Soil Erosion Susceptibility Assessment of the Seyhan River Basin Using Stream Power Index (SPI) and Topographic Wetness Index (TWI)”. Turkish Journal of Applied Geoinformation Sciences 8/1 (March 1, 2026): 28-38. https://izlik.org/JA52FY96MJ.

JAMA

1.Güven O, Yıldırım Ü. Soil Erosion Susceptibility Assessment of the Seyhan River Basin Using Stream Power Index (SPI) and Topographic Wetness Index (TWI). Turk. J. Appl. Geoinf. Sci. 2026;8:28–38.

MLA

Güven, Onur, and Ümit Yıldırım. “Soil Erosion Susceptibility Assessment of the Seyhan River Basin Using Stream Power Index (SPI) and Topographic Wetness Index (TWI)”. Turkish Journal of Applied Geoinformation Sciences, vol. 8, no. 1, Mar. 2026, pp. 28-38, https://izlik.org/JA52FY96MJ.

Vancouver

1.Onur Güven, Ümit Yıldırım. Soil Erosion Susceptibility Assessment of the Seyhan River Basin Using Stream Power Index (SPI) and Topographic Wetness Index (TWI). Turk. J. Appl. Geoinf. Sci. [Internet]. 2026 Mar. 1;8(1):28-3. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA52FY96MJ