Morphometric and Hydrological Dynamics of Lonar Crater Lake, India: A Temporal Assessment Based On Remote Sensing and Rainfall Variability (2019–2024)

Abstract

Lonar Crater Lake (19°58′N, 76°31′E) is a ~52 ka meteorite impact structure developed within the Deccan Traps basaltic province and represents an important natural archive for understanding crater-lake hydrology and geomorphic evolution. This study investigates short-term morphometric and hydrological variations in Lonar Crater Lake during the period 2019–2024, with particular emphasis on the role of rainfall variability and groundwater dynamics. Lake boundaries and morphometric parameters were extracted using high-resolution Google Earth Pro satellite imagery, while rainfall data for 2018 and 2023 were obtained from the Maharashtra Rainfall Monitoring Portal. Standard limnological indices, including Depth Ratio (Rz), Relative Depth (Zr), Shoreline Development Index (DSI), and Index of Basin Permanence (IBP), were calculated following established morphometric methodologies.