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TERRAIN: A computer program to process digital elevation models for modeling surface flow

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/113933· OSTI ID:113933
; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States). Environmental Sciences Div.
  2. Analysas Corp., Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
This document provides a step by step procedure, TERRAIN, for processing digital elevation models to calculate overland flow paths, watershed boundaries, slope, and aspect. The algorithms incorporated into TERRAIN have been used at two different geographic scales: first for small research watersheds where surface wetness measurements are made, and second for regional water modeling for entire counties. For small areas methods based on flow distribution may be more desirable, especially if time-dependent flow models are to be used. The main improvement in TERRAIN compared with earlier programs on which it is based is that it combines the conditioning routines, which remove depressions to avoid water storage, into a single process. Efficiency has also been improved, reducing run times as much as 10:1 and enabling the processing of very large grids in strips for regional modeling. Additionally, the ability to calculate the nutrient load delivered any cell in a watershed has been added. These improvements make TERRAIN a powerful tool for modeling surface flow.
Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-84OR21400
OSTI ID:
113933
Report Number(s):
ORNL/TM--13071; ON: DE96000832
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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