Topological Relationship–Based Flow Direction Modeling: Mesh–Independent River Networks Representation

Liao, Chang; Zhou, Tian; Xu, Donghui; Cooper, Matthew G.; Engwirda, Darren; Li, Hong-Yi; Leung, L. Ruby

doi:10.1029/2022ms003089

Topological Relationship–Based Flow Direction Modeling: Mesh–Independent River Networks Representation

Journal Article · Sat Feb 11 04:00:00 EST 2023 · Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2022ms003089· OSTI ID:1964150

^[1]; ^[1]; ^[1]; Cooper, Matthew G. ^[1]; Engwirda, Darren ^[2]; Li, Hong-Yi ^[3]; ^[1]

Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Univ. of Houston, TX (United States)

River networks are important features in surface hydrology. However, accurately representing river networks in spatially distributed hydrologic and Earth system models is often sensitive to the model's spatial resolution. Specifically, river networks are often misrepresented because of the mismatch between the model's spatial resolution and river network details, resulting in significant uncertainty in the projected flow direction. In this study, we developed a topological relationship-based river network representation method for spatially distributed hydrologic models. This novel method uses (a) graph theory algorithms to simplify real-world vector-based river networks and assist in mesh generation; and (b) a topological relationship-based method to reconstruct conceptual river networks. The main advantages of our method are that (a) it combines the strengths of vector-based and DEM raster-based river network extraction methods; and (b) it is mesh-independent and can be applied to both structured and unstructured meshes. This method paves a path for advanced terrain analysis and hydrologic modeling across different scales.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 1964150

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA-171377

Journal Information:: Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, Journal Name: Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 15; ISSN 1942-2466

Publisher:: American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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