Topological Relationship-Based Flow Direction Modeling: Stream Burning and Depression Filling

Liao, Chang; Zhou, Tian; Xu, Donghui; Tan, Zeli; Bisht, Gautam; Cooper, Matthew G.; Engwirda, Darren; Li, Hong‐Yi; Leung, L. Ruby

doi:10.1029/2022ms003487

Topological Relationship-Based Flow Direction Modeling: Stream Burning and Depression Filling

Journal Article · Sat Nov 04 00:00:00 EDT 2023 · Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2022ms003487· OSTI ID:2204818

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Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Atmospheric Science and Global Change Division (ASGC)
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
University of Houston, TX (United States)

Flow direction modeling consists of (a) an accurate representation of the river network and (b) digital elevation model (DEM) processing to preserve characteristics with hydrological significance. In part 1 of our study, we presented a mesh-independent approach to representing river networks on different types of meshes. This follow-up part 2 study presents a novel DEM processing approach for flow direction modeling. This approach consists of (a) a topological relationship-based hybrid breaching-filling method to conduct stream burning for the river network and (b) a modified depression removal method for rivers and hillslopes. Our methods reduce modifications to surface elevations and provide a robust two-step procedure to remove local depressions in DEM. They are mesh-independent and can be applied to both structured and unstructured meshes. We applied our new methods with different model configurations to the Susquehanna River Basin. The results show that topological relationship-based stream burning, and depression-filling methods can reproduce the correct river networks, providing high-quality flow direction and other characteristics for hydrologic and Earth system models.

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). Earth & Environmental Systems Science (EESS)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 2204818

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA-183275

Journal Information:: Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, Journal Name: Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 15; ISSN 1942-2466

Publisher:: American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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