Algorithm for Flow Direction Enforcement Using Subgrid-Scale Stream Location Data
Publication: Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 16, Issue 8
Abstract
Producing realistic surface water flow patterns can be difficult for hydrologic models when there is insufficient grid resolution as a result of computational constraints or when available digital elevation model (DEM) data are relatively coarse. This technical note describes an algorithm that allows for more realistic overland flow by incorporating subgrid-scale stream location data without increasing grid resolution. The algorithm takes stream location data from the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD), maps it to the hydrologic model horizontal grid coordinates, and produces a list of ordered points along the stream. Because the algorithm uses indexes to efficiently order points along the stream, large-scale meanders require special treatment, whereas small (grid) scale meanders are explicitly included in the algorithm logic. Slopes are ensured to be continuous along the stream’s path as defined on the model grid, distinguishing this approach from traditional “stream burning” algorithms. Stream coordinates on the model grid are calculated along with corresponding elevation and slope values so that the stream can then be integrated into the DEM if desired. The algorithm’s flow routing capabilities are demonstrated by using an integrated surface water-groundwater model, ParFlow, under rain and recession conditions. This case study is performed by using the real topography of Owens Valley, California, and NHD flowline data for the Owens River. An approach using a DEM that has undergone standard processing to fill sinks and a typical “stream burning” approach [similar to those often used in geographic information system (GIS) applications] fail to route flow out of the flood plain in ParFlow’s overland flow model that partitions and routes topography-driven flow along adjacent cells in one of four cardinal directions. In contrast, this approach, with the river elevations and continuous slopes integrated into the DEM, routes water to the river and out of the catchment, creating more realistic surface flow patterns in the region. Although the method is applied here to address problems associated with a flat flood plain, it may also be applied to any area in which stream flow is discontinuous because of insufficient resolution of topography on a model grid.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The support of NSF Grant NSFATM-0645784 (Physical Meteorology Program: S. Nelson, Program Director) (MHD and FKC) is gratefully acknowledged. Acknowledgment is also made to the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for the computing time used in this research.
References
Ashby, S., and Falgout, R. (1996). “A parallel multigrid preconditioned conjugate gradient algorithm for groundwater flow simulations.” Nucl. Sci. Eng., 124, 145–159.
Camporese, M., Paniconi, C., Putti, M., and Orlandini, S. (2010). “Surface-subsurface flow modeling with path-based runoff routing, boundary condition-based coupling, and assimilation of multisource observation data.” Water Resour. Res., 46, .
Hellweger, F. (1997). “Agree-DEM surface reconditioning system.” 〈http://www.ce.utexas.edu/prof/maidment/gishydro/ferdi/research/agree/agree.html〉.
Hutchinson, M. (1989). “A new procedure for gridding elevation and stream line data with automatic removal of spurious pits.” J. Hydrol. (Amsterdam), 106, 211–232.
Jones, J., and Woodward, C. (2001). “Newton-Krylov-multigrid solvers for large-scale, highly heterogeneous, variably saturated flow problems.” Adv. Water Resour., 24, 763–774.
Kenny, F., and Matthews, B. (2005). “A methodology for aligning raster flow direction data with photogrammetrically mapped hydrology.” Comput. Geosci., 31, 768–779.
Kenny, F., Matthews, B., and Todd, K. (2008). “Routing overland flow through sinks and flats in interpolated raster terrain surfaces.” Comput. Geosci., 34, 1417–1430.
Kollet, S. J., and Maxwell, R. M. (2006). “Integrated surface-groundwater flow modeling: A free-surface overland flow boundary condition in a parallel groundwater flow model.” Adv. Water Resour., 29, 945–958.
Marks, D., Dozier, J., and Frew, J. (1984). “Automated basin delineation from digital elevation data.” Geo-Processing, 2, 299–311.
Mizgalewicz, P. J., and Maidment, D. R. (1996). “Modeling agrichemical transport in midwest rivers using geographic information systems.” Center for Research in Water Resources Online Report 96–6, Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX, 1–338.
O’Callaghan, J., and Mark, D. (1984). “The extraction of drainage networks from digital elevation data.” Comput. Vision Graphics Image Proc., 28, 323–344.
Orlandini, S., and Moretti, G. (2009). “Determination of surface flow paths from gridded elevation data.” Water Resour. Res., 45, .
Orlandini, S., Moretti, G., Franchini, M., Aldighieri, B., and Testa, B. (2003). “Path-based methods for the determination of nondispersive drainage directions in grid-based digital elevation models.” Water Resour. Res., 39, 1144.
Press, W. H., Teukolsky, S. A., Vetterling, W. T., and Flannery, B. P. (1999). Numerical recipes in Fortran 77: The art of scientific computing, 2nd Ed., Cambridge University, New York.
Saunders, W., and Maidment, D. (1996). “A GIS assessment of nonpoint source pollution in the San Antonio—Nueces coastal basin.” Center for Research in Water Resources Online Rep. 96–1, Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX, 1–222.
Sulis, M., Meyerhoff, S. B., Paniconi, C., Maxwell, R. M., Putti, M., and Kollet, S. J. (2010). “A comparison of two physics-based numerical models for simulating surface water-groundwater interactions.” Adv. Water Resour., 33, 456–467.
Tarboton, D. (1997). “A new method for the determination of flow directions and upslope areas in grid digital elevation models.” Water Resour. Res., 33, 309–319.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 6, 2009
Accepted: Sep 25, 2010
Published online: Oct 19, 2010
Published in print: Aug 1, 2011
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.