On the Extraction of Channel Networks from Digital Elevation Data
Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Hydrological Processes
Volume
5
Issue
1
Editor
K. J.Beven and I. D. Moore
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons
Publication Date
1-1-1991
First Page
81
Last Page
100
Abstract
Channel networks with artibtrary drainage density or resolution can be extracted from digital elevation data. However, for digital elevation data derived networks to be useful they have to be extracted at the correct length scale or drainage density. Here we suggest a criterion for determining the appropriate drainage density at which to extract networks from digital elevation data. The criterion is basically to extract the highest resolution (highest drainage density) network that satisfies scaling laws that have traditionally been found to hold for channel networks. Procedures that use this criterion are presented and tested on 21 digital elevation data sets well distributed throughout the U.S.
Recommended Citation
Tarboton, D. G., Bras, R. L. and Rodriguez‐Iturbe, I. (1991), On the extraction of channel networks from digital elevation data. Hydrol. Process., 5: 81-100. doi:10.1002/hyp.3360050107