Evaluation of TanDEMx and SRTM DEM on watershed simulated runoff estimation

Abstract

In hydrological models, digital elevation models (DEMs) are being used to extract stream network and delineation of the watershed. DEMs represent elevation surfaces of earth landscape. Spatial resolution refers to the dimension of the cell size representing the area covered on the ground. Spatial resolution is the main parameter of a DEM. The grid cell size of raster DEM has significant effects on derived terrain variables such as slope, aspect, curvature, the wetness index, etc. Selection of appropriate spatial resolution DEM depends on other input data being used in the model, type of application and analysis that needs to be performed, the size of the database and response time. Each DEM contains inherent errors due to the method of acquisition and processing. The accuracy of each DEM varies with spatial resolution. The present paper deals with Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), TerraSAR-X add-on for Digital Elevation Measurements (TanDEM DEMs) and compares their watershed delineation, slope, stream network and height with ground control points. It was found that the coarse resolution DEMderived attributes and terrain morphological characteristics were strongly influenced by DEM accuracy. The objective of the present study is to investigate the impact of DEM resolution on topographic parameters and runoff estimation using TanDEM-12, TanDEM-30 and SRTM-90 m with the Soil and Water Assessment Tool. The analysis of the results using different DEM resolutions gave a varied number of sub-basins, Hydrological Response Units (HRUs) and watershed areas. The results were optimum at a specific threshold value as extraction of drainage network has a significant influence on simulated results. The accuracy of DEM is important, as the source of construction of DEM is the main factor causing uncertainty in the output. The results showed variable amounts of runoff at the watershed level, which may be attributed to varied stream lengths, minimum and maximum elevations and sub-basin areas.

Overview of Geospatial Technologies for Land and Water Resources Management

“…DEM products of different spatial resolutions are extensively used for topographic mapping, relief mapping, and terrain analysis (Yang et al 2011). They also serve as a preliminary input in various hydrological studies (Nagaveni et al 2019;Himanshu et al 2015). A list of several DEM products available for use is presented in Table 1.4.…”

Fields of Application of SWAT Hydrological Model—A Review

“…Research has focused on the implications of various DEM resolutions on runoff simulations. The results indicate that runoff simulations are proportional to DEM resolution changes, and different runoff volume values were obtained [27,28]. Furthermore, because of the risk of floods induced by monsoons or other precipitation events, the SWAT model is often applied to study watersheds, such as the model of the Subarnarekha River basin in India [29].…”

“…These include benchmarking methods, historical inversion methods, model prediction methods, extreme land-use methods, and land-use spatial allocations [16]. Several scientists worldwide have used the SWAT model in different watersheds to analyse the hydrological impacts of environmental change [28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38]. Most of them have studied hydrological impacts due to environmental changes, such as the isolated impacts of climate change or land use change.…”

The evaluation of the potential of global data products for snow hydrological modelling in ungauged high-alpine catchments

“…With these data, we already successfully conducted snow hydrological modelling, as shown in Weber et al (2020). Measured snow depth could be modelled with an accuracy of NSE > 0.7 (Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency; Nash and Sutcliffe, 1970). Due to some huge gaps in the LWD data during summer time as well as in spring, we refrained from using it as model input.…”