Novel Terrain Analysis Techniques Applied to Hydrology

The imaginations of hydrologists, fluvial geomorphologists, and stream ecologists have not kept up with advances in topographic sensing and terrain analysis in GIS. It is now easy to map entire stream networks in longitudinal space, and such portrayals can assist in understanding variability in water quality conditions and in designing water quality studies. Similarly, we can create longitudinal maps of topographic drain lines, wetlands, streams, and groundwater data to better understand the hydrologic behavior of watersheds. We can extend this technique to create GIS-based, quasi-2D groundwater models for predicting water table position, groundwater travel times, and groundwater storage. We can also use longitudinal space to quantify the spatial distribution of land use types in a watershed and use this data to better understand and predict water quality differences among otherwise similar watersheds.