Cardiff University | Prifysgol Caerdydd ORCA
Online Research @ Cardiff 
WelshClear Cookie - decide language by browser settings

The Landlab v1.0 OverlandFlow component: a Python tool for computing shallow-water flow across watersheds

Adams, Jordan M., Gasparini, Nicole M., Hobley, Daniel E. J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2371-0534, Tucker, Gregory E., Hutton, Eric W. H., Nudurupati, Sai S. and Istanbulluoglu, Erkan 2017. The Landlab v1.0 OverlandFlow component: a Python tool for computing shallow-water flow across watersheds. Geoscientific Model Development 10 (4) , pp. 1645-1663. 10.5194/gmd-2016-277

[thumbnail of gmd-10-1645-2017.pdf]
Preview
PDF - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

Download (12MB) | Preview
[thumbnail of Square Basin - Longer Duration Storm.avi] Video (AVI) - Supplemental Material
Download (30MB)

Abstract

Representation of flowing water in landscape evolution models (LEMs) is often simplified compared to hydrodynamic models, as LEMs make assumptions reducing physical complexity in favor of computational efficiency. The Landlab modeling framework can be used to bridge the divide between complex runoff models and more traditional LEMs, creating a new type of framework not commonly used in the geomorphology or hydrology communities. Landlab is a Python-language library that includes tools and process components that can be used to create models of Earth-surface dynamics over a range of temporal and spatial scales. The Landlab OverlandFlow component is based on a simplified inertial approximation of the shallow water equations, following the solution of de Almeida et al. (2012). This explicit two-dimensional hydrodynamic algorithm simulates a flood wave across a model domain, where water discharge and flow depth are calculated at all locations within a structured (raster) grid. Here we illustrate how the OverlandFlow component contained within Landlab can be applied as a simplified event-based runoff model and how to couple the runoff model with an incision model operating on decadal timescales. Examples of flow routing on both real and synthetic landscapes are shown. Hydrographs from a single storm at multiple locations in the Spring Creek watershed, Colorado, USA, are illustrated, along with a map of shear stress applied on the land surface by flowing water. The OverlandFlow component can also be coupled with the Landlab DetachmentLtdErosion component to illustrate how the nonsteady flow routing regime impacts incision across a watershed. The hydrograph and incision results are compared to simulations driven by steady-state runoff. Results from the coupled runoff and incision model indicate that runoff dynamics can impact landscape relief and channel concavity, suggesting that on landscape evolution timescales, the OverlandFlow model may lead to differences in simulated topography in comparison with traditional methods. The exploratory test cases described within demonstrate how the OverlandFlow component can be used in both hydrologic and geomorphic applications.

Item Type: Article
Date Type: Publication
Status: Published
Schools: Earth and Environmental Sciences
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GB Physical geography
G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences
Q Science > QA Mathematics > QA76 Computer software
Q Science > QE Geology
Publisher: Copernicus Publications
ISSN: 1991-959X
Funders: National Science Foundation, Tulane University Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences Vokes Fellowship
Date of First Compliant Deposit: 21 April 2017
Date of Acceptance: 16 March 2017
Last Modified: 05 May 2023 18:32
URI: https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/99128

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item Edit Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics