Visualization and Analysis of Distributed

Hydrologic Model Results Using Open-source

Software Tools

3rd CUAHSI Conference on Hydroinformatics

July 15-17, 2015
Thomas Adams thomas.adams@noaa.gov

Outline

Significant features of open source tools for

Hydroinformatics

NEXRAD-based Stage3/MPE bias analysis and correction

Flood inundation mapping; probabilistic flood inundation

mapping

Geostatistical simulations random field generation

RDHM Distributed Hydrologic Modeling parameter

estimation & simulation visualization

Publication quality graphics: GRASS GIS, R, GMT

Open Source tools for Hydroinformatics

GRASS GIS, QGIS, SAGA GIS, R, Generic Mapping Tools (GMT), Octave
(~Matlab clone)

Linux, Mac OS X, MS-Windows

Fully extensible (add-on modules) and source code changes (C,

FORTRAN, Python)

Easily scriptable with Linux shell scripting, Python, Perl

PostgreSQL, SQLite3, MySQL,PostGIS, Mapserver, GeoServer

OSM-WMS support
Data types: raster, vector, image (satellite), 3D raster, raster timeseries
Data formats: grib, grib2, netcdf, hdf5, shapefiles, ascii, Arc Ascii grid
virtually all formats supported through gdal

Map projection and datum transformations

Advanced GUIs

NLDAS vs PRISM precipitation

Dec 2007

Washington, DC

NWS NEXRAD
Radar Locations

NEXRAD based Stage3/MPE Precipitation

3 May 2002, 24-hr Accumulation

Bias = MPE/PRISM

Distributed Hydrologic Model

Parameter Estimation

ISRIC Global Soils Database

SSURGO in the U.S.

From: Koren, et al
NOAA/NWS/NWC

SAC-SMA Parameters

From: Koren, et al
NOAA/NWS/NWC

Soil Hydraulic Properties from

Soil Texture

From: Koren, et al
NOAA/NWS/NWC

SAC-SMA LZTWM

Source: NOAA/NWS/NWC

Estimated SAC-SMA LZTWM

GRASS GIS 3D NVIZ Visualization

Villahermosa, Tabasco Mexico

Tabasco, MX
RDHM Routing Parameter, alpha

250m

Uncalibrated RDHM SAC-SMA

Legend
qm = 1.39

RDHM
USGS

3000
2000
1000
0

Discharge (CMS)

4000

5000

6000

RDHM simulation vs USGS observed

Potomac R at L Falls Pump Station
Oct 2007 Dec. 2013

10/20/2009

11/20/2009

12/20/2009

01/20/2010

02/20/2010
Date

03/20/2010

04/20/2010

05/20/2010

Legend
Simulated
Observed

100
50

Bankfull Flow = 85 cms

Discharge (CMS)

150

200

RDHM simulation vs USGS observed

Seneca Creek near Dawsonville, MD
Jan Dec 2003

01/01/2003

03/01/2003

05/01/2003

07/01/2003
Date

09/01/2003

11/01/2003

Flow Exceeding Bankfull Flow

based on USGS Regional Analyses
Flow (cms)

RDHM sac visualization

4km spatial resolution

Discharge

Precipitation

Flows 1 cms, 250m resolution

Discharge

Precipitation

Coupling RDHM sac with HEC-RAS

unsteady flow simulations

MMEFS NAEFS Hydrologic Ensembles

http://www.erh.noaa.gov/mmefs/

Potomac River, Washington, DC

USGS 3m DEM

Google Earth Visualization from GRASS kmz file

Geostatistical Random Field

Generation

GRASS with gstat

24-hour Precipitation ending

07/04/2006 12UTC

Randomly Sample Precipitation

and Temperature Fields
-orSoil Moisture Field

MM5

NEXRAD MPE

4 Realizations of Conditional Gaussian

Geostatistical Simulations using R/gstat
and GRASS GIS

Unconditional Gaussian Simulation

GRASS & Generic Mapping Tools (GMT)

working together

From dylan beaudette USDA/NRCS

Draw your attention to

FLOOD
FORECASTING
A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

THOMAS E. ADAMS, III

THOMAS C. PAGANO

Chapters on National Systems in:

Australia
Brazil (Amazon Basin)
China
Columbia
EU EFAS
Germany
India
Israel
Romania
Russia
Sweden (hopefully)
UK
USA
also
Congo Basin
USGS chapter on Streamgauging
Late 2015/Early 2016

End