Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1239
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1239
02 May 2024
 | 02 May 2024

GraphFlood 1.0: an efficient algorithm to approximate 2D hydrodynamics for Landscape Evolution Models

Boris Gailleton, Philippe Steer, Philippe Davy, Wolfgang Schwanghart, and Thomas Guillaume Adrien Bernard

Abstract. Computing hydrological fluxes at the Earth's surface is crucial for landscape evolution models, topographic analysis, and geographic information systems. However, existing formalisms, like single or multiple flow algorithms, often rely on ad-hoc rules based on local topographic slope and drainage area, neglecting the physics of water flow. While more physics-oriented solutions offer accuracy (e.g. shallow water equations), their computational costs limit their use in term of spatial and temporal scales. In this conrtibution, we introduce GraphFlood, a novel and efficient iterative method for computing river depth and water discharge in 2D on a digital elevation model (DEM). Leveraging the Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) structure of surface water flow, GraphFlood iteratively solves the 2D shallow water equations. This algorithm aims to find the correct hydraulic surface by balancing discharge input and output over the topography. At each iteration, we employ fast DAG algorithms to calculate flow accumulation on the hydraulic surface, approximating discharge input. Discharge output is then computed using the Manning flow resistance equation, similar to the River.lab model. Iteratively, the divergence of discharges increments flow depth until reaching a stationary state. This algorithm can also solve for flood wave propagation by approximating the input discharge function of the immediate upstream neighbours. We validate water depths obtained with the stationary solution against analytical solutions for rectangular channels and the River.lab and Caesar Lisflood models for natural DEMs. GraphFlood demonstrates significant computational advantages over previous hydrodynamic models, with approximately a 10-fold speed-up compared to the River.lab model. Additionally, its computational time scales slightly more than linearly with the number of cells, making it suitable for large DEMs exceeding 106–108 cells. We demonstrate the versatility of GraphFlood in integrating realistic hydrology into various topographic and morphometric analyses, including channel width measurement, inundation pattern delineation, floodplain delineation, and the classification of hillslope, colluvial, and fluvial domains. Furthermore, we discuss its integration potential in landscape evolution models, highlighting its simplicity of implementation and computational efficiency.

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Boris Gailleton, Philippe Steer, Philippe Davy, Wolfgang Schwanghart, and Thomas Guillaume Adrien Bernard

Status: final response (author comments only)

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-1239', Anonymous Referee #1, 09 Jun 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-1239', Anonymous Referee #2, 22 Jul 2024
  • AC1: 'Authors responses to reviewers', Boris Gailleton, 30 Aug 2024
Boris Gailleton, Philippe Steer, Philippe Davy, Wolfgang Schwanghart, and Thomas Guillaume Adrien Bernard

Model code and software

Supporting code for GraphFlood 1.0: an efficient algorithm to approximate 2D hydrodynamics for Landscape Evolution Models Gailleton Boris and Steer Philippe https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11065794

Boris Gailleton, Philippe Steer, Philippe Davy, Wolfgang Schwanghart, and Thomas Guillaume Adrien Bernard

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Latest update: 05 Oct 2024
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Short summary
We use cutting-edge algorithms and conceptual simplifications to solve the equations describing water flow at the surface of the earth. From quantitative information about rain and elevation, GraphFlood allow the calculation of river width, depth and allow the approximation of erosive power making it a suitable tool for large-scale hazard management or to comprehend the link between rivers and mountains.