HydroSHEDS v2.0 – Refined global river network and catchment delineations from TanDEM-X elevation data

Bernhard Lehner, Achim Roth, Martin Huber, Mira Anand, Günther Grill, Nicole Osterkamp, Raphael Tubbesing, Leena Warmedinger, and Michele Thieme

Global hydrographic information for regional and global applications

Since its introduction in 2008, the HydroSHEDS database has transformed large-scale hydro-ecological research and applications worldwide by offering standardized spatial units for hydrological assessments. At its core, HydroSHEDS provides digital hydrographic information that can be applied in Geographic Information Software (GIS) or hydrological models to delineate river networks and catchment boundaries at multiple scales, from local to global. Its various data layers form the basis for applications in a wide range of disciplines including environmental, conservation, socioeconomic, human health, and sustainability studies.

Version 1 of HydroSHEDS was derived from the digital elevation model of the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) at a pixel resolution of 3 arc-seconds (~90 meters at the equator). It was created using customized processing and optimization algorithms and a high degree of manual quality control. Results are available at varying resolutions, ranging from 3 arc-seconds (~90 m) to 5 minutes (~10 km), and in nested sub-basin structures, making the data uniquely suitable for applications at multiple scales. A suite of related data collections and value-added information, foremost the HydroATLAS compilation of over 50 hydro-environmental attributes for every river reach and sub-basin, continuously enhance the versatility of the HydroSHEDS family of products.

Yet version 1 of HydroSHEDS shows some important limitations. In particular, coverage above 60° northern latitude (i.e., largely the Arctic) is missing for the 3 arc-second product and is of low quality for coarser products because no SRTM elevation data are available for this region. Also, some areas are affected by inherent data gaps or other errors that could not be fully resolved at the time of creating version 1 of HydroSHEDS.

Next generation of HydroSHEDS: replacing SRTM elevation model with DLR products

DLR's twin TanDEM-X and TerraSAR-X satellites. Image credit: ©DLR. Learn more about the TanDEM-X mission.

Today, the TanDEM-X dataset (TerraSAR-X add-on for Digital Elevation Measurement), created in partnership between the German Aerospace Agency (DLR) and Airbus, offers a new digital elevation model covering the entire global land surface including northern latitudes. In a collaborative project, this dataset is used to extract HydroSHEDS v2, also known as HydroSHEDS-X, following the same basic specifications as version 1.

DLR is processing the original 12 m resolution TanDEM-X data to create a hydrologically pre-conditioned version at 1 arc-second resolution. In this step, corrections with high-resolution vegetation and settlement maps are applied to reduce distortions caused by vegetation cover and in built-up areas. Following this preprocessing, refined hydrological optimization and correction algorithms are used to derive the drainage pathways, including improved ‘stream-burning’ techniques that incorporate recent data products such as high- resolution terrestrial open water masks and improved tracing of drainage pathways as centerlines in global lake and river maps.

The resulting HydroSHEDS v2 database will provide river networks and catchment boundaries at full global coverage. Release of the data under a free license is scheduled starting in 2024, with regions above 60° northern latitude being completed first.

High-resolution elevation from TanDEM-X

View images of TanDEM-X elevation data at the native 12m resolution.

HydroSHEDS v2 highlights:

Core products: flow directions (grid), stream network (lines), sub-basins (polygons)
Full global coverage (including north of 60°N)
Multi-scale (finest resolution: 1 arc-seconds, ~30 m at the equator)
Derived from 12 m TanDEM-X elevation data
Less affected by data gaps & voids than version 1.0 based on SRTM data
Improved hydrographic processing algorithms (including lake and river centerlines)
Improved auxiliary data to correct drainage pathways, including high resolution water masks
Corrected with 3D World Settlement Footprint
Corrected with DLR vegetation layer
Update and migration of related products (including HydroATLAS, HydroLAKES)
Release: starting 2024

TanDEM-X conditioned digital elevation model and HydroSHEDS v2.0 preliminary river network for Iceland

Comparison to other river networks

The images below depict river network delineations for a region in Iceland.

The HydroSHEDS v1 network depicted in the figure below (in regions north of 60N) is derived from the coarser resolution HYDRO1k elevation data and produced at 15 arc-second (~500 m). In northern regions there is no underlying SRTM data, meaning that these regions are of lower quality compared to the global product.

MERIT Hydro is derived from SRTM3 and AW3D, and produced at 3 arc-second (~90 m) resolution. HydroSHEDS v2.0 is derived from TanDEM-X elevation data, and also produced at 3 arc-second (~90 m) resolution.

Due to the differing resolutions of production, the HydroSHEDS v1 network has a lower river density compared to the MERIT Hydro and HydroSHEDS v2 river networks.

Scroll down to compare enlarged images.

The left image depicts the HydroSHEDS v1 river network (produced in northern regions from coarser HYDRO1k elevation data) and the right image depicts the HydroSHEDS v2.0 preliminary river network (produced at 90 m resolution). Slide to compare the two river networks.

The left image depicts the MERIT Hydro river network and the right image depicts the HydroSHEDS v2.0 preliminary river network (both produced at 90 m resolution). Slide to compare the two river networks.