Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Gradually Varying Flow01:29

Gradually Varying Flow

226
Gradually varying flow (GVF) in open channels describes situations where water depth changes slowly along the channel due to factors like non-uniform bed slope, channel shape variations, or obstructions. This flow type occurs when the depth adjusts gradually to balance gravitational forces, shear forces, and energy requirements, resulting in a low rate of depth change.Characteristics of Gradually Varying FlowGVF is commonly observed in natural streams, rivers, and canals, where flow depth...
226
Design Example: Analyzing Capacity Contours for Flood Risk Assessment01:17

Design Example: Analyzing Capacity Contours for Flood Risk Assessment

193
Flood risk assessment involves careful planning and analysis to ensure the safety of communities near water retention structures. Capacity contours are a vital tool in this process, as they illustrate the potential spread of water at specific levels in a given area. In the context of building a bund across a small valley, these contours play a critical role in evaluating the safety of nearby residential areas.In this example, the bund is intended to store stormwater in the valley. The engineers...
193
Design Example: Design of an Irrigation Channel01:27

Design Example: Design of an Irrigation Channel

531
Trapezoidal channels are widely used in irrigation systems due to their cost-effectiveness and efficiency in conveying water. Trapezoidal channels feature a flat bottom and sloping sides, making them stable and easier to construct compared to other shapes. The bottom width and side slope ratio are determined based on the required flow capacity and site conditions. The side slope is kept gentle for unlined channels to prevent soil erosion.Hydraulic parameters in channel design include the flow...
531
Rapidly Varying Flow01:24

Rapidly Varying Flow

225
Rapidly varying flow (RVF) in open channels is characterized by abrupt changes in flow depth over a short distance, with the rate of depth change relative to distance often approaching unity. These flows are inherently complex due to their transient and multi-dimensional nature, making exact analysis difficult. However, approximate solutions using simplified models provide valuable insights into their behavior.Key Features of Rapidly Varying FlowRVF is commonly observed in scenarios involving...
225
Selected Data About Geographic Locations01:25

Selected Data About Geographic Locations

142
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) rely on two core types of data: spatial data and attribute data.Spatial DataSpatial data defines the physical location of features within a coordinate system, typically expressed in terms of latitude and longitude. It provides precise positioning for elements like roads, rivers, or buildings.Attribute DataAttribute data complements spatial data by adding descriptive information about these features. For example, a road's spatial data includes its start and...
142
Uniform Depth Channel Flow01:27

Uniform Depth Channel Flow

342
Uniform depth channel flow keeps fluid depth consistent along channels such as irrigation canals. In natural channels, such as rivers, approximate uniform flow is often assumed. This condition occurs when the channel’s bottom slope matches the energy slope, balancing potential energy lost from gravity with head loss due to shear stress. This balance prevents depth changes along the channel length, resulting in a steady, uniform flow.Uniform flow in open channels with a constant cross-section...
342

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Satellite observations reveal widespread alteration of river thermal regimes by US dams.

Science advances·2026
Same author

Record-breaking 2023 marine heatwaves.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2025
Same author

Diminishing storage returns of reservoir construction.

Nature communications·2023
Same author

Author Correction: Satellites reveal hotspots of global river extent change.

Nature communications·2023
Same author

Satellites reveal hotspots of global river extent change.

Nature communications·2023
Same author

Cause of the 2020 surge in atmospheric methane clarified.

Nature·2022

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 19, 2025

Watershed Planning within a Quantitative Scenario Analysis Framework
12:44

Watershed Planning within a Quantitative Scenario Analysis Framework

Published on: July 24, 2016

8.3K

A new vector-based global river network dataset accounting for variable drainage density.

Peirong Lin1, Ming Pan2, Eric F Wood3

  • 1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA. peirongl@princeton.edu.

Scientific Data
|January 27, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

A new global river dataset, MERIT Hydro-Vector, accurately maps drainage density (Dd) worldwide. It uses machine learning and the MERIT DEM to improve river network modeling for water resource management.

More Related Videos

Use of Principal Components for Scaling Up Topographic Models to Map Soil Redistribution and Soil Organic Carbon
09:44

Use of Principal Components for Scaling Up Topographic Models to Map Soil Redistribution and Soil Organic Carbon

Published on: October 16, 2018

10.5K
Parameterizing V-notch Weir Equations for Flow Monitoring in a Drainage Control Structure
07:15

Parameterizing V-notch Weir Equations for Flow Monitoring in a Drainage Control Structure

Published on: April 25, 2025

749

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Nov 19, 2025

Watershed Planning within a Quantitative Scenario Analysis Framework
12:44

Watershed Planning within a Quantitative Scenario Analysis Framework

Published on: July 24, 2016

8.3K
Use of Principal Components for Scaling Up Topographic Models to Map Soil Redistribution and Soil Organic Carbon
09:44

Use of Principal Components for Scaling Up Topographic Models to Map Soil Redistribution and Soil Organic Carbon

Published on: October 16, 2018

10.5K
Parameterizing V-notch Weir Equations for Flow Monitoring in a Drainage Control Structure
07:15

Parameterizing V-notch Weir Equations for Flow Monitoring in a Drainage Control Structure

Published on: April 25, 2025

749

Area of Science:

  • Hydrology
  • Geomorphology
  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Background:

  • Spatial variability of river network drainage density (Dd) is crucial for understanding river systems.
  • Existing global hydrography datasets often lack accurate representation of Dd variability.
  • Accurate global hydrography is essential for hydrological modeling and water resource management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present a new vector-based global hydrography dataset (MERIT Hydro-Vector) that reasonably estimates spatial Dd variability worldwide.
  • To improve the accuracy of global river network representation and support hydrological studies.
  • To provide a foundation for global modeling of river system processes at fine spatial resolutions.

Main Methods:

  • Delineation of river channels using the 90-m Multi-Error-Removed Improved Terrain (MERIT) digital elevation model (DEM), flow direction, and accumulation.
  • Development of a machine learning approach to estimate Dd based on watershed-level climatic, topographic, hydrologic, and geologic factors.
  • Training of hydroclimate-Dd relationships using the National Hydrography Dataset Plus (NHDPlusV2) data for model calibration.

Main Results:

  • The new MERIT Hydro-Vector dataset demonstrates improved agreement with Landsat-derived river centerlines compared to existing datasets like HydroSHEDS.
  • Accurate spatial patterns of drainage density (Dd) for global river networks (totaling ~75 million kilometers) are obtained.
  • Delineation of basins and estimation of intermittent stream fractions are provided, enhancing support for water resource management.

Conclusions:

  • MERIT Hydro-Vector offers a significant advancement in global hydrography, particularly in representing drainage density.
  • The dataset's accuracy and comprehensive nature enable more robust global hydrological modeling.
  • This resource is expected to facilitate a wide range of scientific investigations and practical applications in water resource management.