Abstract
We review DTM-based measures that can be applied to study the main drainage divides of mountain ranges. Both measures proposed in the past and new or modified approaches are presented, in order to show an ensemble of tools and jointly discuss their information potential and problematic issues. The first group focuses on the main drainage divide (MDD) as a line running along the range and includes elevation profile, sinuosity, and orientation. The second one includes measures used to compare morphometric properties of two parts of the range, located on the opposite sides of the MDD, such as range asymmetry, morphometric properties of drainage basins, and the position of MDD versus maximum elevation within the range. In the third group, morphometric properties of the terrain immediately adjacent to the MDD are considered. These include properties of areas located far beyond the range symmetry line, topographic asymmetry, longitudinal stream profiles, and relief types derived from automatic landform classifications. The majority of these tools supports identification of sectors of the MDD, anomalous in terms of elevation, symmetry of the range, or the geomorphic context. All these measures were applied to the test area of the Sudetes range in Central Europe.
Highlights
Drainage divides as flow-separating lines are among the most fundamental geomorphic features, and their importance is evident at a whole range of spatial scales, from small-scale plots used in runoff simulation experiments to mountain ranges and great escarpments
MDD Versus Topographic Crest and Synthetic Divide The main drainage divide may connect the highest peaks of the range, but it is possible that these are located beyond the MDD, within second- and higher-order divides radiating from it, within parallel ridges disconnected from the MDD, or as isolated eleva
Even though resampled to lower resolution, necessary to filter out anthropogenic features interfering with modelled flow directions, it is recommended to use, especially in the context of tools focused on drainage basin delimitation and drainage network extraction
Summary
Drainage divides as flow-separating lines are among the most fundamental geomorphic features, and their importance is evident at a whole range of spatial scales, from small-scale plots used in runoff simulation experiments to mountain ranges and great escarpments. Its history and future behaviour are inferred from indices calculated for drainage basins or topographic metrics of the belt adjoining the divide In this contribution, we intend to present a range of DTM-derived measures, both simple and more complex, which may be used in an analysis of the first-order (main) drainage divide of a mountain range (MDD) at a large spatial scale. We intend to present a range of DTM-derived measures, both simple and more complex, which may be used in an analysis of the first-order (main) drainage divide of a mountain range (MDD) at a large spatial scale They help to evaluate symmetry/asymmetry of the mountain range, along-divide topographic variability, and morphometric properties of areas adjacent to the divide.
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