mizuRoute version 1: a river network routing tool for a continental domain water resources applications

Summary

This paper introduces mizuRoute version 1, a hydrological routing tool designed to convert runoff outputs from distributed hydrologic models into spatially distributed streamflow estimates across river networks of varying scales. The tool employs a two-step routing process comprising hillslope routing via gamma-distribution unit-hydrographs and river channel routing through either kinematic wave tracking or impulse response function methods. The application to the USGS Geospatial Fabric dataset demonstrates the tool's capacity to support water resource assessments and climate change impact studies at continental scale.

UK applicability

Whilst developed for the contiguous United States, the mizuRoute methodology and tool architecture could be adapted to UK river networks and hydrological datasets to support UK water resource management and climate change impact assessments. Such application would require integration with UK-specific hydrological models and river network data such as those maintained by the Environment Agency.

Key measures

Streamflow simulations at multiple spatial scales; river network routing using kinematic wave tracking and impulse response function approaches; model parameter sensitivity

Outcomes reported

The paper presents mizuRoute, a stand-alone runoff routing tool that post-processes outputs from distributed hydrologic and land surface models to produce spatially distributed streamflow estimates across river networks from headwater basins to continental scales. The tool was demonstrated using the USGS Geospatial Fabric dataset covering over 54,000 river segments across the contiguous United States.

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