DESCRIPTION

r.topidx creates topographic index (wetness index), ln(a/tan(beta)), map from elevation map

where

a: the area of the hillslope per unit contour length that drains through any point,

tan(beta): the local surface topographic slope (delta vertical) / (delta horizontal).

Input maps may have NULL values. For example, if you have a MASK for a watershed (basin map from r.water.outlet), the following command will create a masked elevation map (belev): 

r.mapcalc "belev = if(isnull(basin), basin, elev)"

r.stats -Anc prints out averaged statistics for topographic index.

EXAMPLE

Running the command below will generate the topographic index map shown in the figure: 
g.region raster=elevation -p
r.topidx input=elevation output=topidx_elevation
r.topidx example
Figure: topographic index map derived from elevation map

SEE ALSO

r.topmodel, r.water.outlet, r.mapcalc
Known issues

REFERENCES

Cho, H., 2000. GIS Hydrological Modeling System by Using Programming Interface of GRASS. Master's Thesis, Department of Civil Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Korea.

Moore, I.D., R.B. Grayson, and A.R. Ladson, 1991. Digital Terrain Modeling: A Review of Hydrological, Geomorphological, and Biological Applications. Hydrological Processes 5:3-30.

AUTHORS

Huidae Cho
Hydro Laboratory, Kyungpook National University, South Korea

Based on GRIDATB.FOR by Keith Beven.

Last changed: $Date$