Zavkhan River and Its Catchment Area Delineation Using Satellite Image ()
1. Introduction
The Khyargas Lake-Zavkhan River catchment, located in the western region of Mongolia, is one of 29 catchments in Mongolia and 4th biggest catchment of Mongolia [1]. It belongs to the Central Asian Closed Basin. Moreover, there are various scientific researches, such as soil, water, flora, fauna, geomorphology and environmental economy on the catchment area. Most recent studies are “Socioeconomic study of Khyargas Lake-Zavkhan River catchment” research report was written by Kadirbyek. D in 2013, “Hydrologic situation of Zavkhan River” field study was done by Dorjsuren. D and others in 2013, “Integrated water management-National assessment report” book was published by “Strengthening Integrated Water Resources Management in Mongolia” project and the Ministry of Environment and Green Development of Mongoliain 2012 and many more. Spatial boundary of all these studies has been defined by catchment area of Zavkhan River, which was delineated from the topographic map of Mongolia, scaled 1:1,000,000 and produced in 1980th, using the traditional method.
A traditional method is catchment area delineation from the topographic map, drawing lines by hand to connecting elevation points and contour lines. It is not an easy task precisely to define watershed lines, and related hydrographic and morphometric parameters in plane land areas using topographic map. The manual delineation of drainage networks and catchments from topographic maps has been widely replaced by the automatic extraction from Digital Elevation Model [3].
Figure 1 shows the Zavkhan River and its catchment area that were defined by the traditional method, mentioned inmajority of research reports and papers. For in-
Figure 1. Zavkhan River and its catchment area delineation from the topographic map. Source: [2].
stance, main sources that researchers cite are: 1) “Climate and surface water resource atlas of Mongolian Republic” published in 1985, 2) “Scheme of integrated water resource management in the catchment area of Selenge River” published in 1986, 3) “National atlas of Mongolian Republic” pressed in 1990, 4) “National atlas of Mongolia” pressed in 2009, 5) the 332nd decision on “River catchment areas of Mongolia” by the Minister of Nature, Environment and Tourism in 2009, 6) WWF, River catchments in Mongolia printed 2011, and many more. Shapes of the river and its catchment area, described in above-mentioned publications are shown in Figure 2.
The catchment area of Zavkhan River was drawn same in aforesaid publications and according to the 332nd decision by the Minister; its area is 120706.9 km2.
The research implementation is important in recent time when a water resource management is recognized a vital issue in the world and national level. Therefore, basic parameters of river and its catchment area have to define by modern method, and the result will be used in research in different scientific field and would have supported for decision-making in the near future. The purpose of this research is to define basic parameters of Khyarg as Lake-Zavkhan River and its catchment area using satellite images.
2. Study Area, Data and Method
2.1. Study Area
The Minister of Nature, Environment and Tourism of Mongolia made a decision #332 in 2009 on river catchment areas and according to it, whole territory of Mongolia was divided into 29 larger river catchments (Figure 3). It is being used to water resource management of Mongolia.
From these, catchment area of Zavkhan River that is located in the western region of Mongolia has been selected as a study field for this research.
The origins of the Zavkhan River are the Buyant and the Shar Us streams of the Khangai mountain range. According to 1:100,000 scaled topographic map of Mongolia, total length of the river is approximately 808 km. The drainage density is 0.36 km·km2−1; the length of permanent rivers in the catchment is 25203.9 km, and the drainage mean altitude is 1427 m. The Zavkhan River flows from the northeast to southwest and meanders to the northwest (Figure 4). The catchment area is located in The Central Asian Closed Basin [9].
2.2. Dataset
Two datasets: 1) Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM)-DEM at a horizontal spatial resolution of 90 meters, 2) ASTER-DEM at a horizontal spatial resolution of 30 metershave been used in this study. Fourth versions of SRTM-DEM datasets, ID 55-03 and 56-03 have been downloaded freely, mosaiced and processed (Figure 5). Columns and rows of the raster data are 12,000:6000, the spatial extent is 90.0, 50.0 decimal degrees at the top left and 100.0, 45.0 decimal degrees at the bottom right.
Totally, 41 ASTER-DEM datasets, ID N45-50 E90- 100 have been downloaded, mosaiced and processed (Figure 6). Columns and rows of the raster data are 36,000:18,000.
Aforesaid two datasets, SRTM and ASTER, can be downloaded from online database and can be used in scientific research. For that reason, these datasets are widely applied in worldwide.
2.3. Research Method and Methodology
This research has been done by two different models of ArcHydro and ILWIS softwares using aforesaid two datasets. Main methods of the research are the Deterministic-8 [12], the steepest slope [13], the spread, the seek computations and the trace analysis [14]. Seek computation will mainly apply for primary data processing. Briefly, we illustrate the principle of the seek computation with a
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f)
Figure 2. Zavkhan River and its catchment area in the previous publications. Sources: (a) [4]; (b) [5]; (c) [6]; (d) [7]; (e) [1]; (f) [8].
simple elevation data, provided in Figure 7. For each cell in that data, the steepest downward slope to a neighbor cell is computed, and its direction is stored in a new raster data. This computation determines the elevation difference between the cell and a neighbor cell, and takes into account cell distance 1 for neighbor cells in N-S or W-E direction, 
for cells in NE-SW or NW-SE direction. Among its eight neighbor cells, it picks the one with the steepest path to it. The directions in data, thus obtained, are encoded in integer values, and we have decoded them for the estimation of flow direction.
Cells with a high accumulated flow count represent areas of concentrated flow, and thus may belong to a stream. Cells with an accumulated flow count of zero are local topographic highs, and can be used to identify ridges [14].
2.3.1. ILWIS Model
Using ILWIS model, basic parameters of the Zavkhan River and its catchment area have been defined and flow-
Figure 3. River catchment areas of Mongolia. Source: [1].
Figure 4. Zavkhan River, its catchment area in Mongolia.
chart of the model is shown in Figure 8. Based on “DEM based hydro-processing” handbook [15]; the following flowchart is drawn.
Primary data of the modeling are DEM and outlet location of the river, and processed in above-mentioned 7 phases. Several intermediate results such as flow direction, flow accumulation, drainage network order, catchment boundary and longest flow path are produced while
Figure 5. Digital elevation model, SRTM. Data source: [10].
Figure 6. Digital elevation model, ASTER. Data source: [11].
the models run [16].
2.3.2. ArcHydro Model
Using ArcHydro model, basic parameters of the Zavkhan River and its catchment area have been defined and flowchart of the model is shown in Figure 9. Based on “ArcHydro tools-Tutorial” handbook [17]; the following flowchart is drawn.
Primary data of the modeling are DEM, lake and outlet location of the river, and processed in above-mentioned 15 phases. Several intermediate results such as flow direction, flow accumulation, stream definition, drainage
(a)
(b)
(c)
Figure 7. Seek computation. (a) The original elevation data; (b) The flow direction data computed from it; (c) The mathematical model of catchment gathered from it.
line, catchment boundary, watershed point, drainage area centroid and longest flow path are produced while the models run.
3. Results
3.1. Results of ArcHydro Model
DEM based ArcHydro model was run on the both datasets. A horizontal spatial resolution of the SRTM-DEM is coarser than ASTER-DEM. Depending on data quality; a result can be different than actuality. Fourteen intermediate results are produced and basic parameters of the Zavkhan River, and its catchment area have been defined at the end. Some of the intermediate results are shown in Figure 10.
Final results of the model are mapped, and a result of SRTM-DEM data is shown in Figure 11; a result of ASTER-DEM data is shown in Figure 12.
According to the final result of ArcHydro model, which SRTM-DEM was used, the geographic coordinate of the Zavkhan River drainage head is 99˚04'36.0", 47˚28'57.0", location of the drainage mouth is 93˚17'33.0", 48˚52'51.0", length of the drainage is 875.6 km, perimeter of the catchment area is 3201.3 km, area of the catchment is 99040.0 km2, location of the catchment centeris 95˚19'29.8", 48˚07'54.2".
According to the final result of ArcHydro model, which ASTER-DEM was applied, the geographic coordinate of the Zavkhan River drainage head is 98˚59'17.0", 48˚28'31.0", location of the drainage mouth is 93˚20'30.9", 48˚52'37.5", length of the drainage is 841.8 km, perimeter of the catchment area is 3408.4 km, area of the catchment is 98821.8 km2, location of the catchment centeris 95˚21'25.9", 48˚08'08.7".
3.2. Results of ILWIS Model
ILWIS model was run on SRTM data. Due to weakness of the software, ASTER data was not run. It occupied 1400 Mb on a computer system. Nine figures and three tabular intermediate results are produced and basic parameters of the Zavkhan River; its catchment area have been defined at the end. Some of the intermediate results are shown in Figure 13.
Final results of the model are mapped in Figure14.
According to the final result of ILWIS model, which SRTM-DEM was applied, perimeter of the catchment area is 2821.6 km, area of the catchment is 97868.6 km2, overall length of the drainage is 36267.3 km, drainage density is 0.37 km·km2−1, length of the Zavkhan River drainage is 901.2 km, the geographic coordinate of the drainage head is 47˚28'42.00", 99˚04'51.00", elevation of the drainage head is 3313.0 m, the geographic coordinate of the drainage mouth is 48˚52'31.70", 93˚20'40.28", elevation of the drainage mouth is 1030.0 m, catchment center is 47˚54'0.00", 95˚43'51.00", elevation difference is 2283.0 m, according to Strahler ordering system, the drainage belongs to 7th order, according to Shreve ordering system, the river’s drainage belongs to 2168th order, slope drainage is 2.53 m·km2−1 and sinuosity 3.8.
3.3. Comparison between Results and Its Application
Two different datasets are applied in two different models, and the final results were compared with each other and with the results of previous researches. Differences between maximum and minimum values of the obtained results from models were calculated. In Table 1, the sign (-) indicates that parameter cannot be calculated by the model.
The result of this study can be used in baseline and advanced research on the catchment area. Besides of that, the result can define a spatial boundary of study on
Figure 9. Methodology of ArcHydro model.
Zavkhan River and its catchment area. Moreover, it would have support for decision-making on ground and surface water resource, distribution and management.
4. Conclusions and Discussion
The catchment area of the Zavkhan River that is located in the western region of Mongolia has been selected as the study field for this research. The study has been done by two datasets: 1) Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) at a horizontal spatial resolution of 90 meters, 2) The Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) at a horizontal spatial resolution of 30 meters, using two different models of ArcHydro and Integrated Land and Water Information System (ILWIS) softwares. Main methods of models, that were used in this research are the Deterministic-8, the steepest slope, the spread, the seek computations and the trace analysis. Moreover, input data of the modeling were digital elevation model (DEM) and outlet location of the river.
In total, eleven parameters have been defined at the end of the ArcHydro model, and thereof, three parameters were belonged to the catchment area, and eight were defined the river drainage spatial characteristics. Moreover, sixteen parameters have been defined by ILWIS model, and hereof, five parameters were defined the catchment area, and eleven measurements were defined the river morphology.
There are some differences between the results of the two models. For instance; comparing with two models that were used same data SRTM, the catchment area difference was 1171.4 km2, which equals to 1.2% of the biggest area. Therefore, this difference can be recognized as acceptable. Difference of the catchment perimeter was
Figure 10. Some intermediate results of ArcHydro model.
Table 1. Research results, and its comparison.
Figure 11. ArcHydro model—A final result of SRTM-DEM.
Figure 12. ArcHydro model—A final result of ASTER-DEM.
Figure 13. Some intermediate results of ILWIS model.
379.7 km that equals to 11.8% of the longest line. This error is recognized as unacceptable. Difference of the main drainage line was 25.6 km, and it equals to 2.8% of the longest line. Also, it recognized acceptable.
At the end of this study, sixteen parameters of the Zavkhan River and its catchment area have been redefined. In previous research, total length of the Zavkhan River had been estimated 808.0 km, and this parameter has been redefined as the river drainage length is 901.2 km. Moreover, elevation of the drainage head is defined as 3313.0 m, and altitude of the drainage mouth is 1030.0 m, and difference is 2283.0 m. Therefore, drainage slope is 2.53 m·km2−1; sinuosity is 3.8 and according to Strahler ordering, the drainage of Zavkhan River is pertained to 7th order.
Related to the research result, the raised issue among the researchers is the catchment area and perimeter of the Zavkhan River. Because of the difference between previous and recent researches results on the catchment area is 21885.1 km2. As shown in Figure 15, there are several variances between topographic and satellite-based catchment delineation and the biggest one is in southern border of the catchment.
Thus, it is necessary to check a difference between previous and this studies on the catchment area delineation, and based on the discussion among scholars, to select most appropriate one. The selected one will be used in further research.
Figure 14. ILWIS model—A final result of SRTM-DEM.
Figure 15. Comparison between topographic and satellite-based Zavkhan River and its catchment area.
5. Recommendation
Methodology, applied in this study, can be used to define all 29 bigger rivers and its catchment areas in Mongolia, and results would have positively influenced on national water resource management. Also, the obtained results would be used as a base data in modeling of ground and surface water. The 332nd decision on “River catchment areas of Mongolia” of the Minister of Nature, Environment and Tourism in 2009 has to renew, if a result of further study, which will cover entire Mongolia, would be accepted from vocational organization and experts.
6. Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank all staffs of WWFMongolia and ARC for the research funding. We wish to express our honest gratitude to all staffs of Water Research Sector, especially Dr. Gombo Davaa for their support for my research.
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