geomorphometry.org

We applied DEMs at 1-m resolution (for small bare lands) and at 10-m resolution (for broad forested areas) in Japanese hills and mountains for quantitative analyses of longitudinal/transverse profiles of watersheds and stream-net structure, with special attention to evolution of watershed with regional relief. Statistical morphometric parameters representing the morphologic properties were investigated. Many characteristics have distinct and consistent correlations with relief in both the 1-m and 10-m DEM areas, and most topographic characteristics of watersheds in the high-relief areas are simpler and more organized than those in the low- to middle-relief areas. This observation indicates that high-relief terrains have more mature conditions close to equilibrium, although some other morphometric parameters also indicate the effects of marked differences in bedrock strength. In addition, very detailed stream-net structure represented by 1-m DEMs significantly reflect local factors such as proximity to the trunk stream, especially if channels are at the early stages of erosion, while those represented by 10-m DEMs correspond more simply to regional relief.