This week, as we mark AGU Hydrology Days, we turn our attention to the vital role of water in shaping our planet and sustaining life. In that spirit and as a hydrologist by training, this week I am adding and exploring three remarkable datasets available in the Awesome GEE Community Catalog that provide invaluable insights into rivers and groundwater resources: Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) River Database (SWORD), Global River Obstruction Database (GROD), and United States Groundwater Well Database (USGWD).

The true power of these datasets lies in their combined use. Integrating SWORD, GROD, and USGWD allows for a holistic understanding of water resources. For example, researchers can analyze the impacts of river obstructions on groundwater recharge or investigate the relationship between groundwater extraction and river flow depletion.

Building Blocks and Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) River Database (SWORD)

The SWOT River Database (SWORD) is a combination of existing global hydrography datasets, each contributing unique and valuable information. At its core, the Global River Widths from Landsat (GRWL) dataset forms the backbone of SWORD, offering high-resolution (30m) river centerlines with associated width, water body type, and number of channels. The community catalog page contains details about the reach and node attributes as well for easy reference. Complementing this foundation, the MERIT Hydro dataset provides elevation and flow accumulation data at approximately 90m resolution, adding crucial topographic context. The HydroBASINS dataset further enhances SWORD by defining hierarchical drainage basins using Pfafstetter codes, enabling systematic organization and analysis of river networks.

To provide a comprehensive understanding of river systems, SWORD integrates several additional datasets. The Global River Obstruction Database (GROD) characterizes river flow and connectivity by pinpointing the locations of dams and other human-made structures. The Global Delta Maps dataset aids in understanding complex river-ocean interactions by delineating the extents of major river deltas. SWORD also incorporates information on SWOT's orbital paths, helping determine observation frequency and coverage for each river reach. Finally, the HydroFALLS dataset complements GROD by identifying locations of waterfalls and natural river obstructions, providing a comprehensive picture of potential flow disruptions.

Accessing SWORD's Components in Google Earth Community and Main Catalogs

The Awesome GEE Community Catalog offers a treasure trove of Earth observation datasets, and luckily, several of SWORD's components can be found there:

• MERIT Hydro: MERIT Hydro is a global flow direction map at 3 arc-second resolution (~90 m at the equator) derived from the version 1.0.3 of the MERIT DEM elevation data and water body datasets (G1WBM, GSWO and OpenStreetMap). You can find the dataset in the Earth Engine main catalog

• HydroBASINS: Explore "HydroBASINS" to access different levels of the basin hierarchy and other hydroatlas datasets here in the GEE Community Catalog.

• Global River Widths from Landsat (GRWL): The GRWL dataset can be similarly found in the GEE Community Catalog.

• Global River Obstruction Database (GROD) is now available in the GEE community catalog and allows users access to 30,549 manually identified human-made structures that obstruct river longitudinal flow.

Having SWORD components between the two catalog underscores the value of community catalog in filling gaps in overall assessment of combining diverse datasets for comprehensive river analysis.

Global River Obstruction Data (GROD): Mapping River Obstructions

The Global River Obstruction Database (GROD) plays a critical role in understanding river fragmentation and its consequences. GROD meticulously maps human-made structures like dams and weirs that impede river flow. You can read about GROD here in the publication.

This information is vital for:

• Evaluating habitat connectivity: Obstructions can significantly impact fish migration and the movement of other aquatic organisms. GROD helps assess the extent of habitat fragmentation and its effects on biodiversity.

• Understanding sediment transport: Dams and other structures trap sediment, influencing downstream erosion and deposition patterns. GROD data aids in modeling these processes and their implications for river morphology and delta formation.

• Assessing water resource management: By identifying the locations and types of river obstructions, GROD supports decision-making regarding water allocation, hydropower generation, and flood control.

United States Groundwater Wells Database: Unlocking Groundwater Secrets

The United States Groundwater Well Database (USGWD) offers an unprecedented view into the nation's groundwater resources, providing a wealth of information that was previously difficult to access. With over 14 million well records, USGWD provides comprehensive data on well location, depth, purpose, and construction date, empowering researchers and decision-makers to better understand and manage this vital resource. You can read the publication here

The datasets were processing using the tabular data in the provided database since we wanted to retain the property names of the tables which is lost when using ESRI shapefile format which has characters and size limits.

This extensive dataset enables a multifaceted approach to groundwater management. By visualizing and analyzing groundwater extraction patterns across different regions and sectors, USGWD contributes to the development of sustainable water management strategies. Additionally, linking well data with water quality information allows for the investigation of potential contamination sources and risks, ensuring the safety and integrity of groundwater resources. Furthermore, USGWD's data serves as a valuable input for developing models that simulate groundwater movement and recharge, crucial for effectively managing this hidden and often overlooked resource.

Building for insights

The insights gained from the integration of SWORD, GROD, and USGWD datasets are invaluable in advancing our understanding of the intricate relationships between surface water and groundwater systems. By combining detailed river geometry, obstruction data, and groundwater well information, researchers can unravel the complexities of water resource management with unparalleled depth and precision. This holistic approach allows for the analysis of river-groundwater interactions, enabling the evaluation of critical issues such as the impacts of obstructions on groundwater recharge and the effects of groundwater extraction on river flow depletion.

As always, your involvement is crucial for keeping this project thriving. If you love what we're doing, why not give our GitHub repository a star ⭐️to help spread the word and boost visibility? Let's connect on Linkedin and Github to collaborate, share dataset ideas, provide valuable feedback, and join the exciting conversation! 💬🤝