Table 1 Primary and secondary topographic attributes of hillslopes (Bogaart and Troch, 2006; Huggett, 2007)
From: Surface storm flow prediction on hillslopes based on topography and hydrologic connectivity
Topographical attributes | Description | Correlations |
|---|---|---|
Altitude | Height above reference point | Indicator for climate variables (temperature, precipitation), vegetation, and soil patterns |
Slope | Change in elevation (1st derivative of elevation), steepness of terrain | Indicator of soil depth, wildland fire spread, overland flow velocity, and subsurface flow velocity |
Aspect | Compass direction (azimuth) of the steepest slope | Solar insolation and irradiance, vegetation patterns, evapotranspiration, ecosystem differentiation |
Hillslope length | Length between foot and peak | Amount of sediment supply for erosion |
Profile (slope) curvature | Rate of change in slope (2nd derivative of elevation) | Overland flow acceleration, moisture patterns, erosion and deposition rates |
Plan (contour) curvature | Rate of change of aspect (1st derivative of aspect) | Converging and diverging flow path, gully erosion, alluvial fans |
Wetness index | where A u is the local upstream contributing area and β is the local slope | Moisture and vegetation patterns |