Robbins 2001 Smets 2001 Project CT721. Given its critical role in hydrological modeling, it is imperative that hydrologists understand the continuity characteristics of the DTM being employed. The continuity of the DTM is an important contributor to interpolated gradient values, potentially effecting potential energy estimates as well as flow direction. In general, the properties of a mathematical surface being used as a terrain model define the properties imbued to the model. The onus is on the modeler to choose the mathematical surface wisely so that the properties of the surface give the desired traits of the terrain.
Continuity properties are of paramount importance.
It is important to catalogue continuity properties and this project will establish these properties for surfaces created with kriging interpolation. We will also determine if there is a correlation with prominent geomorphometrics such as slope, aspect, and roughness. Our goal is to enrich the understanding of hydrologists as to whether kriging provides an acceptable DTM for their purposes. By providing information about the kind and severity of discontinuities one can expect, hydrologists are better equipped to choose among the many types of DTMs currently available for hydrological modeling. This is basic research, exploring the mathematical properties of kriging, a widely-used surface interpolator.