DLESE description of Global Runoff Data Center: Composite Runoff Fields V 1.0

This database and accompanying report demonstrate the potential of combining observed river discharge information with a climate-driven Water Balance Model in order to develop composite runoff fields that are consistent with observed discharges. This combination preserves the accuracy of discharge measurements as well as the spatial and temporal distribution of simulated runoff, providing a 'best estimate' of terrestrial runoff over large domains. Spatially-distributed runoff estimates are normally based on water balances that use climate data such as precipitation, air temperature, vapor pressure, wind speed, and others. However, the accuracy of river discharge measurements is much higher than measurements of these other parameters (precipitation, etc.). Spatial distribution of the runoff within a watershed was achieved by the use of a gridded river network at 30-minute spatial resolution to represent the riverine flow pathways and to link the continental land mass to oceans through river channels. The discharge data used in this study is available as a set of interactive maps arranged by gaging station, drainage basin, or as a thematic map of mean annual runoff. It can also be downloaded as a set of zipped files.