This tool can be used to calculate the distance from each grid cell in a raster to the nearest stream cell, measured along the downslope flowpath. The user must specify the name of an input digital elevation model (dem) and streams raster (streams). The DEM must have been pre-processed to remove artifact topographic depressions and flat areas (see breach_depressions_least_cost). The streams raster should have been created using one of the DEM-based stream mapping methods, i.e. contributing area thresholding. Stream cells are designated in this raster as all non-zero values. The output of this tool, along with the elevation_above_stream tool, can be useful for preliminary flood plain mapping when combined with high-accuracy DEM data.

By default, this tool calculates flow-path using the D8 flow algorithm. However, the user may specify (dinf) that the tool should use the D-infinity algorithm instead.

See Also

elevation_above_stream, distance_to_outlet

Function Signature

def downslope_distance_to_stream(self, dem: Raster, streams: Raster, use_dinf: bool = False) -> Raster: ...

Project Links

WbW Homepage User Manual Support WbW