This tool calculates the convergence index (C), described by Koethe and Lehmeier (1996) and Kiss (2004), for each grid cell in an input digital elevation model (DEM). The convergence index measures the average amount by which the aspect value of each of the eight neighbours in a 3x3 kernel deviates from an aspect aligned with the direction towards the center cell. As such the index measures the degree to which the surrounding topography converges on the center cell.

C = 1 / 8 Σ|Φ - Az₀| - 90

Where Φ is the aspect of a neighbour of the center cell and Az₀ is the azimuth from the neighbour directed towards the center cell. Note, -90 < C < 90, where highly convergent areas have values near -90 and highly divergent areas have values near 90. Therefore, in actuality, C is more properly an index of divergence rather than a convergence index, despite its name.

The user must specify the name of the input DEM (dem) and the output raster (output). The Z conversion factor (zfactor) is only important when the vertical and horizontal units are not the same in the DEM, and the DEM is in a projected coordinate system. When this is the case, the algorithm will multiply each elevation in the DEM by the Z Conversion Factor to perform the unit conversion.

For DEMs in projected coordinate systems, the tool uses the 3rd-order bivariate Taylor polynomial method described by Florinsky (2016). Based on a polynomial fit of the elevations within the 5x5 neighbourhood surrounding each cell, this method is considered more robust against outlier elevations (noise) than other methods. For DEMs in geographic coordinate systems (i.e. angular units), the tool uses the 3x3 polynomial fitting method for equal angle grids also described by Florinsky (2016).

Reference

Florinsky, I. (2016). Digital terrain analysis in soil science and geology. Academic Press.

Kiss, R. (2004). Determination of drainage network in digital elevation models, utilities and limitations. Journal of Hungarian geomathematics, 2, 17-29.

Koethe, R. and Lehmeier, F. (1996): SARA - System zur Automatischen Relief-Analyse. User Manual, 2. Edition [Dept. of Geography, University of Goettingen, unpublished]

See Also

aspect, plan_curvature, profile_curvature

Function Signature

def convergence_index(self, dem: Raster, z_factor: float = 1.0) -> Raster: ...

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