Views of the Rivers: Representing Streamflow of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
Strandhagen E, Marcus WA, Meacham JE. 2006. Views of the Rivers: Representing Streamflow of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Cartographic Perspectives. 55
Cartographers often work with temporal data associated with a spatial phenomenon that requires a novel method for representation. This article presents a pixel-based graphing technique for representing temporal data that is not fraught with the “amplified cartographic challenge” [Harrower 2003] that comes with animating a map. Temporal variables such as day and year may be used as coordinates to plot a pixel-based map of variations over time for any given phenomenon at a specified location. Temporal streamflow data is one example where this pixel-based technique can be applied to produce a raster hydrograph. This method offers increased visual analysis of multi-dimensional data. As hydrologists and water resource managers experience a tremendous growth in geographical and temporal hydrologic data [Fuhrman 2000], this method of visualization can help them interpret, model, and disseminate data and information. This technique also provides a baseline that supports collective decision making [Brewer I et al. 2000, MacEachren, in press]. The raster methodology enhances the plotting of temporal streamflow data for water resource management, collaboration, and public outreach, which is a major need in GIScience [Marcus et al. 2004].
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Strandhagen, Erik; Marcus, W.; Meacham, James
- Date of Issue
- 2006
- Units
- GRTE , GRYN , JODR , YELL
- Keywords
- Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, Hydrology, River management, Streamflow
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Geology and Soils | Geomorphology | Stream/River Channel Characteristics