National Basin Delineation and Flash Flood Database Creation

The national basin delineation project involves delineation of basins and the creation of data sets required to implement AMBER functionality within the AWIPS Flash Flood Monitoring and Prediction (FFMP) algorithm. The Areal Mean Basin Estimated Rainfall (AMBER) program was designed to assist forecasters in flash flood warning decisions by monitoring the amount of precipitation falling in individual basins. Using the National Elevation Dataset (NED) and GIS software, basins will be delineated with a minimum drainage area threshold of 2 mi2 for the contiguous U.S.. The NED is produced at the USGS Earth Resources Observation Systems (EROS) Data Center (EDC), and is a seamless mosaic of the highest-resolution, best-quality elevation data for the country and has a resolution of one arc- second or approximately 30 meters. The National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) is partnering with the EDC to achieve its national basin delineation goals using the NED, while also assisting in Stage 1 of the National Elevation Dataset-Hydrologic Derivatives (NED-H) project. Descriptions and procedures for the basin delineation process will be shown for areas in the Southwest.