A copula model of extracting DEM-based cross-sections for estimating ecological flow regimes in data-limited deltaic-branched river systems.

For operational flood control and estimating ecological flow regimes in deltaic branched-river systems with limited surveyed cross-sections, accurate river stage and discharge estimation using public domain Digital Elevation Model (DEM)-extracted cross-sections are challenging. To estimate the spatiotemporal variability of streamflow and river stage in a deltaic river system using a hydrodynamic model, this study demonstrates a novel copula-based framework to obtain reliable river cross-sections from SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission) and ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection) DEMs. Firstly, the accuracy of the CSRTM and CASTER models was assessed against the surveyed river cross-sections.