CWEEEComputational Water, Energy, and Environmental Engineering2168-1562Scientific Research Publishing10.4236/cweee.2012.12002CWEEE-21281ArticlesEarth&Environmental Sciences Engineering Tuul River and Its Catchment Area Delineation from Satellite Image chirAltansukh1*School of Earth Sciences, National University of Mongolia Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia* E-mail:altansukh@num.edu.mn240720120102923April 30, 2012June 2, 2012 June 19, 2012© Copyright 2014 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. 2014This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The purpose of this research is to define basic parameters of Tuul River and its catchment area using satellite images. The study has been done by two datasets 1) Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) at a horizontal spatial resolution of 90 meters, 2) The Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) at a horizontal spatial resolution of 30 meters, using two different models of ArcHydro and Integrated Land and Water Information System (ILWIS) softwares. Main methods of models, that were used in this research are the Deterministic-8, the steepest slope, the spread, the seek computations and the trace analysis. Moreover, input data of the modeling are digital elevation model (DEM) and outlet location of the river. DEM based ArcHydro model was run on the both datasets, and ILWIS model was run on SRTM data. Several intermediate results were produced while the models run, and basic parameters of the Tuul River, its catchment area have been defined at the end of the model. Moreover, final results of the models were compared with each other and with the result of previous research. The result of this study can be used in baseline and advanced research on the catchment area. Besides of that, the result can define a spatial boundary of study on Tuul River and its catchment area. Moreover, it would have support for decision-making on ground and surface water resource, distribution and management. Further research, which will cover the entire territory of Mongolia, has to be done using same methodology. The 332nd decision on “River catchment areas of Mongolia” of the Minister of Nature, Environment and Tourism in 2009 has to renew, if a result of that study would be accepted from vocational organization and experts.

Tuul River; Its Catchment Area; Basic Parameters of the River; Satellite Image; Modeling1. Introduction

The Tuul River, flowing through the heart of the Ulaanbaatar city, is consumed by drinking and industrial purposes andis a most polluted river in Mongolia [1]. There are many different levels of national and international study on surface and ground water, its pollution, quality, consumption, resource, modeling and trend analysis of the Tuul River and its catchment area. Moreover, there are various scientific researches, such as soil, water, flora, fauna, geomorphology and environmental economy on the catchment area. For instance: “Economic significance of upper Tuul River’s ecosystem” research report was written by Emerton L., and N. Erdenesaihan in 2009, “River flow and quality modeling—A case study in Tuul River” dissertation was written by Altansukh O. in 2010, “Mongolian national case study—Reference to Tuul river basin” book was published by Basandorj D., and G. Davaa in 2006 and many more. Spatial boundary of all these studies has been defined by catchment area of Tuul River, which was delineated from the topographic map of Mongolia, scaled 1:100000 and produced in 1980th, using the traditional method.

A traditional method is catchment area delineation from the topographic map, drawing lines to connecting elevation points and contour lines. It is not an easy task precisely to define watershed lines, and related hydrographic and morphometric parameters in plane land areas using topographic map. The manual delineation of drainage networks and catchments from topographic maps has been widely replaced by the automatic extraction from Digital Elevation Model [2].

Figure 1 shows the Tuul River and its catchment area that were defined by the traditional method, mentioned in a majority of research reports and papers. For instance, main sources that researchers cite are 1) “Climate and surface water resource atlas of Mongolian Republic” published 1985, 2) “Scheme of integrated water resource management in the catchment area of Selenge River” published in 1986, 3) “National atlas of Mongolian

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