Output generated by LISFLOOD
Default LISFLOOD output
LISFLOOD can generate a wide variety of output. Output is generated as either maps or time series (PCRaster format, which can be visualised with PCRaster’s ‘aguila’ application; or as NetCDF). Reporting of output files can be switched on and off using options in the LISFLOOD settings file. Moreover, a number of output files are specific to other optional modules, such as the simulation of reservoirs. This chapter focuses on the maps and series that are reported by default. The reader is referred to the User Guide for a comprehensive list of the setting options and output files.
Table: LISFLOOD default output time series.
| Description | Units | File name |
|---|---|---|
| RATE VARIABLES AT GAUGES | ||
| $^{1,2}$ channel discharge | $\frac{m^3} {s}$ | dis.tss |
| NUMERICAL CHECKS | ||
| $^2$ cumulative mass balance error | $m^3$ | mbError.tss |
| $^2$ cumulative mass balance error, expressed as mm water slice (average over catchment) | $mm$ | mbErrorMm.tss |
| $^2$ number of sub-steps needed for channel routing | - | NoSubStepsChannel.tss |
| $^2$ number of sub-steps needed for gravity-based soil moisture routine | - | steps.tss |
$^1$ Output only if option ‘InitLisflood’ = 1 (pre-run)
$^2$ Output only if option ‘InitLisflood’ = 0
note that the file names can always be changed by the user, although this is not recommended.
To speed up the pre-run and to prevent that the actual simulation (run) takes the results from the pre-run, all additional output is disabled if option ‘InitLisflood’ = 1 is chosen. With ‘InitLisflood’ = 1 the output is limited to dis.tss, lzavin.map, lzavin_forest.map and some other initial maps if additional option like e.g. the double kinematic wave is chosen.
In addition to these time series, by default LISFLOOD reports maps of all state variables at the last timestep of a simulation. These maps can be used to define the initial conditions of a succeeding simulation. For instance, you can do a 1-year simulation on a daily time step, and use the ‘end maps’ of this simulation to simulate a flood event using an hourly time step. The table below lists all these maps. Note that some state variables are valid for the whole pixel, whereas others are only valid for a sub-domain of each pixel. This is indicated in the last column of the table.
Table: LISFLOOD default state variable output maps. These maps can be used to define the initial conditions of another simulation.
| Description | Units | File name | Domain |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVERAGE RECHARGE MAP (for lower groundwater zone) (option InitLisflood) | |||
| $^1$ average inflow to lower zone | $\frac{mm}{ timestep}$ | lzavin.map | other fraction |
| $^1$ average inflow to lower zone (forest) | $\frac{mm}{ timestep}$ | lzavin_forest.map | forest fraction |
| INITIAL CONDITION MAPS at defined time steps (option repStateMaps) | |||
| $^2$ waterdepth | $mm$ | wdepth00.xxx | whole pixel |
| $^2$ channel cross-sectional area | $m^2$ | chcro000.xxx | channel |
| $^2$ days since last rain variable | $days$ | dslr0000.xxx | other pixel |
| $^2$ snow cover zone A | $mm$ | scova000.xxx | snow zone A ($1/3^{rd}$ pixel) |
| $^2$ snow cover zone B | $mm$ | scovb000.xxx | snow zone B ($1/3^{rd}$ pixel) |
| $^2$ snow cover zone C | $mm$ | scovc000.xxx | snow zone C $(1/3^{rd}$ pixel) |
| $^2$ frost index | $\frac{°C}{days}$ | frost000.xxx | other pixel |
| $^2$ cumulative interception | $mm$ | cumi0000.xxx | other pixel |
| $^2$ soil moisture upper layer | $\frac{mm^3}{mm^3}$ | thtop000.xxx | other fraction |
| $^2$ soil moisture lower layer | $\frac{mm^3}{mm^3}$ | thsub000.xxx | other fraction |
| $^2$ water in lower zone | $mm$ | lz000000.xxx | other fraction |
| $^2$ water in upper zone | $mm$ | uz000000.xxx | other fraction |
| $^2$ days since last rain variable (forest) | $days$ | dslF0000.xxx | forest pixel |
| $^2$ cumulative interception (forest) | $mm$ | cumF0000.xxx | forest pixel |
| $^2$ soil moisture upper layer (forest) | $\frac{mm^3}{mm^3}$ | thFt0000.xxx | forest fraction |
| $^2$ soil moisture lower layer (forest) | $\frac{mm^3}{mm^3}$ | thFs0000.xxx | forest fraction |
| $^2$ water in lower zone (forest) | $mm$ | lzF00000.xxx | forest fraction |
| $^2$ water in upper zone (forest) | $mm$ | uzF00000.xxx | forest fraction |
| $^2$ water in depression storage (sealed) | $mm$ | cseal000.xxx | sealed fraction |
$^1$ Output only if option ‘InitLisflood’ = 1 (pre-run)
$^2$ Output only if option ‘InitLisflood’ = 0
Additional output
Apart from the default output, the model can –optionally- generate some additional time series and maps. Roughly this additional output falls in either of the following categories:
Time series
- Time series with values of model state variables at user-defined locations (sites); reporting of these time series can be activated using the option repStateSites=1. Note that ‘sites’ can be either individual pixels or larger areas (e.g. catchments, administrative areas, and so on). In case of larger areas the model reports the average value for each respective area.
- Time series with values of model rate variables at user-defined locations (sites); reporting of these time series can be activated using the option repRateSites=1
- Time series with values of meteorological input variables, averaged over the area upstream of each gauge location; reporting of these time series can be activated using the option repMeteoUpsGauges=1
- Time series with values of model state variables, averaged over area upstream of each gauge location; reporting of these time series can be activated using the option repStateUpsGauges=1
- Time series with values of model rate variables, averaged over area upstream of each gauge location; reporting of these time series can be activated using the option repRateUpsGauges=1
- Time series that are specific to other options (e.g. simulation of reservoirs).
Maps
- Maps of discharge at each time step; reporting of these maps can be activated using the option repDischargeMaps=1
- Maps with values of driving meteorological values at each time step
- Maps with values of model rate variables at each time step
- Maps that are specific to other options (e.g. simulation of reservoirs).
In addition, some additional maps and time series may be reported for debugging purposes. In general these are not of any interest to the LISFLOOD user, so they remain undocumented here.
Note that the options repStateUpsGauges, repRateUpsGauges and repDischargeMaps tend to slow down the execution of the model quite dramatically. For applications of the model where performance is critical (e.g. automated calibration runs), we advise to keep them switched off, if possible.
Note again the domains for which variables are valid: all rate variables are reported as pixel-average values. Soil moisture and groundwater storage are reported for the permeable fraction of each pixel only. The reported snow cover is the average of the snow depths in snow zones A, B and C.
By default, the names of the reported discharge maps start with the prefix ‘dis’ and end with the time step number (the naming conventions are identical to the ones used for the input maps with meteorological variables, which is explained in the annex on LISFLOOD input files. The long table below summarises most of the options to report additional output maps.
Time series
Table: LISFLOOD default output time series.
| Description | Units | Settings variable | File name** |
|---|---|---|---|
| RATE VARIABLES AT GAUGES | |||
| $^{1,2}$ channel discharge | $\frac{m^3}{s}$ | disTS | dis.tss |
| NUMERICAL CHECKS | |||
| $^2$ cumulative mass balance error | $m^3$ | WaterMassBalanceTSS | mbError.tss |
| $^2$ cumulative mass balance error, expressed as mm water slice (average over catchment) | $mm$ | MassBalanceMMTSS | mbErrorMm.tss |
| $^2$ number of sub-steps needed for channel routing | - | NoSubStepsChan | NoSubStepsChannel.tss |
| $^2$ number of sub-steps needed for gravity-based soil moisture routine | - | StepsSoilTS | steps.tss |
$^1$ Output only if option ‘InitLisflood’ = 1 (pre-run) $^2$ Output only if option ‘InitLisflood’ = 0
Table: LISFLOOD optional output time series (only ‘InitLisflood’ = 0).
| Description | Units | Settings variable | Default name |
|---|---|---|---|
| STATE VARIABLES AT SITES (option repStateSites) | |||
| depth of water on soil surface | $mm$ | WaterDepthTS | wDepth.tss |
| depth of snow cover on soil surface (pixel-average) | $mm$ | SnowCoverTS | snowCover.tss |
| depth of interception storage | $mm$ | CumInterceptionTS | cumInt.tss |
| soil moisture content upper layer | $\frac{mm^3}{mm^3}$ | Theta1TS | thTop.tss |
| soil moisture content lower layer | $\frac{mm^3}{mm^3}$ | Theta2TS | thSub.tss |
| storage in upper groundwater zone | $mm$ | UZTS | uz.tss |
| storage in lower groundwater zone | $mm$ | LZTS | lz.tss |
| number of days since last rain | $days$ | DSLRTS | dslr.tss |
| frost index | $\frac{°C}{days}$ | FrostIndexTS | frost.tss |
| RATE VARIABLES AT SITES (option repRateSites) | |||
| rain (excluding snow) | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | RainTS | rain.tss |
| Snow | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | SnowTS | snow.tss |
| snow melt | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | SnowmeltTS | snowMelt.tss |
| actual evaporation | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | ESActTS | esAct.tss |
| actual transpiration | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | TaTS | tAct.tss |
| rainfall interception | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | InterceptionTS | interception.tss |
| evaporation of intercepted water | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | EWIntTS | ewIntAct.tss |
| leaf drainage | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | LeafDrainageTS | leafDrainage.tss |
| infiltration | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | InfiltrationTS | infiltration.tss |
| preferential (bypass) flow | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | PrefFlowTS | prefFlow.tss |
| percolation upper to lower soil layer | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | PercolationTS | dTopToSub.tss |
| percolation lower soil layer to subsoil | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | SeepSubToGWTS | dSubToUz.tss |
| surface runoff | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | SurfaceRunoffTS | surfaceRunoff.tss |
| outflow from upper zone | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | UZOutflowTS | qUz.tss |
| outflow from lower zone | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | LZOutflowTS | qLz.tss |
| total runoff | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | TotalRunoffTS | totalRunoff.tss |
| percolation from upper to lower zone | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | GwPercUZLZTS | percUZLZ.tss |
| loss from lower zone | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | GwLossTS | loss.tss |
| TIME SERIES, AVERAGE UPSTREAM OF GAUGES | |||
| METEOROLOGICAL INPUT VARIABLES (option repMeteoUpsGauges) | |||
| precipitation | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | PrecipitationAvUpsTS | precipUps.tss |
| potential reference evapotranspiration | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | ETRefAvUpsTS | etUps.tss |
| potential evaporation from soil | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | ESRefAvUpsTS | esUps.tss |
| potential open water evaporation | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | EWRefAvUpsTS | ewUps.tss |
| average daily temperature | $°C$ | TavgAvUpsTS | tAvgUps.tss |
| STATE VARIABLES (option repStateUpsGauges) | |||
| depth of water on soil surface | $mm$ | WaterDepthAvUpsTS | wdepthUps.tss |
| depth of snow cover on | $mm$ | SnowCoverAvUpsTS | snowCoverUps.tss |
| depth of interception storage | $mm$ | CumInterceptionAvUpsTS | cumInterceptionUps.tss |
| soil moisture upper layer | $\frac{mm^3}{mm^3}$ | Theta1AvUpsTS | thTopUps.tss |
| soil moisture lower layer | $\frac{mm^3}{mm^3}$ | Theta2AvUpsTS | thSubUps.tss |
| groundwater upper zone | $mm$ | UZAvUpsTS | uzUps.tss |
| groundwater lower zone | $mm$ | LZAvUpsTS | lzUps.tss |
| number of days since last rain | $days$ | DSLRAvUpsTS | dslrUps.tss |
| frost index | $\frac{°C}{days}$ | FrostIndexAvUpsTS | frostUps.tss |
| RATE VARIABLES (option repRateUpsGauges) | |||
| rain (excluding snow) | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | RainAvUpsTS | rainUps.tss |
| snow | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | SnowAvUpsTS | snowUps.tss |
| snow melt | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | SnowmeltAvUpsTS | snowMeltUps.tss |
| actual evaporation | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | ESActAvUpsTS | esActUps.tss |
| actual transpiration | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | TaAvUpsTS | tActUps.tss |
| rainfall interception | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | InterceptionAvUpsTS | interceptionUps.tss |
| evaporation of intercepted water | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | EWIntAvUpsTS | ewIntActUps.tss |
| leaf drainage | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | LeafDrainageAvUpsTS | leafDrainageUps.tss |
| infiltration | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | InfiltrationAvUpsTS | infiltrationUps.tss |
| preferential (bypass) flow | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | PrefFlowAvUpsTS | prefFlowUps.tss |
| percolation upper to lower soil layer | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | PercolationAvUpsTS | dTopToSubUps.tss |
| percolation lower soil layer to subsoil | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | SeepSubToGWAvUpsTS | dSubToUzUps.tss |
| surface runoff | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | SurfaceRunoffAvUpsTS | surfaceRunoffUps.tss |
| outflow from upper zone | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | UZOutflowAvUpsTS | qUzUps.tss |
| outflow from lower zone | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | LZOutflowAvUpsTS | qLzUps.tss |
| total runoff | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | TotalRunoffAvUpsTS | totalRunoffUps.tss |
| percolation upper to lower zone | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | GwPercUZLZAvUpsTS | percUZLZUps.tss |
| loss from lower zone | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | GwLossTS | lossUps.tss |
| WATER LEVEL IN CHANNEL (option repWaterLevelTs) | |||
| water level in channel | $m$ (above channel bottom) | WaterLevelTS | waterLevel.tss |
| OUTPUT RELATED TO LOWER ZONE INITIALISATION (option repLZAvInflowSites and repLZAvInflowUpsGauges) | |||
| average inflow into lower zone | $\frac{mm^3}{day}$ | LZAvInflowTS | lzAvIn.tss |
| average inflow into lower zone | $\frac{mm^3}{day}$ | LZAvInflowAvUpsTS | lzAvInUps.tss |
Maps
Table: LISFLOOD default output maps.
| Description | Units | File name | Domain |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVERAGE RECHARGE MAP (for lower groundwater zone) (option InitLisflood) | |||
| $^1$ average inflow to lower zone | $\frac{mm^3}{day}$ | lzavin.map | other fraction |
| $^1$ average inflow to lower zone (forest) | $\frac{mm^3}{day}$ | lzavin_forest.map | forest fraction |
| INITIAL CONDITION MAPS at defined time steps (option repStateMaps) | |||
| $^2$ waterdepth | $mm$ | wdepth00.xxx | whole pixel |
| $^2$ channel cross-sectional area | $m^2$ | chcro000.xxx | channel |
| $^2$ days since last rain variable | $days$ | dslr0000.xxx | other pixel |
| $^2$ snow cover zone A | $mm$ | scova000.xxx | snow zone A (1/3rd pixel) |
| $^2$ snow cover zone B | $mm$ | scovb000.xxx | snow zone B (1/3rd pixel) |
| $^2$ snow cover zone C | $mm$ | scovc000.xxx | snow zone C (1/3rd pixel) |
| $^2$ frost index | $\frac{°C}{days}$ | frost000.xxx | other pixel |
| $^2$ cumulative interception | $mm$ | cumi0000.xxx | other pixel |
| $^2$ soil moisture upper layer | $\frac{mm^3}{mm^3}$ | thtop000.xxx | other fraction |
| $^2$ soil moisture lower layer | $\frac{mm^3}{mm^3}$ | thsub000.xxx | other fraction |
| $^2$ water in lower zone | $mm$ | lz000000.xxx | other fraction |
| $^2$ water in upper zone | $mm$ | uz000000.xxx | other fraction |
| $^2$ days since last rain variable (forest) | $days$ | dslF0000.xxx | forest pixel |
| $^2$ cumulative interception (forest) | $mm$ | cumF0000.xxx | forest pixel |
| $^2$ soil moisture upper layer (forest) | $\frac{mm^3}{mm^3}$ | thFt0000.xxx | forest fraction |
| $^2$ soil moisture lower layer (forest) | $\frac{mm^3}{mm^3}$ | thFs0000.xxx | forest fraction |
| $^2$ water in lower zone (forest) | $mm$ | lzF00000.xxx | forest fraction |
| $^2$ water in upper zone (forest) | $mm$ | uzF00000.xxx | forest fraction |
| $^2$ water in depression storage (sealed) | $mm$ | cseal000.xxx | sealed fraction |
$^1$ Output only if option ‘InitLisflood’ = 1 (pre-run) $^2$ Output only if option ‘InitLisflood’ = 0
Table: LISFLOOD optional output maps (only ‘InitLisflood’ = 0) .
| Description | Option | Units | Settings variable | Prefix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DISCHARGE AND WATER LEVEL | ||||
| discharge | repDischargeMaps | $\frac{m^3}{s}$ | DischargeMaps | dis |
| water level | repWaterLevelMaps | $m$ (above channel bottom) | WaterLevelMaps | wl |
| METEOROLOGICAL INPUT VARIABLES | ||||
| precipitation | repPrecipitationMaps | $mm$ | PrecipitationMaps | pr |
| potential reference evapotranspiration | repETRefMaps | $mm$ | ETRefMaps | et |
| potential evaporation from soil | repESRefMaps | $mm$ | ESRefMaps | es |
| potential open water evaporation | repEWRefMaps | $mm$ | EWRefMaps | ew |
| average daily temperature | repTavgMaps | $mm$ | TavgMaps | tav |
| STATEVARIABLES | ||||
| depth of water on soil surface | repWaterDepthMaps | $mm$ | WaterDepthMaps | wdep |
| depth of snow cover on soil surface | repSnowCoverMaps | $mm$ | SnowCoverMaps | scov |
| depth of interception storage | repCumInterceptionMaps | $mm$ | CumInterceptionMaps CumInterceptionForestMaps |
cumi cumF |
| soil moisture content upper layer | repTheta1Maps | $\frac{mm^3}{mm^3}$ | Theta1Maps Theta1ForestMaps |
thtop thFt |
| soil moisture content lower layer | repTheta2Maps | $\frac{mm^3}{mm^3}$ | Theta2Maps Theta2ForestMaps |
thsub thFs |
| storage in upper groundwater zone | repUZMaps | $mm$ | UZMaps UZForestMaps |
uz uzF |
| storage in lower groundwater zone | repLZMaps | $mm$ | LZMaps LZForestMaps |
lz lzF |
| number of days since last rain | repDSLRMaps | $days$ | DSLRMaps DSLRForestMaps |
dslr dslF |
| frost index | repFrostIndexMaps | $\frac{°C}{days}$ | FrostIndexMaps | frost |
| RATE VARIABLES | ||||
| rain (excluding snow) | repRainMaps | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | RainMaps | rain |
| snow | repSnowMaps | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | SnowMaps | snow |
| snow melt | repSnowMeltMaps | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | SnowMeltMaps | smelt |
| actual evaporation | repESActMaps | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | ESActMaps | esact |
| actual transpiration | repTaMaps | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | TaMaps | tact |
| rainfall interception | repInterceptionMaps | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | InterceptionMaps | int |
| evaporation of intercepted water | repEWIntMaps | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | EWIntMaps | ewint |
| leaf drainage | repLeafDrainageMaps | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | LeafDrainageMaps | ldra |
| infiltration | repInfiltrationMaps | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | InfiltrationMaps | inf |
| preferential (bypass) flow | repPrefFlowMaps | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | PrefFlowMaps | pflow |
| percolation upper to lower soil layer | repPercolationMaps | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | PercolationMaps | to2su |
| percolation lower soil layer to subsoil | repSeepSubToGWMaps | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | SeepSubToGWMaps | su2gw |
| surface runoff | repSurfaceRunoffMaps | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | SurfaceRunoffMaps | srun |
| outflow from upper zone | repUZOutflowMaps | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | UZOutflowMaps | quz |
| outflow from lower zone | repLZOutflowMaps | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | LZOutflowMaps | qlz |
| total runoff | repTotalRunoffMaps | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | TotalRunoffMaps | trun |
| percolation upper to lower zone | repGwPercUZLZMaps | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | GwPercUZLZMaps | uz2lz |
| loss from lower zone | repGwLossMaps | $\frac{mm}{timestep}$ | GwLossMaps | loss |