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Hydrologically-Enhanced Basin Evolution Model (HEBEM)

HEBEM is a numerical model that couples physically-based descriptions of hydrologic and geomorphic processes to simulate the long-term evolution of river basin topography.  The hydrologic component simulates stochastic rainfall, infiltration, evapotranspiration, overland flow, and groundwater flow.  The geomorphic component simulates tectonic uplift, bedrock weathering, hillslope transport, and fluvial transport.

HEBEM is different from other long-term landscape evolution models because it includes more detailed descriptions of hydrologic processes. Although it does not simulate soil moisture dynamics, it can generate streamflow by infiltration-excess runoff, saturation-excess runoff, and groundwater discharge.  The hydrologic component of HEBEM was successfully calibrated to reproduce discharge records and water table levels at the WE-38 catchment in Pennsylvania.

HEBEM uses different time steps for simulation of the hydrologic and geomorphic processes. A geomorphic time step is divided into many hydrologic time steps.  In each hydrologic time step, water discharges, regolith thicknesses, bedrock elevations, and topographic elevations are updated. However, the flow directions and contributing areas are recalculated only at the end of each geomorphic time step.

Advanced techniques were used to increase the computational efficiency of the model. HEBEM was devised to run on high-performance workstations with the 64-bit Unix operating system.  In addition, HEBEM uses Open Multi-Processing (OpenMP) in its source code to take advantage of multiple processors on a workstation.

Refereed Publications

Huang, X., and J.D. Niemann, 2008, "How do Streamflow Generation Mechanisms Affect Watershed Hypsometry," Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 33, 751-772, doi: 10.1002/esp.1573.

Huang, X., and J.D. Niemann, 2006, "An Evaluation of the Geomorphically Effective Event for Fluvial Processes Over Long Periods," Journal of Geophysical Research, 111, F03015, doi:10.1029/2006JF000477.

Huang, X., and J.D. Niemann, 2006, "Modeling the Potential Impacts of Groundwater Hydrology on Long-Term Landscape Evolution," Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 31(14), 1802-1823, doi: 10.1002/esp.1369.

Peruvian Coastline (NASA)