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GSCD

Global Streamflow Characteristics Dataset

Under­stand global streamflow dynamics and runoff patterns with high-resolution maps derived from thousands of catch­ments worldwide. 

Overview

The Global Streamflow Characteristics Dataset (GSCD) provides insights into runoff behavior across the entire global land surface, including ungauged regions.

The dataset offers a unique collection of global maps for 17 streamflow charac­ter­istics, including baseflow index, runoff coeffi­cient, flow percentiles, and more. The maps are derived using a data-driven (top-down) approach based on streamflow obser­va­tions from thousands of catch­ments worldwide, rather than relying on physi­cally-based (bottom-up) process models. For additional infor­mation, refer to the following open-access publications:

Beck, H.E., A.I.J.M. van Dijk, and A. de Roo, 2015. Global maps of streamflow charac­ter­istics based on obser­va­tions from several thousand catch­ments, Journal of Hydrom­e­te­o­rology 16(4), 1478–1501.
Beck, H.E., A.I.J.M. van Dijk, D.G. Miralles, R.A.M. de Jeu, L.A. Bruijnzeel, T.R. McVicar, J. Schellekens, 2013. Global patterns in baseflow index and recession based on streamflow obser­va­tions from 3394 catch­ments, Water Resources Research 49(12), 7843–7863.

Data-driven streamflow estimation

To generate the GSCD maps, climate and physio­graphic predictors are input into a feed-forward neural network trained on streamflow obser­va­tions from thousands of catch­ments worldwide. 

Download

Freely use, adapt, and share the GSCD for non-commercial purposes.

The latest version of the GSCD (version 2.0) is available for download here (372 MB). The dataset is provided as GeoTIFF files with a spatial resolution of 0.05° (approx­i­mately 5 km at the equator). For version history and additional details, please refer to the technical documentation.

The data are released under the Creative Commons Attri­bution-NonCom­mercial 4.0 Inter­na­tional License (CC BY-NC 4.0). This license permits use of the dataset for research and educa­tional purposes but prohibits commercial use. Proper attri­bution is required, and users must cite Beck et al. (2015) in any publi­ca­tions based on the dataset.

If the dataset plays a signif­icant role in your research, we kindly request the oppor­tunity to provide feedback on your results prior to publication.