This document discusses using GIS to visualize and analyze environmental time-series data as raster maps. It presents two common approaches for displaying time series data in GIS - animating over time or using line graphs. However, it proposes a new approach of treating time as a spatial dimension and mapping values onto a "timescape" with dual temporal coordinates. Examples are given showing streamflow patterns, tidal data, fish migration counts mapped as raster data over time. This enhances visualization and analysis capabilities in GIS for temporal data, allowing layering of multiple time series and identification of periods meeting multiple criteria. Greater versatility of GIS is achieved through this innovative use of software to leverage existing data for improved communication and decision support.

1. Richard Koehler, PhD, PH
NOAA/National Weather Service
National Hydrologic and Geospatial
Sciences Training Coordinator
Using GIS to Visualize and Analyze
Environmental Time-Series Data
as Raster Maps
GIS Colorado Fall Meeting October 21, 2016
Source: nrcs.gov Source: noaa.govSource: usbr.gov

2. Quote
The application of GIS
is limited only by the imagination
of those who use it.
Jack Dangermond
Co-founder,

3. Time series in GIS
Two common approaches
1. Animate / time slider
Source: cuahsi.org
2. Line graphs
Source: esri
t5
t4
t3
t2
t1
Base map

4. • Most statistics are simple
Mean, median, variance, standard deviation, min, max
• Multiple streamflow metrics exist (170+)
• Need time-scale analysis to find patterns
• Visualization overlooked as an analysis method
• GIS - technology for data analysis, configuration and
visualization for spatial data
Magnitude 55%
Frequency 8%
Duration 26%
Timing 6%
Flow change 5%
Composition attributes
Data order not a factor
Configuration attributes
Data order is fundamental
Time series data analysis
– why not for temporal data?

5. Data source: NOAA
Data source: USGS
Time series data displays

6. Spaghetti plot
Kettle River near Laurier, WA
Data source: USGS
Day of Water Year
Discharge(ft3/s)
Assumption:
Lines lay within
a single plane
Water Year:
Oct 1 – Sept 30

7. Display evolution
New assumption:
Profiles stacked in
multiple planes
!

8. Tilt and rotate display
New perspective,
“aerial”
Hidden
axis
Spaghetti plot perspective,
“ground”
Wire diagram

9. Temporal map
• Dual timescale as X, Y
• Common framework
• Visualization options
• Allows data layering
Time-based coordinate system

10. X = Short-term coordinate
Y = Long-term coordinate
2016
2015
2014
Y (year)
293 294 295 X (day)
Time grid
Framework

11. Visualization and analysis
X = Short-term coordinate
Y = Long-term coordinate
Z = Value (raster cell color)
2016
2015
2014
Y (year)
293 294 295 X (day)
Z (value)
  
  
  
Time as raster

12. Streamflow example
Traditional hydrograph
*
* Glen Canyon Dam
operational
What date is
this event?

13. 2
2 = Drought
3
3 = Low winter flow
4
4 = Storm flow
5
5 = Higher autumn flow
6
6 = Diversion tunnels closed
7
7 = El Niño runoff
8
8 = Artificial floods
9
9 = Sunday flow
10
10 = Christmas
11
11 = Monthly change
1
Pattern key
1 = Snowmelt runoff
Raster hydrograph
Colorado River at Lees Ferry, AZ
Oct – Sept (water year), 1921 to 2014
*
• First day
of month
Glen Canyon
Dam online
*
12
12 = Policy change
What date is
this event?
‘96
Data source: USGS

14. Adopted by USGS

15. Annual peak streamflow (ft3/s)
An outlier is an
observation point
that is distant from
other observations.
Outliers
Outlier detection
IDOR
MTWA

16. Outlier detection
Temporal
outliers
+ Dworshak
operational
An outlier is an
observation point
that is distant from
other observations.
IDOR
MTWA
Data source: USGS
Annual peak streamflow (ft3/s)

17. “War time”
Year-round DST
1942 to 1945
1973 Energy Crisis
Early DST
1974 and 1975
Congress changes
when DST begins
Switch
to DST
CAN
MT
ID WY
Data Source: USACE
Fort Peck Reservoir computed daily inflow
Days with no data can provide information
Data quality
Missing

18. Lookout Creek near Blue River, OR
Elev = 1,378 ft
Drainage area =24.10 mi2
Western Cascade geology
Low soil permeability
McKenzie River at Outlet of Clear Lake, OR
Elev = 3,015 ft,
Drainage area = 92.40 mi2
High Cascade geology
Moderate/High soil permeability
Source: Grant et al., 2010. Streamflow response to climate warming in mountain regions:
Integrating the effects of snowpack and groundwater dynamics.
http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/cirmount/meetings/mtnclim/2010/talks/pdf/Grant_Talk2010.pdf
Flow regime and geology (Oregon)
USFS - OSU study
Background map source: Google

19. McKenzie River
Winter
Longer duration
Summer
Higher baseflow
Lookout Creek
Winter
Shorter duration
Summer
Lower baseflow
Flow regime and geology
USFS - OSU study
Background map source: Google
Data source: USGS

20. Ocean tides (1 minute values)
Data source: NOAA
Traditional
1 day (1,440 pts) 1 week (10,080 pts)
1 month (43,200 pts) 3 months (129,600 pts)
Hawk Inlet, AK
Apr-Jun 2016 predicted tides
Sunrise,
Sunset
…
Raster
Units: Feet
Time Zone: Alaska DST
Datum: Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW)
3 months (129,600 pts)

21. Bonneville Daily Count (2010 – 2014, 5 years)
Salmon migration
Source: Fish Passage Center

22. Bonneville Daily Count (1938 – 2014, 76 years)
Salmon migration
Data source: USACE

23. Traditional plots:
Puget Sound paralytic shellfish toxins
Puget Sound
“Red tide” analysis
Source: Moore, S.K., et al., 2009. Recent trends in paralytic shellfish toxins in Puget Sound, relationships to climate,
and capacity for prediction of toxic events. Harmful Algae 8, 463–477 doi:410.1016/ j.hal.2008.1010.1003.
Time series datasets:
Environmental factors
1. Streamflow (m3s-1)
2. Air temp (C)
3. Precipitation (cm)
4. Wind speed (ms-1)
5. Tidal height difference (m)
6. Upwelling (m3s-1100 m-1)
7. Sea surface salinity (psu)
8. Sea surface temp (C)

24. Observed streamflow
1,716 days or
36% of days were in
“criterion windows”
Criterion: Flow ≤ 350 m3s-1
Met = 1 Not met = 0
Missing
Apply a binary filter
Identify threshold days

25. 8. Sea surface temp
1,840 days
7. Salinity
2,513 days
6. Upwelling
2,424 days
5. Tide range
2,546 days
4. Wind
2,662 days
3. Precipitation
4,116 days
2. Air temp
2,062 days
1. Streamflow
1,716 days
Multi-layer analysis
Only 126 days
meet all 8 criteria
1 - Apply criterion to each layer 2 – Produce a summary layer
J F M A M J J A S O N D

26. Summary
• Greater GIS versatility
Powerful “timescape” visualization
New opportunities for GIS
• Improve communication
Engage clients, funding sources, public
Enhance decision support information
• Increase ROI from GIS
Leverage existing software
Expand products and services
Competitive advantage

27. Acknowledgements
• Golden Software, LLC
Support and feedback for this innovative use of Surfer®
• USGS
Incorporated raster hydrographs into the Water Watch website
• NOAA
Provided data and feedback
• Northwest Power and Conservation Council (NWPCC)
Sponsored data visualization workshop - May 2015
Selected workshop graphics used in this talk

28. Questions?
Richard Koehler, PhD, PH
richard.koehler@noaa.gov