Stream Power: Origins, Geomorphic Applications, and GIS Procedures

Stream power is a widely used parameter to investigate, engineer, and manage river systems. The varied uses of stream power are increasing as it becomes easier to derive stream power using remotely sensed data coupled with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and improved computational power and technology. This document was created to provide clarity to researchers and practitioners using stream power in their work. It includes a review of the physical basis, terminology, and applications of stream power; an examination of the many considerations and techniques for computing stream power; and a step by step example workflow to compute stream power using GIS and Microsoft Excel. The 33 steps in this example can be adjusted to suit individual needs of different projects.