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MIKE SHE Public Data Catalog

China

Version: 0.1 test template
Purpose: Country-specific public dataset catalog for building simple to advanced MIKE SHE models
Region: People's Republic of China (mainland)

Quick Start

Minimum Public Datasets for Recharge Modelling with MIKE SHE (China)

If your objective is to calculate distributed groundwater recharge (without simulating groundwater flow or rivers), only five dataset categories are required.

China has rich national research datasets, many distributed through Chinese Academy of Sciences data centres. Official station and hydrological data (CMA, MWR) are restricted, and most portals require registration with a Chinese mobile number. Foreign organisations should also check surveying and data-export rules before collecting or exporting geographic data (see section 1.3).

MIKE SHE Input Dataset Type Recommended Dataset Spatial Availability Why recommended
Topography (DEM) Gridded Copernicus GLO-30 Global Consistent 30 m DEM freely available for all of China. No high-resolution national DEM is publicly released.
Land Cover Gridded China Land Cover Dataset (CLCD)

GlobeLand30, ESA WorldCover		 China / global CLCD provides annual 30 m land cover from 1985, useful for long simulations with land-use change. GlobeLand30 (national mapping agency) and WorldCover are good alternatives.
Soil Hydraulic Properties Gridded China soil hydraulic parameters dataset (Dai et al., 2013, via TPDC) China Gridded (~1 km) soil hydraulic parameters for China, including van Genuchten parameters derived with pedotransfer functions from the national soil survey — similar in role to POLARIS in the US.
Precipitation Gridded China Meteorological Forcing Dataset (CMFD, via TPDC) China Gauge-corrected gridded forcing (0.1°, 3-hourly, from 1979), including precipitation. The standard research forcing for Chinese land-surface and hydrological modelling.
Gridded GPM IMERG / GSMaP

CHIRPS (south of 50°N)		 Global Sub-daily satellite rainfall for events; CHIRPS does not cover the far north-east.
Meteorological Forcing / Potential ET Gridded China Meteorological Forcing Dataset (CMFD, via TPDC) China Temperature, humidity, wind, pressure and radiation for FAO-56 reference ET.
Time Series China Meteorological Data Service Centre (CMA) ~2,400 national stations Daily station data; registration required and access for foreign users is limited.

Optional Improvements

Dataset Purpose
ERA5-Land Hourly fallback forcing where CMFD access or period is insufficient
China Geological Survey GeoCloud Hydrogeological maps and groundwater data
PML-V2 China evapotranspiration (via TPDC) Validation of actual ET at 500 m
China daily snow depth dataset (via TPDC) Snow depth for northern and plateau basins
GRACE / GRACE-FO Regional groundwater storage change (e.g. North China Plain)
  1. Download Copernicus GLO-30 for the model domain.
  2. Delineate the model domain and prepare the terrain model.
  3. Download CLCD and assign MIKE SHE vegetation classes.
  4. Download the China soil hydraulic parameters dataset and derive van Genuchten parameters using pedotransfer functions.
  5. Choose your meteorological forcing:
  6. Option A (recommended): Use CMFD for precipitation and all climate variables.
  7. Option B: Use ERA5-Land with IMERG/GSMaP rainfall where CMFD is unavailable.
  8. Let MIKE SHE calculate evapotranspiration internally using the selected vegetation and soil parameters.
  9. Represent paddy ponding in the south and irrigation of winter wheat and maize in the north.
  10. Check simulated actual ET against PML-V2 or MODIS MOD16.
  11. Export the distributed groundwater recharge for use in MODFLOW, FEFLOW, or other groundwater models.

1. Introduction for advanced data sources

1.1 Purpose

This document summarizes public datasets that can be used to construct a physically based MIKE SHE model for China.

The catalog is organized according to the typical MIKE SHE model-building workflow. It covers terrain, land cover, meteorological forcing, ET, rivers, soils, hydrogeology, groundwater, water management, and calibration.

1.2 Intended Use

This catalog is intended for:

  • groundwater depletion and recovery studies (e.g. North China Plain)
  • river basin water-balance models
  • irrigation district studies
  • karst hydrology
  • arid inland basin (oasis) studies
  • snow and glacier-fed basins
  • sponge city and urban flood studies
  • applied MIKE SHE model setup

1.3 General Notes for China

  • Most portals are in Chinese and require registration, often with a Chinese mobile number.
  • China's Surveying and Mapping Law and Data Security Law restrict surveying by foreign organisations and the export of high-precision geographic data. Projects involving field surveys or data transfer abroad should be checked with a local partner.
  • Geodetic datum: CGCS2000; projections typically Gauss-Krüger 3° or 6° zones; heights in the 1985 National Height Datum.
  • Chinese web maps use the offset GCJ-02 coordinate system (shifted by up to several hundred metres); do not digitize model data from them without correction.
  • Hydrological Yearbooks (MWR) contain the main discharge records but are not freely distributed; access usually requires a Chinese partner institution.

2. Hydrological Characteristics of China

2.1 Climate

  • East Asian monsoon in the east and south, with most rainfall in summer
  • arid and semi-arid north-west with inland drainage basins
  • cold high-altitude climate on the Tibetan Plateau
  • annual rainfall from under 50 mm (Tarim Basin) to over 2,000 mm (south-east coast)
  • typhoons along the south-east coast
  • extreme rainfall events (e.g. Henan, 2021)

2.2 Topography

  • three-step terrain: Tibetan Plateau, central plateaus and basins, eastern plains
  • North China Plain, North-east Plain and middle–lower Yangtze Plain
  • Loess Plateau with deep erodible loess
  • karst landscapes in the south-west (Guizhou, Guangxi, Yunnan)
  • large inland basins in the north-west (Tarim, Junggar, Qaidam)
  • major rivers: Yangtze, Yellow, Pearl, Songhua, Hai, Huai

2.3 Major Hydrological Challenges

  • groundwater depletion and land subsidence in the North China Plain
  • water scarcity and sediment in the Yellow River basin
  • Yangtze and urban floods
  • soil erosion on the Loess Plateau
  • karst rocky desertification and fast karst flow
  • oasis water use in arid inland basins
  • glacier and snow change on the plateau
  • seawater intrusion on the Bohai and Shandong coasts
  • inter-basin transfers (South-to-North Water Diversion)

2.4 Major Aquifer Systems

Important aquifer settings include:

  • North China Plain Quaternary aquifers (shallow unconfined and deep confined)
  • North-east plains (Songnen, Sanjiang)
  • North China karst aquifers with large springs (e.g. Jinan)
  • south-west karst systems
  • north-west inland basin alluvial fans (e.g. Heihe, Shiyang, Tarim)
  • Yangtze and Pearl River delta aquifers (historical subsidence, e.g. Shanghai)
  • Loess Plateau aquifers

3. Recommended Dataset Stack

Component Recommended Dataset Alternative Dataset Importance
DEM Copernicus GLO-30 AW3D30, FABDEM ★★★★★
Land cover China Land Cover Dataset (CLCD) GlobeLand30, ESA WorldCover, Resource and Environment Science and Data Center (CAS) land use ★★★★★
LAI MODIS MCD15A3H GLASS LAI (via National Earth System Science Data Center) ★★★★☆
Precipitation China Meteorological Forcing Dataset (CMFD, via TPDC) GPM IMERG, GSMaP, China Meteorological Data Service Centre (CMA) ★★★★★
Climate forcing China Meteorological Forcing Dataset (CMFD, via TPDC) ERA5-Land ★★★★★
Potential ET FAO-56 from CMFD ERA5-Land ★★★★☆
Rivers and basins MERIT Hydro National Catalogue Service for Geographic Information (1:1,000,000 and 1:250,000 public data) ★★★★★
Soil China soil hydraulic parameters dataset (Dai et al., 2013, via TPDC) HWSD v2, SoilGrids ★★★★★
Hydrogeology China Geological Survey GeoCloud WHYMAP ★★★★★
Groundwater heads China Geological Environment Monitoring groundwater level yearbooks, China Geological Survey GeoCloud MWR groundwater bulletins ★★★★☆
Streamflow MWR Hydrological Yearbooks (restricted) MWR national real-time water and rain information, GRDC ★★★★☆
Actual ET PML-V2 China evapotranspiration (via TPDC) MODIS MOD16, GLEAM ★★★★☆
Snow and glaciers China daily snow depth dataset (via TPDC) MODIS Snow Cover, Randolph Glacier Inventory ★★★★☆
Storage change GRACE / GRACE-FO — ★★★★☆

4. Terrain Model

4.1 Purpose in MIKE SHE

Terrain data are required for model surface elevation, overland-flow gradients, surface storage, catchment delineation, river network verification, and floodplain connectivity.

4.2 Dataset Comparison

Dataset Coverage Resolution MIKE SHE Suitability Advantages Limitations Recommendation
Copernicus GLO-30 Global 30 m Primary Consistent, free Canopy and buildings included ★★★★★
FABDEM Global 30 m Forested and urban areas Canopy removed Licence terms ★★★★☆
AW3D30 Global 30 m Comparison Independent Voids ★★★☆☆

4.3 Typical Preprocessing

  • reproject to CGCS2000 / Gauss-Krüger or UTM
  • clip to model domain plus buffer
  • condition drainage and check against the river network
  • resample to model grid
  • smooth only where needed for numerical stability

4.4 Quality Checks

  • check loess gullies and terraced fields
  • check karst depressions (real closed depressions must not be filled)
  • check levees and polders in the Yangtze plain
  • check subsidence areas in the North China Plain

5. Surface Water

5.1 Rivers

Dataset Coverage MIKE SHE / MIKE 1D Use Advantages Limitations Recommendation
MERIT Hydro Global Flow directions, widths Consistent 90 m ★★★★★
National Catalogue Service for Geographic Information China Official public rivers and lakes (1:1,000,000 and 1:250,000) Official Generalized ★★★★☆
HydroRIVERS / HydroBASINS Global Screening Easy Generalized ★★★☆☆

5.2 Lakes, Reservoirs and Wetlands

Dataset Use Recommendation
JRC Global Surface Water Water occurrence and reservoirs ★★★★☆
National Catalogue Service for Geographic Information Lakes and reservoirs ★★★★☆
MWR national real-time water and rain information Major reservoir levels ★★★☆☆

5.3 Irrigation Districts and Transfers

  • large irrigation districts (e.g. Hetao, Jingdian) divert river water and create major recharge
  • South-to-North Water Diversion supplies the North China Plain and is used for ecological groundwater replenishment
  • canals and dams strongly modify flows in most basins

5.4 Typical Preprocessing

  • simplify river network
  • align river network with DEM
  • define channel geometry from surveys or estimated widths
  • represent floodplains and wetlands as overland-flow storage
  • assign river, reservoir and tidal boundary conditions

6. Land Cover and Vegetation

6.1 Purpose in MIKE SHE

Land cover and vegetation define interception, ET parameters, root depth, crop coefficients, Manning roughness, irrigation zones, and impervious areas.

6.2 Dataset Comparison

Dataset Coverage Resolution MIKE SHE Use Advantages Limitations Recommendation
China Land Cover Dataset (CLCD) China 30 m Primary, time series Annual since 1985 Nine classes only ★★★★★
GlobeLand30 Global 30 m Alternative National mapping agency 2000, 2010, 2020 ★★★★☆
ESA WorldCover Global 10 m Detail High resolution 2020–2021 ★★★★☆
CNLUCC land use (Resource and Environment Science and Data Center (CAS)) China 30 m / 1 km Detailed land-use classes Includes paddy/dry cropland Registration ★★★★☆

6.3 Vegetation Datasets

Parameter Dataset Use Recommendation
LAI MODIS MCD15A3H Seasonal LAI ★★★★☆
NDVI Sentinel-2 / Landsat Crop calendars and phenology ★★★★☆
Crop coefficient FAO-56 Rice, winter wheat, maize, cotton ★★★★☆

6.4 Typical Preprocessing

  • separate paddy and dry cropland
  • define winter wheat–summer maize double cropping in the north
  • represent orchards and terraces on the Loess Plateau
  • represent oasis agriculture and desert in the north-west

7. Meteorological Forcing

7.1 Precipitation

Dataset Coverage Resolution Temporal Resolution MIKE SHE Use Advantages Limitations Recommendation
China Meteorological Forcing Dataset (CMFD, via TPDC) China 0.1° 3-hourly Primary forcing Gauge-corrected, complete Registration; check period coverage ★★★★★
CN05.1 China 0.25° Daily Alternative Gauge-based Coarse ★★★☆☆
GPM IMERG Global ~10 km 30 min Events Sub-daily Bias ★★★★☆
GSMaP Global ~10 km Hourly Events Good in Asia Bias ★★★★☆
China Meteorological Data Service Centre (CMA) China Point Daily Bias correction Official Restricted access ★★★★☆

7.2 Climate Variables

Variable Recommended Dataset Alternatives MIKE SHE Use
Air temperature China Meteorological Forcing Dataset (CMFD, via TPDC) ERA5-Land ET, snow
Wind speed China Meteorological Forcing Dataset (CMFD, via TPDC) ERA5-Land Penman-Monteith
Humidity China Meteorological Forcing Dataset (CMFD, via TPDC) ERA5-Land Vapour-pressure deficit
Solar radiation China Meteorological Forcing Dataset (CMFD, via TPDC) ERA5-Land, NASA POWER ET energy term
Reference ET FAO-56 from China Meteorological Forcing Dataset (CMFD, via TPDC) TerraClimate PET forcing

7.3 Notes

  • use sub-daily forcing for urban flood and sponge-city studies
  • include snow in northern and plateau basins
  • precipitation on the Tibetan Plateau is highly uncertain

8. Soil Data

8.1 Dataset Comparison

Dataset Coverage Resolution MIKE SHE Use Advantages Limitations Recommendation
China soil hydraulic parameters dataset (Dai et al., 2013, via TPDC) China ~1 km Primary UZ parameterization Includes van Genuchten parameters Coarse relative to local models ★★★★★
Soil database of China / HWSD China component (HWSD v2) China 1:1,000,000 Soil zonation From national survey Coarse ★★★☆☆
SoilGrids Global 250 m Alternative Six depths Fewer Chinese profiles ★★★☆☆

8.2 Typical Preprocessing

  • check loess hydraulic properties (thick, relatively uniform)
  • represent paddy plough pans
  • use thin soils over karst with rapid bypass flow
  • account for saline soils in irrigation districts

9. Hydrogeology

9.1 Dataset Comparison

Dataset Coverage Use Advantages Limitations Recommendation
China Geological Survey GeoCloud China Hydrogeological maps (national 1:4,000,000 and regional 1:250,000/1:200,000) Official Registration; Chinese ★★★★★
Regional hydrogeological survey reports (CGS) Regions Aquifer structure and parameters Detailed By request ★★★★★
WHYMAP Global Screening Consistent Coarse ★★☆☆☆

9.2 Conceptual Model Recommendations

  • multi-layer aquifers with deep confined pumping and compaction
  • karst conduit and spring systems
  • alluvial fans with river losses in arid basins
  • thick unsaturated zones in loess
  • seasonal frozen ground in the north and on the plateau

10. Groundwater Data

Dataset Coverage Use Recommendation
National Groundwater Monitoring Project (~20,000 wells, CGS and MWR) China Heads ★★★★★
China Geological Environment Monitoring groundwater level yearbooks China Published heads ★★★★☆
MWR groundwater bulletins China Regional trends ★★★☆☆
GRACE / GRACE-FO China Storage change ★★★★☆

Much of the monitoring data are not openly downloadable; access usually needs a Chinese partner.

11. Water Management

11.1 Relevant Processes

  • irrigation districts and groundwater irrigation
  • reservoirs and hydropower (e.g. Three Gorges)
  • inter-basin transfers
  • groundwater pumping controls and ecological replenishment in the North China Plain
  • sponge city stormwater measures

11.2 Regulatory Framework

  • Water Law of the PRC (2002, amended 2016)
  • Regulations on Groundwater Management (2021)
  • Most Stringent Water Resources Management System ("Three Red Lines": total use, efficiency, pollution limits)
  • River Chief System for river management
  • seven river basin commissions under MWR

11.3 Key Institutions

Topic Institution
Water resources, hydrology Ministry of Water Resources
Meteorology China Meteorological Data Service Centre (CMA)
Geology and groundwater China Geological Survey GeoCloud
Geographic data National Catalogue Service for Geographic Information
Research data TPDC, RESDC, National Earth System Science Data Center

12. Remote Sensing Products

Dataset Resolution Use Recommendation
Sentinel-1 SAR 10 m Flood mapping, InSAR subsidence, wetness under cloud ★★★★★
Sentinel-2 10 m Land cover, irrigation and crop calendars ★★★★☆
GLEAM ~25 km Actual ET ★★★☆☆
MODIS MOD16 500 m Actual ET ★★★☆☆
SMAP / ESA CCI Soil Moisture ~9–25 km Soil moisture ★★★☆☆
GRACE / GRACE-FO ~300 km Large-basin storage change ★★★★☆
PML-V2 China evapotranspiration (via TPDC) 500 m Actual ET ★★★★☆

13. Calibration Datasets

Target Dataset Use Recommendation
Discharge MWR Hydrological Yearbooks, GRDC Streamflow ★★★★☆
Groundwater heads National monitoring / yearbooks SZ calibration ★★★★★
Storage change GRACE / GRACE-FO Regional depletion ★★★★☆
Actual ET PML-V2 China evapotranspiration (via TPDC), ChinaFLUX ET validation ★★★★☆
Subsidence Sentinel-1 SAR InSAR Compaction ★★★★☆
Snow depth China daily snow depth dataset (via TPDC) Snowmelt ★★★☆☆

Recommended strategy: where discharge records are hard to obtain, combine heads, ET products, GRACE and InSAR to constrain the water balance.

14. Typical MIKE SHE Workflow

  1. Define modelling objective and domain.
  2. Prepare the DEM from Copernicus GLO-30.
  3. Build the river network from MERIT Hydro and national geographic data.
  4. Prepare land cover from CLCD or CNLUCC.
  5. Assign vegetation parameters, rooting depths and crop calendars.
  6. Prepare precipitation from CMFD.
  7. Prepare climate forcing and reference ET from CMFD.
  8. Prepare soil properties from the China soil hydraulic parameters dataset.
  9. Build hydrogeological layers from CGS hydrogeological maps and reports.
  10. Add pumping and irrigation from irrigation district and groundwater permit data.
  11. Couple rivers and groundwater.
  12. Calibrate against groundwater heads and available discharge.
  13. Validate with PML-V2 ET, GRACE and InSAR.
  14. Document assumptions and uncertainties.

15. Minimum Dataset Package

Model Element Dataset
DEM Copernicus GLO-30
Land cover China Land Cover Dataset (CLCD)
Precipitation and climate China Meteorological Forcing Dataset (CMFD, via TPDC)
Soils China soil hydraulic parameters dataset (Dai et al., 2013, via TPDC)
Rivers MERIT Hydro
Hydrogeology China Geological Survey GeoCloud

16. Recommended Dataset Package

Model Element Dataset
Land cover CLCD + CNLUCC
Forcing CMFD + IMERG events
Heads National monitoring
Discharge Hydrological Yearbooks (via partner)
Validation PML-V2, GRACE, InSAR

17. Premium Dataset Package

Dataset Type Possible Source Purpose
LiDAR / detailed DEM Local surveying institutes Terrain (export restrictions apply)
Irrigation district records Irrigation district bureaus Diversions and applications
Pumping statistics Local water bureaus Pumping stress
Pumping tests and boreholes CGS and projects Aquifer parameters
Isotope and age data CAS institutes Recharge sources

18. Dataset Comparison Table Template

Dataset Coverage Spatial Resolution Temporal Resolution Time Period Format API / Access License MIKE SHE Use Advantages Limitations Recommendation
★☆☆☆☆

19. Data Preparation Checklist

Terrain

  • [ ] DEM downloaded (or requested) and licence checked
  • [ ] DEM projected and clipped
  • [ ] drainage checked against river network

Surface Water

  • [ ] river network prepared
  • [ ] reservoirs, wetlands and floodplains identified
  • [ ] boundary conditions assigned

Land Cover and Vegetation

  • [ ] land cover reclassified
  • [ ] irrigated areas and crop calendars defined
  • [ ] LAI and rooting depths assigned

Weather

  • [ ] precipitation prepared and compared with station data
  • [ ] climate forcing prepared
  • [ ] reference ET calculated

Soil

  • [ ] soil data downloaded or requested
  • [ ] hydraulic parameters derived

Groundwater

  • [ ] geology and hydrogeology collected
  • [ ] heads and pumping data requested
  • [ ] boundary conditions defined

Calibration and Validation

  • [ ] discharge data obtained
  • [ ] ET and remote-sensing validation data prepared
  • [ ] calibration and validation periods defined

China-specific

  • [ ] registration and access arranged (Chinese mobile number, partner institution)
  • [ ] data-export and surveying rules checked
  • [ ] GCJ-02 offsets avoided or corrected
  • [ ] CMFD period checked against simulation period

20. References and Official Data Portals

National and regional sources

Global sources

21. Notes on Uncertainty

  • access to discharge and station data
  • irrigation diversions and groundwater pumping
  • karst flow paths
  • precipitation in mountains and the plateau
  • frozen ground and snow
  • land-use change over long periods
  • subsidence and aquitard compaction

A defensible model should document dataset choices, preprocessing assumptions, calibration strategy, validation results, and known limitations.

22. River Basin Commissions and Regional Settings

The Ministry of Water Resources manages major basins through seven river basin commissions, which hold much of the basin-scale data. Provincial water resources departments and geological surveys hold local data.

Basin / Region Basin Commission Hydrological Focus
Yangtze Changjiang Water Resources Commission Floods, Three Gorges, lakes and paddies
Yellow River Yellow River Conservancy Commission Water scarcity, sediment, irrigation districts, Loess Plateau
Hai River (North China Plain) Haihe River Water Conservancy Commission Groundwater depletion, subsidence, water transfers
Huai River Huaihe River Commission Floods, agricultural groundwater
Pearl River Pearl River Water Resources Commission South-west karst, delta, typhoons
Songhua and Liao rivers (North-east) Songliao Water Resources Commission Snowmelt, frozen ground, rice expansion
Tai Lake basin Taihu Basin Authority Plain river networks, subsidence history
North-west inland basins Provincial authorities Oases, alluvial fans, glaciers
Tibetan Plateau Provincial authorities, CAS Glaciers, permafrost, snow