Model for the Volume-Area-Depth Relations of Midfield Ponds using LiDAR

Small midfield ponds have important functions in the hydrology and ecology of hummocky areas of Poland. Because of their sensitivity to meteorological conditions, their number and hydroperiod are altered as a result of climate changes and agriculture pressure. Accurate estimation of the pond area and storage capacities requires up-to-date high-resolution elevation data. In this paper, we developed 0.2 m and 1.0 m bare-earth DEMs from LiDAR data and compared them with DEMs obtained from old bathymetric maps. Then, we calculated A-h and V-h relations and compared them with the relations derived from simplified models describing the pond shape. The analyses showed that LiDAR data are also useful for detecting changes in the ponds morphometry.