Streamflow Data Plotter

This repository contains a Python script that retrieves and compares streamflow data from two sources:

• National Water Model (NWM)
  • Retrieves v2.1 and v3 streamflow data directly from AWS using the Zarr format.
• USGS
  • Retrieves real-time streamflow data using the USGS Water Services API.

The script plots the streamflow time series from these sources on a single graph, making it easy to visually compare the datasets.

Example Screenshot

Below is a sample output showing daily streamflow data at a specific location:

Features

• Data Retrieval:
  • Retrieves NWM data (v2.1 and v3) directly from AWS without downloading the entire dataset.
• USGS Integration:
  • Converts USGS streamflow data from cubic feet per second (cfs) to cubic meters per second (cms).
• Time Series Alignment:
  • Truncates datasets to ensure that all data series have the same length for consistent plotting.
• Visualization:
  • Uses Matplotlib to produce a clear plot with daily tick intervals.

Installation

1. Clone the Repository:

   git clone https://github.com/yourusername/streamflow-data-plotter.git
   cd streamflow-data-plotter

2. Set Up a Virtual Environment (Optional but Recommended):

   python3 -m venv venv
   source venv/bin/activate  # On Windows use `venv\Scripts\activate`

3. Install Dependencies:

   pip install -r requirements.txt

   Example requirements.txt:

   xarray
   numpy
   s3fs
   matplotlib
   requests
   pandas
   

Usage

Run the script:

python streamflow_plotter.py