When merging two DEMs, do they have to be in the same pixel bits?

Question

I have a simple question. I have 2 different Digital Elevation Modeling (DEM). One is the state DEM and has 30m and has 16 pixel bit. I have a couple of smaller DEM that has 30m but they have 32 pixel bit.

I know how to merge them , but in my mind, do the Pixel bits have to be in the same pixel bits for example, 30m 16 pixel bits equal to 30m 16 pixel bits, correct ?

Reason for asking this question was because when I am working on a watershed and clipped state 30m 16 bit in half and the other smaller DEM has 30m 32 bits and merge them.

I tried to find this on the internet and came nothing....

Thanks

Answer 1

Signed 16 bit integers range from -32,768 to 32,767, unsigned from 0 to 65,535. As your DEM values are very unlikely to be outside that range, it won't be a problem if you merge with a 32 bit integer/floating point raster. Though you may want to ensure the output is 16 bit integer to reduce file size.