A spatial analysis of hydro‐climatic and vegetation condition trends in the Yellow River basin

Tang, Qiuhong; Oki, Taikan; Kanae, Shinjiro; Hu, Heping

doi:10.1002/hyp.6624

Cited by 37 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…The change magnitude during the study period is computed as the slope of the linear regression times the length of the study period. The relative change magnitude is then calculated as the percentage of change magnitude relative to the mean value (Tang et al, 2008a).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of surface wind speed decline on modeled hydrological conditions in China

Liu

Zhang

Tang

et al. 2014

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. Surface wind speed decline in China has been widely reported, but its effects on hydrology have not been fully evaluated to date. In this study, the effects of wind speed change on modeled hydrological conditions are investigated using the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) hydrological model for China during the 1966-2011 period. Two model experiments, i.e., VIC simulations with the observed (EXP1) and detrended wind speed (EXP2), are performed over the major river basins in China. The differences between the two experiments are analyzed to assess the effects of wind speed decline. Results show that wind speed has decreased by 29 % in China. The wind speed decline would have resulted in a decrease in evapotranspiration of 1-3 % of mean annual evapotranspiration and an increase in runoff of 1-6 % of mean annual runoff at most basins in China. The sensitivities of evapotranspiration and runoff changes to wind speed change are larger in humid areas than dry areas, while the sensitivity of soil moisture change to wind speed change is situation dependent. The wind speed decline would have offset the expansion of the drought area in China. It has contributed to reducing drought areas by 8.8 % of the mean drought area (i.e., approximate 106 × 10 3 km 2 out of 1.2 × 10 6 km 2 ) over China. The reductions of soil moisture drought induced by wind speed decline are large (more than 5 % of the mean drought area) in most basins, except in the Southwest and Pearl River basins.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of surface wind speed decline on modeled hydrological conditions in China

Liu

Zhang

Tang

et al. 2014

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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“…However, various studies have reported that a reduction in river runoff occurred as an outcome of the enhanced soil conservation in the Loess Plateau (Li et al, 2009;Gao et al, 2015;Wei et al, 2015;Liang et al, 2015). River runoff from the Loess Plateau contributes to the tributaries of the Yellow River; therefore, a reduction in runoff from the plateau will not only influence the provisioning of water for local residents, but will also affect the downstream flow in the Yellow River (Tang et al, 2008). Understanding the effects of soil conservation measures on river runoff from the Loess Plateau is important for guiding the implementation of future soil conservation initiatives (Xu et al, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of climatic and anthropogenic stresses on long-term runoff reduction from the Loess Plateau, China

Feng

Cheng

et al. 2016

Science of The Total Environment

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Human intervention has strongly altered patterns of river runoff. Yet, few studies have addressed the complexity and nonlinearity of the anthropogenic stresses on runoff or their interaction with climate. We study the Loess Plateau in China, whose river runoff contributes 65% of the discharge to the middle reach of the Yellow River; this landscape has been shaped by human activity and is intensively managed. Our purpose is to characterize the interactive roles of climate and human activities in defining river runoff from the Loess Plateau. Applying a transient analysis to discover the time-varying runoff trend and impact factors, we found that the average runoff in the Loess Plateau decreased continuously during the period 1961-2009 (average rate of − 0.9 mm year −1 , P b 0.001). This long-term decrease in runoff mainly occurred in three stages, with transitions in 1970, 1981 and 1996. Reduced precipitation was the main reason for the decrease in runoff over the entire study period. However, human intervention played a dominant role in creating the transition points. Water yield (i.e., the ratio of runoff to precipitation) decreased following each anthropogenic transition, causing a 56% reduction in available freshwater resources during the period 1961-2009. These findings highlight the need for studies that address the dynamic and nonlinear processes controlling the availability of freshwater resources in the light of anthropogenic influences applied under a changing climate. Such studies are essential if we are to meet the human water demand in the Loess Plateau region.

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“…Consistent with the global trend, temperatures have increased in the basin. Since the 1960s, the average air temperature has risen by more than 1°C, and even more in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (Tang et al 2008;Hu et al 2012). Several studies revealed permafrost degradation across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau caused by warming during the last decades, and a continued thawing may lead to increasing emissions of greenhouse gases (Li et al 2008;Wu et al 2015).…”

Section: Climate Change and Variabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several studies revealed permafrost degradation across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau caused by warming during the last decades, and a continued thawing may lead to increasing emissions of greenhouse gases (Li et al 2008;Wu et al 2015). Precipitation patterns have also changed throughout the entire basin: precipitation quantities have generally decreased, but the decline is mainly concentrated in the Loess Plateau in the middle reaches, whereas the Yellow River's source region has received higher quantities of rain (Tang et al 2008). Another feature that has a direct influence on regional precipitation is the occurrence of El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events.…”

Section: Climate Change and Variabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Social–ecological challenges in the Yellow River basin (China): a review

et al. 2016

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The human-environment relationship within the Yellow River basin has a long history, because favorable environmental circumstances allowed the early emergence of societies along the river banks, and hence, the Yellow River basin was the birthplace of ancient Chinese civilization. On the other hand, the Yellow River is ''China's sorrow'' due to the constant occurrences of flooding events throughout history. In recent decades, the Yellow River basin is facing a spectacular economic boom, but mainly achieved at the expenses of the environment by over-exploiting the natural resources provided within the basin, which causes various challenges on ecology and society. Water scarcity, pollution, and ecosystem degradation accompanied with biodiversity decline have been further aggravated by anthropogenic-induced climate change. To address the pressing socio-ecological challenges, various conservation and management plans and strategies have been issued, often consulted by international bodies. This article is a comprehensive overview of the current state and recent developments that have occurred in the Yellow River basin and presents and discusses current and pressing socio-ecological challenges. Additionally, we address different policy and management instruments that have been launched to ensure a long-term sustainable development within the basin.

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A spatial analysis of hydro‐climatic and vegetation condition trends in the Yellow River basin

Cited by 37 publications

References 25 publications

Effects of surface wind speed decline on modeled hydrological conditions in China

Effects of surface wind speed decline on modeled hydrological conditions in China

The role of climatic and anthropogenic stresses on long-term runoff reduction from the Loess Plateau, China

Social–ecological challenges in the Yellow River basin (China): a review

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