Comprehensive evaluation of the ecohydrological response of watersheds under changing environments

Guo, Wei; Hong, Fengtian; Ma, Yinchu; Huang, Lintong; Yang, Huan; Hu, Jianwen; Zhou, Haotong; Wang, Hongxiang

doi:10.1016/j.ecoinf.2023.101985

Cited by 11 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…In this study, the Mann‐Kendall method is employed to examine the trend of the Xiantao hydrological station, and in combination with the cumulative anomaly method, it identifies the change points in the hydrological situation of the HJR basin. For the specific principles, please refer to: (Guo, Hong, et al, 2023).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The ecological–hydrological regime of the Han River basin under changing conditions: The coupled influence of human activities and climate change

Wang,

Yuan,

Yang

et al. 2024

Ecohydrology

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Because of the confluence of human activities and climate change, the hydrological regime in the Han River basin has substantially evolved, necessitating a multi‐faceted, quantitative analysis of the causative factors. Employing cross‐wavelet analysis, we examined nonlinear relationships between runoff and meteorological variables. Additionally, we assessed hydrological indicators via the IHA index and RVA, then quantified the drivers of runoff variations across different time scales using the Budyko hypothesis and a Generalized Regression Neural Network (GRNN) model. The findings reveal the presence of sustained resonance periods within the climate‐runoff system, notably concentrated in 9‐ to 15‐month intervals during the years 1985–1994, 1995–2012, and 2014–2018, with a confidence level of 95%. Overall, the basin exhibited moderate change (41.66%), with 15 indicators displaying varying degrees of moderate to high transformation. These shifts underscore significant ecosystem transformations. The influence of driving factors on runoff varies across temporal scales. On an annual scale, human activities predominantly shape runoff changes (52.35%), while meteorological factors contribute significantly (47.65%). Conversely, at the monthly scale, climate change emerges as the dominant influence on runoff patterns in June and September, with human activities maintaining a principal role in other months, notably exceeding 90% even in November.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The ecological–hydrological regime of the Han River basin under changing conditions: The coupled influence of human activities and climate change

Wang,

Yuan,

Yang

et al. 2024

Ecohydrology

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“…Although our study is consistent with previous research, there are still some uncertainties and limitations that need to be acknowledged. Firstly, while previous studies have validated the good performance of the Choudhury-Yang formula [47,96], there are still uncertainties and limitations in its accuracy. One possible reason for this is the simplification of physical processes.…”

Section: Uncertainties and Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Analysis of Runoff Variation in a Small Basin in the Loess Plateau: Identifying the Variation Causes and Implications for Sustainable Water Management

Zhao

et al. 2023

Sustainability

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Analyzing the characteristics and causes of runoff variation in a typical small basin is beneficial for ecological restoration in the Loess Plateau. This study employed a series of statistical methodologies to examine the characteristics of meteorological changes and underlying surface evolution in the Qishui River Basin (QRB). To differentiate the impacts of climate change and human activities on runoff variation, we applied the Choudhury–Yang formula and the Double Mass Curve (DMC) method. Subsequently, by incorporating future watershed protection strategies and various SSP scenarios, we utilized the Soil and Water Assessment Tool to simulate future runoff while employing the DMC to identify underlying causes of runoff variation. The results suggested that human activity has a slightly greater impact than climate change on reducing runoff during the historical period, with only a 1% difference. However, this will change in the future as human impact becomes increasingly significant. Human activities such as afforestation have dual effects, encompassing positive effects such as improving water quality and mitigating soil erosion, as well as negative consequences such as diminishing local water availability and exacerbating drought. Effective policies should be implemented, involving the use of appropriate tree species and planting methods, finding an appropriate value of forest area, monitoring and evaluation, etc., in order to ensure that the policies are aligned with the broader social, economic, and environmental goals of the QRB. These findings provide valuable guidance for policy-makers in developing management strategies for future environmental changes.

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Quantifying the impacts of climate change and human activities on ecological flow security based on a new framework

Wang,

Cheng,

Bai

et al. 2024

Ecohydrology

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Climate change and human activities combine to alter river hydrology, thereby threatening the health of river ecosystems. Quantifying the impacts of climate change and human activities on ecological flow assurance is essential for water resource management and river ecological protection. However, fewer studies quantify the impacts of climate change and human activities on ecological flow assurance based on a complete set of frameworks. The present study introduces an integrated assessment framework designed to quantify the impacts of climate change and human activities on ecological flow security. The framework includes the following steps: (1) natural river runoff reconstruction utilizing a semi‐distributed hydrological model (SWAT), (2) calculation of the most suitable ecological stream flow of the watershed ecosystem by using the non‐parametric kernel density estimation method, (3) calculation of the safety and security levels under minimum ecological flow and appropriate ecological flow conditions in the watershed and (4) quantification of the influences of climate change and human activities on the security of ecological flow in the watershed through the application of a quantitative attribution method. The impact of climate change and human activities on the ecological flow assurance level was analysed using three hydrological stations in Xiangtan, Hengyang and Laobutou, which are the main tributaries of the Xiangjiang River Basin, as a case study. The findings indicated a substantial decrease in ecological flow assurance levels across the basin during the period of human impact (1991–2019). The quantitative assessment results suggest that human activities predominantly drive the degradation of ecological flow assurance throughout the period of human impact, accounting for 57.05% of the total impact. Extensive gradient reservoir scheduling and anthropogenic water withdrawals were the main factors contributing to the degradation of ecological flow assurance in the study basin. The methodology and findings presented in this study offer insights into the evolutionary characteristics and driving forces behind ecological flow security in a dynamic environment. Furthermore, they establish a scientific foundation for local water resource management and river ecosystem protection.

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Comprehensive evaluation of the ecohydrological response of watersheds under changing environments

Cited by 11 publications

References 66 publications

The ecological–hydrological regime of the Han River basin under changing conditions: The coupled influence of human activities and climate change

The ecological–hydrological regime of the Han River basin under changing conditions: The coupled influence of human activities and climate change

An Analysis of Runoff Variation in a Small Basin in the Loess Plateau: Identifying the Variation Causes and Implications for Sustainable Water Management

Quantifying the impacts of climate change and human activities on ecological flow security based on a new framework

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