Impact of climate change and anthropogenic activities on stream flow and sediment discharge in the Wei River basin, China

作者：Peng Gao, Violette Geissen, C.J. Ritsema, Xingmin Mu, Fengjiao Wang · 年份：2012 · DOI：10.5194/hessd-9-3933-2012 · 被引用次数：8 · 研究领域：Hydrology and Watershed Management Studies、Flood Risk Assessment and Management、Hydrology and Sediment Transport Processes

Abstract. Reduced stream flow and increased sediment discharge are a major concern in the Yellow River basin of China which supplies water for agriculture, industry and the growing populations located along the river. Similar concerns exist in the Wei River basin which is the largest tributary of the Yellow River basin and comprises the highly eroded Loess Plateau. Better understanding of the drivers of stream flow and sediment discharge dynamics in the Wei River basin is needed for development of effective management strategies for the region and entire Yellow River basin. In this regard we analysed long term trends for water and sediment discharge during the flood season in the Wei River basin, China. Stream flow and sediment discharge data for 1932 to 2008 from existing hydrological stations located in two sub-catchments and at two points in the Wei River were analysed. Precipitation data were analysed from corresponding meteorological stations. We identified change points or transition years for the trends by the Pettitt method and, using double mass curves, we diagnosed whether they were caused by precipitation changes, human intervention, or both. We found significant decreasing trends for stream flow and sediment discharge during the flood season in both sub-catchments and in the Wei River itself. Change-point analyses further revealed that transition years existed and that rapid decline in stream flow began in 1968 (P<0.01), and that sediment discharge began in 198...