Effects of Human Activities on Hydrological Components in the Yiluo River Basin in Middle Yellow River

Xiujie Wang,Yanpeng Wang,Dandan Li,Pengfei Zhang,Lüliu Liu

doi:10.3390/w11040689

Xiujie Wang, Yanpeng Wang + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/w11040689

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Journal: Water	Publication Date: Apr 3, 2019
Citations: 21	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Tianjin University, China Meteorological Administration

Abstract

Land use and land cover change (LUCC) and water resource utilization behavior and policy (WRUBAP) affect the hydrological cycle in different ways. Their effects on streamﬂow and hydrological balance components were analyzed in the Yiluo River Basin using the delta method and the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). The multivariable (runoff and actual evapotranspiration) calibration and validation method was used to reduce model uncertainty. LUCC impact on hydrological balance components (1976–2015) was evaluated through comparison of simulated paired land use scenarios. WRUBAP impact on runoff was assessed by comparing natural (simulated) and observed runoff. It showed that urban area reduction led to decreased groundwater, but increased surface runoff and increased water area led to increased evaporation. LUCC impact on annual runoff was found limited; for instance, the difference under the paired scenarios was <1 mm. Observed runoff was 34.7–144.1% greater than natural runoff during November–June because of WRUBAP. The effect of WRUBAP on wet season runoff regulation was limited before the completion of the Guxian Reservoir, whereas WRUBAP caused a reduction in natural runoff of 21.6–35.0% during the wet season (July–October) after its completion. The results suggest that WRUBAP has greater influence than LUCC on runoff in the Yiluo River Basin. Based on existing drought mitigation measures, interbasin water transfer measures and deep groundwater exploitation could reduce the potential for drought attributable to predicted future climate extremes. In addition to reservoir regulation, conversion of farmland to forestry in the upstream watershed could also reduce flood risk.

Highlights

The climate and human activities are two factors that can affect the hydrological cycle in different ways
The results suggest that water resource utilization behavior and policy (WRUBAP) has greater influence than LUCC on runoff in the Yiluo River Basin
The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model and the MCVM were used to assess the impact of human activities (LUCC and WRUBAP) on the catchment hydrology of the Yiluo River Basin during 1976–2015

Summary

Introduction

The climate and human activities are two factors that can affect the hydrological cycle in different ways. Climate change alters hydrological systems by inducing both spatiotemporal variations of regional precipitation and changes in temperature [1,2,3]. With recent developments of society and technology, human activities have gradually increased and their consequential impacts on the hydrological cycle on different spatiotemporal scales, such as river basins, have become widely recognized. Numerous studies have shown that LUCC can have considerable impact on watershed hydrology in terms of water quantity and water quality. Changes in surface albedo, surface aerodynamic roughness, leaf area, and rooting depth caused by changing land use can influence the hydrological cycle via different processes. Land use conflicts have impacts on concentration or yield of nitrates, phosphorus, and sulphates, etc. in both surface water and ground water [10,11,12]

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