| Title: | Effects of human activities on hydrological components in the Yiluo River Basin in Middle Yellow River |
| Authors: | Wang, X., P. Zhang, L. Liu, D. Li and Y. Wang |
| Year: | 2019 |
| Journal: | Water |
| Volume (Issue): | 11(4) |
| Pages: | |
| Article ID: | 689 |
| DOI: | 10.3390/w11040689 |
| URL (non-DOI journals): | |
| Model: | SWAT |
| Broad Application Category: | hydrologic only |
| Primary Application Category: | land use change |
| Secondary Application Category: | hydrologic assessment |
| Watershed Description: | 18,563 km^2 Yiluo River, which is a tributary of the Yellow River which drains portions of Shaanxi and Henan Provinces in north central China. |
| Calibration Summary: | |
| Validation Summary: | |
| General Comments: | |
| 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. |
| Language: | English |
| Keywords: | changes in hydrological components; effects of human activities; LUCC; WRUBAP;
Yiluo River |