Variation of runoff and sediment load and their driving factors on the upper stream of the Yellow River from 1956 to 2017
FAN Junjian1,2,3, ZHAO Guangju1,2,4, MU Xingmin1,2,4, TIAN Peng5, WANG Ruidong6
1. The Research Center of Soil and Water Conservation and Ecological Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Education, 712100, Yangling, Shaanxi, China; 2. Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, 712100, Yangling, Shaanxi, China; 3. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China; 4. Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, 712100, Yangling, Shaanxi, China; 5. College of Resource and Environment, Northwest A&F University, 712100, Yangling, Shaanxi, China; 6. Erdos Hydrological Survey Bureau of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, 017010, Erdos, Inner Mongolia, China
Abstract：[Background] Rivers are the primary agent to provide water resources for sustaining regional economy and society development, and conveyor belts between land and ocean which transports large amount of sediment and nutrients to the oceans. The runoff and sediment load in the Yellow River basin have been dramatically altered by climate change, vegetation restoration, soil and water conservation measures and hydraulic projects during the past decades. Thus, assessing the spatial-temporal variation in runoff and sediment load and their relationship in the upper stream of the Yellow River is desirable, and may provide valuable insights of watershed management and soil and water conservation.[Methods] In this study, the Mann-Kendall test, Sen's slope estimation, and BFAST model were employed to investigate the temporal trends and abrupt changes of the annual runoff and sediment load at 4 hydrological stations (including Tangnaihai, Guide, Xunhua and Lanzhou stations) in the upper stream of the Yellow River from 1956 to 2017. Then the sediment rating curves were applied to analyze the relationship of flow-sediment during different periods, and double mass curves were used to separate the impacts of climate change and human activities on the mean discharge changes and to quantify the drivers of variation of runoff and sediment load.[Results] The annual runoff and sediment load presented decreasing trends from 1956 to 2017 at 4 stations, and decreasing trend in the most stations was significant (P<0.05) except Tangnaihai station. The most dramatic decrease in annual sediment load was observed at Xunhua station. Annual average sediment load at Xunhua station in 2010-2017 accounted for 4% of that in 1956-1968. Abrupt changing points of annual runoff and sediment load occurred in 1968 and 1986, confirming the significant alternation effects of large hydraulic projects. The variation in annual runoff was more moderate, with a maximum reduction of 20%. Compared with annual runoff, annual sediment load showed extraordinarily significant reduction of 70% at Guide, Xunhua and Lanzhou stations from 1987 to 2017. The relationship between monthly runoff and sediment load in the upper stream of the Yellow River changed significantly since 1986, with significant changes in the sediment load capacity and significant reduction in the amount of sediment load. In different periods, human activities contributed > 63% and > 98% to the reduction of runoff and sediment load, respectively.[Conclusions] Human activities are the main driving factor of variation of runoff and sediment load in the upper reaches of the Yellow River basin. This indicates that large-scale soil and water conservation measures and hydraulic projects may effectively trap upstream incoming sediment and regulate the relationship between runoff and sediment load.
范俊健, 赵广举, 穆兴民, 田鹏, 王瑞东. 1956—2017年黄河上游水沙变化及其驱动因素[J]. 中国水土保持科学, 2022, 20(3): 1-9.
FAN Junjian, ZHAO Guangju, MU Xingmin, TIAN Peng, WANG Ruidong. Variation of runoff and sediment load and their driving factors on the upper stream of the Yellow River from 1956 to 2017. SSWC, 2022, 20(3): 1-9.
LI Li, NI Jinren, CHANG Feng, et al. Global trends in water and sediment fluxes of the world's large rivers[J]. Science Bulletin, 2020, 65(1):62.
[2]
赵林,胡国杰,邹德富,等. 青藏高原多年冻土变化对水文过程的影响[J].中国科学院院刊, 2019, 34(11):1233. ZHAO Lin, HU Guojie, ZOU Defu, et al. Permafrost changes and its effects on hydrological processes on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau[J]. Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2019, 34(11):1233.
[3]
JIANG Chong, ZHANG Linbo, TANG Zhipeng. Multi-temporal scale changes of streamflow and sediment discharge in the headwaters of Yellow River and Yangtze River on the Tibetan Plateau, China[J]. Ecological Engineering, 2017, (26)102:240.
[4]
刘昌明,魏豪杉,张永强,等. 黄河干流径流变化归因分析与有关问题商榷[J]. 人民黄河,2021,43(10):1. LIU Changming, WEI Haoshan, ZHANG Yongqiang, et al. Analysis on the attribution of runoff changes in the mainstream of the Yellow River and discussion on related issues[J]. Yellow River, 2021, 43(10):1.
[5]
杨大文,杨雨亭,高光耀,等. 黄河流域水循环规律与水土过程耦合效应[J]. 中国科学基金, 2021, 35(4):544. YANG Dawen, YANG Yuting, GAO Guangyao, et al. Water cycle and soil-water coupling processes in the Yellow River Basin[J]. Bulletin of National Natural Science Foundation of China, 2021, 35(4):544.
[6]
李勃,穆兴民,高鹏,等. 1956-2017年黄河干流径流量时空变化新特征[J]. 水土保持研究,2019, 26(6):120. LI Bo, MU Xingmin, GAO Peng, et al. New characteristics of temporal and spatial changes of runoff in the mainstream of Yellow River from 1956 to 2017[J]. Research of Soil and Water Conservation, 2019, 26(6):120.
[7]
赵阳,胡春宏,张晓明,等. 近70年黄河流域水沙情势及其成因分析[J]. 农业工程学报, 2018,34(21):112. ZHAO Yang, HU Chunhong, ZHANG Xiaoming, et al. Analysis on runoff and sediment regimes and its causes of the Yellow River in recent 70 years[J]. Transactions of the CSAE, 2018, 34(21):112.
[8]
LIU Yu, SONG Huiming, AN Zhisheng, et al. Recent anthropogenic curtailing of Yellow River runoff and sediment load is unprecedented over the past 500 years[J]. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2020, 117(31):18251.
[9]
穆兴民,胡春宏,高鹏,等. 黄河输沙量研究的几个关键问题与思考[J]. 人民黄河, 2017, 39(8):1. MU Xingmin, HU Chunhong, GAO Peng, et al. Key issues and reflections of research on sediment flux of the Yellow River[J]. Yellow River, 2017, 39(8):1.
[10]
冯家豪,赵广举,穆兴民,等. 黄河中游区间干支流径流变化特征与归因分析[J]. 水力发电学报, 2020, 39(8):90. FENG Jiahao, ZHAO Guangju, MU Xingmin, et al. Analysis on runoff regime in middle Yellow River and its driving factors[J]. Journal of Hydroelectric Engineering, 2020, 39(8):90.
[11]
ZHAO Guangju, MU Xingmin, JIAO Juying, et al. Evidence and causes of spatiotemporal changes in runoff and sediment yield on the Chinese Loess Plateau[J]. Land Degradation & Development, 2017, 28(2):579.
[12]
MANN H B. Nonparametric tests against trend[J]. Econometrica, 1945, 13(3):245.
[13]
KENDALL M G. Rank correlation methods[J]. British Journal of Psychology, 1955, 25(1):86.
[14]
GOCIC M, TRAJKOVIC S. Analysis of changes in meteorological variables using Mann-Kendall and Sen's slope estimator statistical tests in Serbia[J]. Global and Planetary Change, 2013, 100(1):172.
[15]
穆兴民,张秀勤,高鹏,等. 双累积曲线方法理论及在水文气象领域应用中应注意的问题[J]. 水文, 2010, 30(4):47. MU Xingmin, ZHANG Xiuqin, GAO Peng, et al. Theory of double mass curves and its applications in hydrology and meteorology[J]. Journal of China Hydrology, 2010, 30(4):47.
[16]
VERBESSELT J, HYNDMAN R, NEWNHAM G, et al. Detecting trend and seasonal changes in satellite image time series[J]. Remote Sensing of Environment, 2010, 114(1):106.
[17]
CRAWFORD C G. Estimation of suspended-sediment rating curves and mean suspended-sediment loads[J]. Journal of Hydrology, 1991, 129(1):331.
[18]
OUYANG Wei, HAO Fanghua, SONG Kaiyu, et al. Cascade dam-induced hydrological disturbance and environmental impact in the upper stream of the Yellow River[J]. Water Resources Management, 2011, 25(3):913.
[19]
马红斌,李晶晶,何兴照,等. 黄土高原水平梯田现状及减沙作用分析[J]. 人民黄河, 2015, 37(2):89. MA Hongbin, LI Jingjing, HE Xingzhao, et al. The status and sediment reduction effects of level terrace in the Loess Plateau[J]. Yellow River, 2015, 37(2):89.
[20]
李景宗,刘立斌. 近期黄河潼关以上地区淤地坝拦沙量初步分析[J]. 人民黄河, 2018, 40(1):1. LI Jingzong, LIU Libin. Analysis on the sediment retaining amount by warping dams above Tongguan section of the Yellow River in recent years[J]. Yellow River, 2018, 40(1):1.
[21]
马柱国,符淙斌,周天军,等. 黄河流域气候与水文变化的现状及思考[J]. 中国科学院院刊, 2020, 35(1):52. MA Zhuguo, FU Congbin, ZHOU Tianjun, et al. Status and ponder of climate and hydrology changes in the Yellow River Basin[J]. Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2020, 35(1):52.
[22]
姚文艺,侯素珍,丁赟. 龙羊峡、刘家峡水库运用对黄河上游水沙关系的调控机制[J]. 水科学进展, 2017, 28(1):1. YAO Wenyi, HOU Suzhen, DING Yun. Effects on flow and sediment in the upper Yellow River by operation of Longyangxia Reservoir and Liujiaxia Reservoir[J]. Advances in Water Science, 2017, 28(1):1.
[23]
高云飞,刘晓燕,韩向楠. 黄土高原梯田运用对流域产沙的影响规律及阈值[J]. 应用基础与工程科学学报, 2020, 28(3):535. GAO Yunfei, LIU Xiaoyan, HAN Xiangnan. Impact of the terraces on sediment yield and its thresholds on the Loess Plateau[J]. Journal of Basic Science and Engineering, 2020, 28(3):535.
2022, Vol. 20 
