Both the time series analysis method and hydrological modeling approach are integrated to analyze the streamflow response to climate variability and human activities in the Bai River basin, northern China using data from 1986 to 1998 in this study. Also, the quantification and separation of effects from climate variability and human activities is investigated. First, the Fu formula based on Budyko hypothesis was applied to explore the integrated underlying surface characteristics in the whole basin, and then the SIMHYD model was calibrated and validated using the data from 1986 to 1990 (pre-treatment period). The calibrated model was then used to simulate streamflow in the period 1991 to 1998 (testing period) and obtain quantitative assessment on the impacts of climate variability and human activities. The difference of observed streamflows between the pre-treatment period and the testing period reflects the combined influence of climate variability and human activities in the basin, while the difference between simulated and observed streamflow during the testing period reflects the impact of human activities in the catchment. The results show that the contribution rate of climate to the streamflow change in the basin is 37.5 and 62.5% for human activities. Human activities exerted a dominant influence upon streamflow change in the Bai River basin.
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Research Article|
October 26 2012
The impacts of climate variability and human activities on streamflow in Bai River basin, northern China
Chesheng Zhan;
Chesheng Zhan
1Key Laboratory of Water Cycle and Related Land Surface Processes, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing 100101, China
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Cunwen Niu;
Cunwen Niu
2State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China
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Xiaomeng Song;
3State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute, Nanjing 210029, China
E-mail: xmsong.cn@gmail.com
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Chongyu Xu
Chongyu Xu
4Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo, Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway
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Hydrology Research (2013) 44 (5): 875–885.
Article history
Received:
October 23 2011
Accepted:
April 12 2012
Citation
Chesheng Zhan, Cunwen Niu, Xiaomeng Song, Chongyu Xu; The impacts of climate variability and human activities on streamflow in Bai River basin, northern China. Hydrology Research 1 October 2013; 44 (5): 875–885. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/nh.2012.146
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