Managing the Yellow River: continuity and change.

Abstract

This chapter elucidate the contemporary relevance and importance of the Yellow River (China) by exploring the trajectory of its historical development. This historical trajectory includes the trends over time in the physical development of the river's water resources, including traditional river-control practices. Just as importantly, it also includes the evolution of traditional values and symbols related to water and the river. As a result, this chapter devotes substantial space to understanding the relevance of historic cultural antecedents to current issues. The physical and cultural aspects together help explain contemporary approaches to hydraulic management of the Yellow River basin and the options that Chinese society and basin managers have for the future.

Effects of grain size distribution on mineralogical and chemical compositions: a case study from size‐fractional sediments of the Huanghe (Yellow River) and Changjiang (Yangtze River)

“…The distribution of precipitation in the Huanghe basin is very uneven spatially and temporally with a mean yearly rainfall of 467 mm (IRTCES, ). The western‐most regions of the upper reach contribute about 56% of the entire river's water discharge, which results from low evaporation and high moisture retention (Pietz and Giordano, ). The middle portion of the stream from Hekouzhen to Taohuayu in Zhengzhou City covers 46% of the basin area and provides almost the entire sediment load as a result of the erosion of the Loess Plateau (Pietz and Giordano, ).…”

“…The western‐most regions of the upper reach contribute about 56% of the entire river's water discharge, which results from low evaporation and high moisture retention (Pietz and Giordano, ). The middle portion of the stream from Hekouzhen to Taohuayu in Zhengzhou City covers 46% of the basin area and provides almost the entire sediment load as a result of the erosion of the Loess Plateau (Pietz and Giordano, ). Approximately 70% of ground surface of the Loess Plateau is covered by Quaternary loess, laterite soil, weathered base rock, and other unconsolidated materials (IRTCES, ).…”

Palaeolake isolation and biogeographical process of freshwater fishes in the Yellow River

“…The Yellow River is often described as the cradle of Chinese civilization. As well as providing water for more than 155 million people and 15% of China's farmland, the river has been heavily blamed for unplanned intensive water utilization in recent years, including hydroelectric power, agriculture, industry, consequent pollution and invasion of alien species [ 64 ]. Since 1972, it has often run dry before reaching into the sea because of the decrease in rainfall and the corresponding increased use of the water resource [ 65 ].…”