Relative Contribution of the Xiaolangdi Dam to Runoff Changes in the Lower Yellow River

Abstract

Human activities are increasingly recognized as having a critical influence on hydrological processes under the warming of the climate, particularly for dam-regulated rivers. To ensure the sustainable management of water resources, it is important to evaluate how dam construction may affect surface runoff. In this study, using Mann–Kendall tests, the double mass curve method, and the Budyko-based elasticity method, the effects of climate change and human activities on annual and seasonal runoff were quantified for the Yellow River basin from 1961–2018; additionally, effects on runoff were assessed after the construction of the Xiaolangdi Dam (XLD, started operation in 2001) on the Yellow River. Both annual and seasonal runoff decreased over time (p < 0.01), due to the combined effects of climate change and human activities. Abrupt changes in annual, flood season, and non-flood season runoff occurred in 1986, 1989, and 1986, respectively. However, no abrupt changes were seen after the construction of the XLD. Human activities accounted for much of the reduction in runoff, approximately 75–72% annually, 81–86% for the flood season, and 86–90% for the non-flood season. Climate change approximately accounted for the remainder: 18–25% (annually), 14–19% (flood season), and 10–14% (non-flood season). The XLD construction mitigated runoff increases induced by heightened precipitation and reduced potential evapotranspiration during the post-dam period; the XLD accounted for approximately 52% of the runoff reduction both annually and in the non-flood season, and accounted for approximately −32% of the runoff increase in the flood season. In conclusion, this study provides a basic understanding of how dam construction contributes to runoff changes in the context of climate change; this information will be beneficial for the sustainable management of water resources in regulated rivers.

InVEST model analysis of the impacts of land use change on landscape pattern and habitat quality in the Xiaolangdi Reservoir area of the Yellow River basin, China

“…The reservoir watershed covers 5943 km 2 (Figure 1), including six county-level cities in Henan Province (e.g., Mengjin, Jiyuan, Mianchi, Xinan, Shanzhou and Hubin) and eight county-level cities in Shanxi Province (e.g., Yuanqu, Xiaxian, Pinglu, Wenxi, Jiangxian, Yicheng, Yangcheng and Qinshui). This area has a temperate continental monsoon climate, with a mean annual temperature of 12.4-14.3 C, mean annual rainfall of 1300-1600 mm, and mean annual humidity of 62% (Zhao et al, 2021).…”

“…Xiaolangdi Reservoir, which has a large storage capacity in the middle reaches of the Yellow River in China, is a large‐scale comprehensive water conservancy project integrating sediment reduction, flood control, ice prevention, water supply and irrigation, and power generation (Zhao et al, 2021). The Xiaolangdi Reservoir area in China (XRAC) is in the southeastern part of the Loess Plateau, belonging to the loess hilly area.…”

Assessment of upbasin dam impacts on streamflow at Chiang Saen gauging station during the period 1960–2020 in the context of statistical studies

“…Hydropower dam development has been booming in many Asian countries. Although dams have played an essential role in storing and maintaining water resources required to sustain civilization throughout history (Zhao et al, 2021), they have also had many negative effects on both the environment and on humans, such as changes to the habitats of aquatic organisms, degradation of water quality, imbalances in water resources downstream and reductions in ecological diversity (Guo et al, 2020; Song et al, 2020; Tang & Wang, 2021). Therefore, the evaluation and forecasting of the hydrological impacts of dams are essential for the sustainable and integrated management of water resources.…”

Dam Siting: A Review

“…Water is a basic human need [1], playing important roles in facilitating geophysical cycles [2], regulating microclimates and runoff cycles [3][4][5], and sustaining the life activities of the Earth's organisms [6,7]. Dams, on the other hand, regulate the hydrological environment of small areas at a small scale [8].…”