Stepwise decreases of the Huanghe (Yellow River) sediment load (1950–2005): Impacts of climate change and human activities

Wang, Houjie; Yang, Zuosheng; Saito, Yoshiki; Liu, Paul; Sun, Xiaoxia; Wang, Yan

doi:10.1016/j.gloplacha.2007.01.003

Cited by 667 publications

(402 citation statements)

References 30 publications

(80 reference statements)

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“…In addition, growth of vegetation and crops is sensitive to changes in temperature and precipitation (Zhang and Nearing, 2005;Asseng et al, 2014). Previous studies have revealed that the observed decreases in runoff and sediment loss from the Loess Plateau to the Yellow River are partly due to a decrease in precipitation over the Loess Plateau (Wang et al, 2007;Miao et al, 2011;Kong et al, 2015). The planting boundary of some crops would move northward to higher latitudes and some plants may grow at higher altitudes owing to the climate warming .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temperature and precipitation changes over the Loess Plateau between 1961 and 2011, based on high-density gauge observations

Sun

Miao

Duan

et al. 2015

Global and Planetary Change

106

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a b s t r a c t a r t i c l e i n f oThe Loess Plateau has the most serious soil erosion in China and is the main source of sediment in the Yellow River. In this study, we systematically analyzed the changes in the mean and extreme values for temperature and precipitation over the Loess Plateau between 1961 and 2011, using a gridded dataset with high-density gauge data. Statistically significant positive trends (p b 0.05) in the mean, maximum, and minimum temperature values (TM, TX, and TN) were identified in almost all regions. Warming rates increased from the southeast to the northwest of the Loess Plateau for both TM and TN; however, for TX, the greatest warming increases were observed in the southeast region. We also found general decreases in the diurnal temperature range and the number of cold nights and cold days, and increases in the length of the growing season and the number of warm days and warm nights. Moreover, relatively intense changes occurred in the high percentile ranges for both TX and TN. The total amount of precipitation on wet days decreased over a large area of the Loess Plateau, particularly in the southeast region. The inequality in the spread of precipitation over the year (temporal inequality) increased extensively over the past fifty years in the wet region. Approximately 37.60% of the total area with a reduced amount of precipitation had concurrent decreases in both the frequency and intensity of rainfall. However, approximately 37.20% of the area with a reduced amount of precipitation had decreases in the frequency but increases in the intensity of rainfall. The proportion of days with light or moderate precipitation was decreased in the wet region which mainly located in the southwest of the Loess Plateau, but there were only minor changes in extreme precipitation events. Overall, when both temperature and precipitation changes were combined, we observed that the southwest of the Loess Plateau has undergone the largest degree of climate change. Consequently, both the ecological environment and local agriculture on the Loess Plateau will suffer increased challenges: the decline in water availability will lead to more frequent droughts, yet the risk of flood and soil erosion from extreme precipitation events will not be reduced.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temperature and precipitation changes over the Loess Plateau between 1961 and 2011, based on high-density gauge observations

Sun

Miao

Duan

et al. 2015

Global and Planetary Change

106

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“…These two reservoirs are effective in protecting the Lower Yellow River and offer an excellent example of the consequences of reservoir sedimentation, sediment management strategies, and potential solutions to critical sedimentation problems (Jiang et al 2004;Wang et al 2005;Zhou and Zhang 2012). Over the past 58 years, from 1950 to 2007, the sediment trapping by the Sanmenxia and Xiaolangdi reservoirs accounts for 30 % of the total amount of reduction in the upper, middle, and lower reaches of the Yellow River basin (Peng et al 2010;Wang et al 2007). The praxis of sustainable water dispatching has also resulted in significant economic and social benefits (He et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of heavy metal contamination in the sediments from the Yellow River Wetland National Nature Reserve (the Sanmenxia section), China

Cheng

Wang

Huang

et al. 2015

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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The Yellow River Wetland National Nature Reserve (the Sanmenxia section) is an important area of the Yellow River for two important hydrologic gauging stations: the Sanmenxia reservoir and the Xiaolangdi reservoir. Seven sites along the section were selected: Jiziling, Dinghuwan, Houdi, Canglonghu, Shangcun, Wangguan, and Nancun. After the microwave digestion with aqua regia, concentrations of Cu, Pb, Cd, Cr, Zn, and Mn in the sediments were analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry with air-acetylene flame. The results showed that all the concentrations of Cr detected were from the lithogenic source, and 63 % Mn, 48 % Pb, 41 % Cu, 20 % Cd, and 12 % Zn were from the anthropogenic source. The values of the index of geoaccumulation pointed out that there was moderate contamination of Mn at the Dinghuwan (1.04) and Houdi (1.00) sites (class 2), while the modified degree of contamination denoted that the contamination at the Houdi site (2.02) was moderate, nil to very low at the Nancun and Shangcun sites and low at the other sites, consisting with the tendency of pollution load index. For metal toxicity, the sediment pollution index indicated that the sediments of the Canglonghu site were low polluted, that of the Houdi site is nearly slightly contaminated, and those of others were natural and uncontaminated. It was vital to evaluate the degree of contamination with individual and overall elements and even with the metal toxicity. Cu, Pb, and Mn contaminations were aggravated in the Sanmenxia section, and there maybe was one of the main anthropogenic sources of these metals along the Yellow River. The findings were expected to update the current status of the heavy metal pollution in the Sanmenxia section as well as to create awareness concerning the sound condition of the whole reaches of the Yellow River.

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“…With the sequential construction and operation of Liujiaxia (1968), Longyangxia (1985 and Xiaolangdi (1997) Dams on the upper and lower Yellow River, five major changes in the channel-form parameters can be identified at Huayuankou Station. Those initiated in 1960Those initiated in , 1964Those initiated in and 1973 can be attributed to changes in the operational modes of Sanmenxia Dam, whereas those during 1986-1996 appear to have been induced by a combination of climate change (Xu, 2005), water extraction (Xu, 2005;Wang et al, 2007b) and the joint operational procedures of the newer Longyangxia Dam with the older Sanmenxia Dam. The operation of Xiaolangdi Dam has been the main factor affecting channel adjustment since 1997.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The temporal changes of annual runoff and annual suspended sediment load in the Yellow River have been of concern in recent years because of its importance in irrigation and domestic use (Xu and Sun, 2003;Xu, 2005;Wang et al, 2007b). Temporal variations of mean annual flow discharge and mean annual sediment concentration have been examined in this reach at Huayuankou Station.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Channel adjustments in response to the operation of large dams: The upper reach of the lower Yellow River

et al. 2012

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The Yellow River in China carries an extremely large sediment load. River channel-form and lateral shifting in a dynamic, partly meandering and partly braided reach of the lower Yellow River, have been significantly influenced by construction of Sanmenxia Dam in 1960, Liujiaxia Dam in 1968, Longyangxia Dam in 1985 and Xiaolangdi Dam in 1997 Using observations from Huayuankou Station, 128 km downstream of Xiaolangdi Dam, this study examines changes in the river before and after construction of the dams. The temporal changes in the mean annual flow discharge and mean annual suspended sediment concentration have been strongly influenced by operation of theses dams. Observations of sediment transport coefficient (ratio of sediment concentration to flow discharge), at-a-station hydraulic geometry and bankfull channel form observed from 1951 to 2006 have shown that, although variations in flow and sediment load correspond to different periods of dam operation, changes in channel form are not entirely synchronous with these. The channel has been subject to substantial deposition due to the flushing of sediment from Sanmenxia Dam, resulting in a marked reduction in bankfull cross-sectional area. Flows below bankfull had a greater impact on channel form than higher flows because of very high sediment load. At-a-station hydraulic geometry shows that the variation of channel cross-sectional area below bankfull in this wide and relatively shallow system largely depends on changes in width. Such at-a-station changes are significantly influenced by (1) events below bankfull and (2) overbank floods. Bankfull depth is the main component of channel adjustment in that depth adjusts synchronously with channel area. The channel adjusts its size by relatively uniform changes in depth and width since 1981. Channel morphology is not the product of single channelforming flow frequency. It is determined by the combination of relatively low flows that play an important role in fine sediment transport and bed configuration as with relatively high flows that are effective at modifying the channel's morphology. The sediment transport coefficient is a useful index for efficiently guiding the operation of the dams in a way that would minimize channel changes downstream. Sedimentation over the nearly 60 years of study period caused the lower Yellow River to aggrade progressively, the only significant exception being the two years following completion of Sanmenxia Dam.

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Stepwise decreases of the Huanghe (Yellow River) sediment load (1950–2005): Impacts of climate change and human activities

Cited by 667 publications

References 30 publications

Temperature and precipitation changes over the Loess Plateau between 1961 and 2011, based on high-density gauge observations

Temperature and precipitation changes over the Loess Plateau between 1961 and 2011, based on high-density gauge observations

Assessment of heavy metal contamination in the sediments from the Yellow River Wetland National Nature Reserve (the Sanmenxia section), China

Channel adjustments in response to the operation of large dams: The upper reach of the lower Yellow River

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