Initiatives to clarify mechanisms of hydrological evolution in human-influenced Yellow River Basin

• Published in: Water Science and Engineering Vol. 16; no. 2; pp. 117 - 121
• Main Authors: Ren, Li-liang, Yuan, Shan-shui, Yang, Xiao-li, Jiang, Shan-hu, Li, Gui-bao, Zhu, Qiu-an, Fang, Xiu-qin, Liu, Yi, Yan, Yi-qi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.06.2023; Yangtze Institute for Conservation and Development,Hohai University,Nanjing 210098,China%College of Hydrology and Water Resources,Hohai University,Nanjing 210098,China%Chinese Hydraulic Engineering Society,Beijing 100053,China%Hydrology Bureau,Yellow River Conservancy Commission,Ministry of Water Resources,Zhengzhou 450003,China; College of Hydrology and Water Resources,Hohai University,Nanjing 210098,China%State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering,Hohai University,Nanjing 210098,China; State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering,Hohai University,Nanjing 210098,China
• Subjects: Climate change; Human activities; Hydrological evolution; Runoff change; Yellow River Basin; Human activities; Yellow River Basin; Climate change; Hydrological evolution; Runoff change
• ISSN: 1674-2370
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wse.2023.01.001

Significant changes in water cycle elements/processes have created serious challenges to regional sustainability and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin in China. It is necessary to investigate the impacts of climate change and human activities on hydrological evolution and disaster risk from a holistic perspective of the basin. This study developed initiatives to clarify the mechanisms of hydrological evolution in the human-influenced Yellow River Basin. The proposed research method includes: (1) a tool to simulate multiple factors and a multi-scale water cycle using a grid-based spatiotemporal coupling approach, and (2) a new algorithm to separate the responses of the water cycle to climate change and human impacts, and de-couple the eco-environmental effects using artificial intelligence techniques. With this research framework, key breakthroughs are expected to be made in the understanding of the impacts of land cover change on the water cycle and blue/green water re-direction. The outcomes of this research project are expected to provide theoretical support for ecological protection and water governance in the basin.