%0 Journal Article
%T The causes of flow regime shifts in the semi-arid Hailiutu River, Northwest China
%A Z. Yang
%A Y. X. Zhou
%A J. Wenninger
%A S. Uhlenbrook
%J Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Discussions
%D 2011
%I Copernicus Publications
%R 10.5194/hessd-8-5999-2011
%X Identifying the causes (climate vs. human activities) for hydrological variability is a major challenge in hydrology. This paper examines the flow regime shifts, changes in the climatic variables such as precipitation, evaporation, temperature, and crop area in the semi-arid Hailiutu catchment in the middle section of the Yellow River by performing several statistical analyses. The Pettitt test, cumulative sum charts (CUSUM), regime shift index (RSI) method, and harmonic analysis were carried out on annual, monthly, and daily discharges. Four major shifts in the flow regime have been detected in 1968, 1986, 1992 and 2001. Characteristics of the flow regime were analyzed in the five periods: 1957每1967, 1968每1985, 1986每1991, 1992每2000, and 2001每2007. From 1957 to 1967, the flow regime reflects quasi natural conditions with high variability and larger amplitude of 6 months periodic fluctuations. The river flow had been affected by the construction of two reservoirs in the period 1968每1985. In the period of 1986每1991, the river discharge decreased due to the combined influence of river diversions and increase of groundwater extractions for irrigation. In the fourth period of 1992每2000, the river discharge reached lowest flow values and variations corresponding to a large increase in crop area. The flow regime recovered, but not yet to natural status in the fifth period of 2001每2007. Climatic factors are not responsible for all these changes in the flow regime, but the changes are corresponding well to human activities.
%U http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci-discuss.net/8/5999/2011/hessd-8-5999-2011.pdf