Impact of Land Use Change on Runoff of Taihu Basin
太湖流域土地利用变化对流域产水量的影响

Taihu Basin is one of the most developed regions in China and its land use has withnessed great changes in recent 20 years. Based on land use survey (1986, 1996) and land use planning (2010) data, land use characteristics are analyzed in this paper. Runoff of 1986, 1996 and 2010 was calculated using precipitation pattern from May to September of 1991. It is found out: The land use changed greatly in the Taihu Basin during 1986-1996. Cultivated land decreased by 3 385 km2 and construction area increased by 2 460 km2. Land use will go on changing to 2010, but the change will be little. Spatial distribution of land use is different in the Taihu Basin. With higher per capita GDP and dense population, land use changes greater than other regions. Land use changes have increased runoff of precipitation greatly. Compared to 1986, runoff increased by 10×108 m3 in 1996 if 1991 precipitation was used. It will increase by 12×108 m3 in 2010 compared to 1986. The upper reaches have more runoff increase than the lower reaches. These calculated results are corresponding with high water levels of the Taihu Lake in the 1990s.