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Analysis of Water and Sediment Changes at Different Spatial Scales and Their Attribution in the Huangfuchuan River Basin

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  • Yan Li

    (College of Desert Control Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China)

  • Fucang Qin

    (College of Desert Control Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China
    Inner Mongolia Academy of Forestry Sciences, Hohhot 010010, China
    Key Laboratory of Desert Ecosystem Conservation and Restoration, State Forestry and Grassland Administration of China, Hohhot 010018, China)

  • Long Li

    (College of Desert Control Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China
    Key Laboratory of Desert Ecosystem Conservation and Restoration, State Forestry and Grassland Administration of China, Hohhot 010018, China)

  • Xiaoyu Dong

    (College of Desert Control Science and Engineering, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China)

Abstract

Water–sediment evolution and attribution analysis in watersheds is one of the research focuses of hydrogeology. An in-depth investigation into the spatiotemporal variation of water and sediment at multiple spatial scales within the basin, along with a systematic assessment of the respective impacts of climate change and human activities, provides a scientific foundation for formulating effective soil and water conservation practices and integrated water resource management strategies. This research holds significant implications for the sustainable development and ecological management of the basin. In this study, the Mann–Kendall nonparametric test method, double cumulative curve method, cumulative anomaly method, and cumulative slope change rate analysis method were used to quantitatively study the effects of climate change and human activities on runoff and sediment load changes at different spatial scales in the Huangfuchuan River basin. The results show that (1) from 1966 to 2020, the annual runoff and annual sediment load discharge in the Huangfuchuan River basin showed a significant decreasing trend. Among them, the reduction in runoff and sediment in the control sub-basin of Shagedu Station in the upper reaches was more obvious than that in the whole basin. The mutation points of runoff and sediment load in the two basins were 1979 and 1998. The water–sediment relationship exhibits a power function pattern. (2) After the abrupt change, in the change period B (1980–1997), the contribution rates of climate change and human activities to runoff and sediment load reduction in the Huangfuchuan River basin were 24.12%, 75.88% and 20.05%, 79.95%, respectively. In the change period C (1998–2020), the contribution rates of the two factors to the runoff and sediment load reduction in the Huangfuchuan River basin were 18.91%, 81.09% and 15.61%, 84.39%, respectively. Among them, the influence of precipitation in the upper reaches of the Huangfuchuan River basin on the change in runoff and sediment load is higher than that of the whole basin, and the influence on the decrease of sediment load discharge is more significant before 1998. There are certain stage differences and spatial scale effects. (3) Human activities such as large-scale vegetation restoration and construction of silt dam engineering measures are the main reasons for the reduction in runoff and sediment load in the Huangfuchuan River basin and have played a greater role after 1998.

Suggested Citation

  • Yan Li & Fucang Qin & Long Li & Xiaoyu Dong, 2025. "Analysis of Water and Sediment Changes at Different Spatial Scales and Their Attribution in the Huangfuchuan River Basin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-26, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:10:p:4389-:d:1654077
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Guangxing Ji & Junchang Huang & Yulong Guo & Dan Yan, 2022. "Quantitatively Calculating the Contribution of Vegetation Variation to Runoff in the Middle Reaches of Yellow River Using an Adjusted Budyko Formula," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-12, April.
    2. Jingwei Yao & Zhanbin Li & Wenyi Yao & Peiqing Xiao & Pan Zhang & Mengyao Xie & Jingshu Wang & Shasha Mei, 2023. "The Compound Response Relationship between Hydro-Sedimentary Variations and Dominant Driving Factors: A Case Study of the Huangfuchuan basin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-20, September.
    3. I. Masih & S. Uhlenbrook & S. Maskey & V. Smakhtin, 2011. "Streamflow trends and climate linkages in the Zagros Mountains, Iran," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 104(2), pages 317-338, January.
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