Trend and attribution analysis of water and sediment variations in sandy rivers

Abstract

Human activities and climate change have led to significant changes in the flow and sediment of sandy rivers in northern China. The key work to reveal the changes of river water and sediment conditions is to quantitatively study the changes of precipitation, water and soil conservation in river basins, and the effect of reservoirs on sediment containment. Taking the Yongding River as a case study, we analyze the changing trend of the water and sediment into the Yongding River and find that their amount has greatly decreased. In particular, the sediment yield has decreased by more than 90% and its trend has changed, and the turning point occurred in the 1980s. Based on the statistical data analysis model, the influences of human activities on the sediment inflow of the Guanting Reservoir were quantitatively evaluated. The results show that sand retention of the upper cascade reservoirs is the main reason for the sharp reduction in sediment loads, but the sand retention effect of reservoirs has a certain time limit. Water and soil conservation played a vital role in the sediment loads reduction during the present stage. The present studies may provide insights into understanding the integrated reclamation of the river basin. HIGHLIGHTS Influences evaluation of human activities on water and sediment transport.; Reservoir regulation Influences were found evident only before sedimentation balance.; Erosion and torrent control works were found as the principal cause of recent hydrological variations.; Time-effect of different factors on hydrological changes was evaluated.; Ecological restoration was considered as a sustainable sediment reduction measure.;

Keywords

• attribution analysis
• changing trend
• sediment retention
• water and soil conservation
• yongding river