Assessment of climate change impact and difference on the river runoff in four basins in China under 1.5 and 2.0 °C global warming

<p>To quantify climate change impact and difference on basin-scale river runoff under the limiting global warming thresholds of 1.5 and 2.0&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span>C, this study examined four river basins covering a wide hydr...

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Main Authors: H. Xu, L. Liu, Y. Wang, S. Wang, Y. Hao, J. Ma, T. Jiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2019-10-01
Series:Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
Online Access:https://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/23/4219/2019/hess-23-4219-2019.pdf
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author H. Xu
L. Liu
Y. Wang
S. Wang
Y. Hao
J. Ma
T. Jiang
author_facet H. Xu
L. Liu
Y. Wang
S. Wang
Y. Hao
J. Ma
T. Jiang
author_sort H. Xu
collection DOAJ
description <p>To quantify climate change impact and difference on basin-scale river runoff under the limiting global warming thresholds of 1.5 and 2.0&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span>C, this study examined four river basins covering a wide hydroclimatic setting. We analyzed projected climate change in four basins, quantified climate change impact on annual and seasonal runoff based on the Soil Water Assessment Tool, and estimated the uncertainty constrained by the global circulation model (GCM) structure and the representative concentration pathways (RCPs). All statistics for the two river basins (the Shiyang River, SYR, and the Chaobai River, CBR) located in northern China indicated generally warmer and wetter conditions, whereas the two river basins (the Huaihe River, HHR, and the Fujiang River, FJR) located in southern China projected less warming and were inconsistent regarding annual precipitation change. The simulated changes in annual runoff were complex; however, there was no shift in seasonal runoff pattern. The 0.5&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span>C global warming difference resulted in 0.7 and 0.6&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span>C warming in basins in northern and southern China, respectively. This led to a projected precipitation increase by about 2&thinsp;% for the four basins and to a decrease in simulated annual runoff of 8&thinsp;% and 1&thinsp;% in the SYR and the HHR, respectively, but to an increase of 4&thinsp;% in the CBR and the FJR. The uncertainty in projected annual temperature was dominated by the GCMs or the RCPs; however, that of precipitation was constrained mainly by the GCMs. The 0.5&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span>C difference decreased the uncertainty in the annual precipitation projection and the annual and monthly runoff simulation.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-8a89d9bf41894266b9f6bdde5ad389422022-12-21T22:40:16ZengCopernicus PublicationsHydrology and Earth System Sciences1027-56061607-79382019-10-01234219423110.5194/hess-23-4219-2019Assessment of climate change impact and difference on the river runoff in four basins in China under 1.5 and 2.0&thinsp;°C global warmingH. Xu0L. Liu1Y. Wang2S. Wang3Y. Hao4J. Ma5T. Jiang6National Climate Center, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing, 100081, ChinaNational Climate Center, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing, 100081, ChinaChongqing Meteorological Bureau, Chongqing Climate Center, Chongqing, 401147, ChinaAnhui Climate Center, Hefei, 230031, ChinaAnhui Meteorological Observatory, Hefei, 230031, ChinaBeijing Meteorological Disaster Prevention Center, Beijing, 100089, ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center on Forecast and Evaluation of Meteorological Disasters, School of Geography and Remote Sensing, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China<p>To quantify climate change impact and difference on basin-scale river runoff under the limiting global warming thresholds of 1.5 and 2.0&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span>C, this study examined four river basins covering a wide hydroclimatic setting. We analyzed projected climate change in four basins, quantified climate change impact on annual and seasonal runoff based on the Soil Water Assessment Tool, and estimated the uncertainty constrained by the global circulation model (GCM) structure and the representative concentration pathways (RCPs). All statistics for the two river basins (the Shiyang River, SYR, and the Chaobai River, CBR) located in northern China indicated generally warmer and wetter conditions, whereas the two river basins (the Huaihe River, HHR, and the Fujiang River, FJR) located in southern China projected less warming and were inconsistent regarding annual precipitation change. The simulated changes in annual runoff were complex; however, there was no shift in seasonal runoff pattern. The 0.5&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span>C global warming difference resulted in 0.7 and 0.6&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span>C warming in basins in northern and southern China, respectively. This led to a projected precipitation increase by about 2&thinsp;% for the four basins and to a decrease in simulated annual runoff of 8&thinsp;% and 1&thinsp;% in the SYR and the HHR, respectively, but to an increase of 4&thinsp;% in the CBR and the FJR. The uncertainty in projected annual temperature was dominated by the GCMs or the RCPs; however, that of precipitation was constrained mainly by the GCMs. The 0.5&thinsp;<span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span>C difference decreased the uncertainty in the annual precipitation projection and the annual and monthly runoff simulation.</p>https://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/23/4219/2019/hess-23-4219-2019.pdf
spellingShingle H. Xu
L. Liu
Y. Wang
S. Wang
Y. Hao
J. Ma
T. Jiang
Assessment of climate change impact and difference on the river runoff in four basins in China under 1.5 and 2.0&thinsp;°C global warming
Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
title Assessment of climate change impact and difference on the river runoff in four basins in China under 1.5 and 2.0&thinsp;°C global warming
title_full Assessment of climate change impact and difference on the river runoff in four basins in China under 1.5 and 2.0&thinsp;°C global warming
title_fullStr Assessment of climate change impact and difference on the river runoff in four basins in China under 1.5 and 2.0&thinsp;°C global warming
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of climate change impact and difference on the river runoff in four basins in China under 1.5 and 2.0&thinsp;°C global warming
title_short Assessment of climate change impact and difference on the river runoff in four basins in China under 1.5 and 2.0&thinsp;°C global warming
title_sort assessment of climate change impact and difference on the river runoff in four basins in china under 1 5 and 2 0 thinsp °c global warming
url https://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/23/4219/2019/hess-23-4219-2019.pdf
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