Skip to main content

Advertisement

Springer Nature Link
Log in

Separating impacts of vegetation change and climate variability on streamflow using hydrological models together with vegetation data

  • Published:
Science China Technological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Vegetation information is seldom considered in lumped conceptual rainfall-runoff models. This paper uses two modified rainfall-runoff models, the Xinanjiang-ET and SIMHYD-ET models in which vegetation leaf area index is incorporated, to investigate impacts of vegetation change and climate variability on streamflow in a Southern Australian catchment, the Crawford River experimental catchment, where Tasmanian blue gum plantations were introduced gradually from 1998 till 2005. The Xinanjiang-ET and SIMHYD-ET models incorporate remotely-sensed leaf area index (LAI) data obtained from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) on board NOAA polar orbiting satellites. Compared to the original versions, the Xinanjiang-ET and SIMHYD-ET models show marginal improvements in runoff simulations in the pre-plantation period (1882–1997). The calibrated Xinanjaing-ET and SIMHYD-ET models are then used to simulate plantation impact on streamflow in the post-plantation period. The total change in streamflow between the pre-plantation and post-plantation periods is −32.4 mm/a. The modelling results from the two models show that plantation reduces streamflow by 20.5 mm/a, and climate variability reduces streamflow by 11.9 mm/a. These results suggest that increase in plantations can reduce streamflow substantially, even more than climate variability.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.

References

  1. Kittredge J. Forest Influences: The Effects of Woody Vegetation on Climate, Water, and Soil, with Appliactions to the Conservation of Water and the Control of Floods and Erosion. New York: Dover Publications, 1948

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bronstert A, Niehoff D, Burger G. Effects of climate and land-use change on storm runoff generation: present knowledge and modelling capabilities. Hydrol Process, 2002, 16(2): 509–529

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Cheng G W, Yu X X, Zhao Y T. Hydrological Cycle in Mountain Forest Ecosystem and its Mathematical Modeling (in Chinese). Beijing: Science Press, 2004

    Google Scholar 

  4. Eagleson P S. Ecohydrology: Darwinian Expression of Vegetation Form and Function. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002

    Book  Google Scholar 

  5. Zhao F F, Xu Z X, Zhang L, et al. Streamflow response to climate variability and human activities in the upper catchment of the Yellow River Basin. Sci China Ser E-Tech Sci, 2009, 52(11): 3249–3256

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Bosch J M, Hewlett J D. A review of catchment experiments to determine the effect of vegetation changes on water yield and evapo-transpiration. J Hydrol, 1982, 55(1–4): 3–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Ruprecht J K, Schofield N J. Effects of partial deforestation on hydrology and salinity in high salt storage landscapes. II. Strip, soils and parkland clearing. J Hydrol, 1991, 129(1–4): 39–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Whitehead P G, Robinson M. Experimental basin studies-an international and historical-perspective of forest impacts. J Hydrol, 1993, 145(3–4): 217–230

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Li C R, Tu L B. The influence of forests on the annual flow in rivers and its significance (in Chinese). J Nanjing Forest Uni, 1983, 3: 31–43

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  10. Zhou X F, Zhao H X, Sun H Z. Proper assessment for forest hydrological effect (in Chinese). J Nat Resour, 2001, 16: 420–426

    Google Scholar 

  11. Liu C M, Zhong J X. The influence of forest cover upon annual runoff in the loess plateau of China (in Chinese). Acta Geographica Sinica, 1978, 33(2): 112–127

    Google Scholar 

  12. Chen J F, Li X B. The impact of forest change on watershed hydrology — Discussing some controversies on forest hydrology (in Chinese). J Nat Resour, 2001, 16(5): 474–480

    Google Scholar 

  13. Fu C S, Chen J Y, Zeng S Q, et al. An overview on the water science researches at the experimental catchments in China and Abroad (in Chinese). Prog Geograp, 2011, 30(3): 259–267

    Google Scholar 

  14. Zhao F F, Zhang L, Xu Z X, et al. Evaluation of methods for estimating the effects of vegetation change and climate variability on streamflow. Water Resour Res, 2010, 46, doi: 10.1029/2009wr007702

  15. Morton F I. Operational Estimates of Areal Evapo-Transpiration and Their Significance to the Science and Practice of Hydrology. J Hydrol, 1983, 66(1–4): 1–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Monteith J L. Evaporation and environment. Symp Soc Exp Biol, 1965, 19: 205–234

    Google Scholar 

  17. Leuning R, Zhang Y Q, Rajaud A, et al. A simple surface conductance model to estimate regional evaporation using MODIS leaf area index and the Penman-Monteith equation. Water Resour Res, 2008, 44, doi: 10.1029/2007WR006562

  18. Li H X, Zhang Y Q, Chiew F H S, et al. Predicting runoff in ungauged catchments by using Xinanjiang model with MODIS leaf area index. J Hydrol, 2009, 370(1–4): 155–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Zhao R J. The Xinanjiang Model Applied in China. J Hydrol, 1992, 135(1–4): 371–381

    Google Scholar 

  20. Zhao R J, Zhang Y L, Fang L R, et al. The Xinanjiang Model. In: Hydrological Forecasting Proceedings Oxford Symposium. Oxford: IASH, 1980. 351–356

    Google Scholar 

  21. Wu X Y, Cheng C T, Zhao M Y. Parameter calibration of Xinanjiang rainfall-runoff model by using parallel genetic algorithm. J Hydraul Eng, 2004, 11: 85–90

    Google Scholar 

  22. Jayawardena A W, Zhou M C. A modified spatial soil moisture storage capacity distribution curve for the Xinanjiang model. J Hydrol, 2000, 227(1–4): 93–113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Cheng C T, Ou C P, Chau K W. Combining a fuzzy optimal model with a genetic algorithm to solve multi-objective rainfall-runoff model calibration. J Hydrol, 2002, 268(1–4): 72–86

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Chiew F H S, Peel M C, Western A W. Application and testing of the simple rainfall-runoff model SIMHYD. In: Singh V P, Frevert D K, eds. Mathematical Models of Small Watershed Hydrology and Application. Littleton: Water resources Publication, 2002. 335–367

    Google Scholar 

  25. Chiew F H S. Estimation of rainfall elasticity of streamflow in Australia. Hydrolog Sci J, 2006, 51(4): 613–625

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Zhang Y Q, Chiew F H S. Relative merits of different methods for runoff predictions in ungauged catchments. Water Resour Res, 2009, 45, doi: 10.1029/2008WR007504

  27. Chiew F H S, Peel M C, Western A W. Application and testing of the simple rainfall-runoff model SIMHYD. In: Singh V P, Frevert D K, eds. Colorado: Water Resources Publication, 2002. 335–367

    Google Scholar 

  28. Yildiz O, Barros A P. Elucidating vegetation controls on the hydroclimatology of a mid-latitude basin. J Hydrol, 2007, 333(2–4): 431–448

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Zhang Y Q, Chiew F H S, Zhang L. Use of remotely sensed actual evapotranspiration to improve rainfall-runoff modeling in Southeast Australia. American Meteor Society, 2009, 10(4): 969–980

    Google Scholar 

  30. Lewis R M. Torczon V. Pattern search algorithms for bound constrained minimization. Siam J Optimiz, 1999, 9(4): 1802–1099

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  31. Lewis R M. Torczon V. Pattern search methods for linearly constrained minimization. Siam J Optimiz, 2000, 10(3): 917–941

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  32. Nash J E, Sutcliffe J V. River flow forecasting through conceptual models part I-A discussion of principles. J Hydrol, 1970, 10(3): 282–290

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Zhang X P, Zhang L, Zhao J, et al. Responses of streamflow to changes in climate and land use/cover in the Loess Plateau, China. Water Resour Res, 2008, 44, doi: 10.1029/2007WR006711

  34. Wang G Q. Impacts of climate change on hydrology and water resources in the middle reaches of the Yellow River Basin (in Chinese). Dissertation of Doctoral Degree. Nanjing: Hohai University, 2006

    Google Scholar 

  35. Li D F. Impact of climate and land-cover change on runoff of the source regions of the Yellow River (in Chinese). Dissertation of Doctoral Degree. Beijing: Beijing Normal University, 2003

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nanjing Institute of Geography & Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China

    HuiYun Li

  2. CSIRO Land and Water, GPO BOX 1666, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia

    YongQiang Zhang

  3. Faculty of Infrastructure Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China

    HuiYun Li & BenDe Wang

Authors
  1. HuiYun Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  2. YongQiang Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  3. BenDe Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to YongQiang Zhang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Li, H., Zhang, Y. & Wang, B. Separating impacts of vegetation change and climate variability on streamflow using hydrological models together with vegetation data. Sci. China Technol. Sci. 55, 1964–1972 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-012-4859-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-012-4859-9

Keywords

Profiles

  1. YongQiang Zhang View author profile