Objective This study quantitatively analyzes the response of runoff variation to climatic factors and human activities, and provides a scientific basis for the rational development and utilization of water resources in the upper reaches of the Heihe River. Methods The upper reaches of the Heihe River Basin were taken as the study area. Based on observed precipitation and runoff data from hydrological stations within the basin for the period 1971—2022, the characteristics of runoff changes were identified using linear trend analysis and the cumulative anomaly method. Furthermore, the Mann-Kendall mutation test and the double cumulative curve method were employed to diagnose the dominant factors influencing runoff variation in the basin. Results (1) The annual runoff in the upper reaches of the Heihe River showed an upward trend during the period 1971—2022. (2) The measured annual runoff at three hydrological stations (Yingluoxia, Zhamashike, and Qilian) exhibited abrupt shifts from low to high levels in 2003, 2007, and 2003, respectively. (3) These three hydrological stations displayed generally similar wet-dry cycles. (4) The contribution rates of precipitation to runoff variations at these three stations were 51.78%, 51.09%, and 74.29%, respectively, all exceeding the contributions attributed to human activities at the corresponding stations. Conclusion Over the past nearly five decades, annual runoff in the upper reaches of the Heihe River has shown an increasing trend, and precipitation is the dominant factor driving this increase.
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