Analysis of Cumulative Mutations of the Relationship Between Annual Runoff and Sediment Load in the Upper Yangtze River Basin Based on Improved Double Mass Curve Method
1.River Department,Yangtze River Scientific Research Institute,Wuhan 430010,China
2.College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering,Hohai University,Nanjing 210098,China
3.National Key Laboratory of Water Disaster Prevention,Hohai University,Nanjing 210098,China
XIAO Yihui
JIN Zhongwu
ZHANG Guoshuai, et al. Analysis of cumulative mutations of the relationship between annual runoff and sediment load in the upper Yangtze River basin based on improved double mass curve method[J]. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 2025, 39(3):97-104,115.
Objective The relationship between annual runoff and sediment load in the Upper Yangtze River basin (UYRB) had a significant change under the operation of large reservoirs. There was no obvious variation in the annual runoff processes in the UYRB, while the annual sediment load decreased greatly. Methods Based on the annual runoff and sediment load observation series in the mainstream and main tributaries in the UYRB during 1950—2022, improved double mass curve method was utilized to calculate the deviation sequences of the double mass curves and introduce the scaling factors, thereby analyzing the cumulative mutation characteristics of the relationship between annual runoff and sediment load. Results The relationship between annual runoff and sediment load in the UYRB had significantly changed in 1985, 1998, 2002 and 2013, respectively. As a result, the average sediment content in the UYRB decreased from 1.20 kg/m3 to 1.02, 0.77, 0.12, 0.03 kg/m3, respectively. Combined with the distribution of large reservoirs in the river network, the four mutations in the relationship between annual runoff and sediment load in the UYRB were caused by the operation of Baozhusi Reservoir and Wujiangdu Hydropower Station, Ertan Reservoir, Three Gorges Dam, Xiangjiaba and Xiluodu Reservoir. Operation of large reservoirs led to a reduction of annual sediment load by 515 million tons in the upstream, with a 97.17% sediment reduction rate in the upstream. Conclusion Improved double mass curve method can effectively quantify the cumulative change in the relationship between runoff and sediment load and identify mutation points across multiple temporal scales. The mutations in the relationship between annual runoff and sediment load in the UYRB were predominantly driven by sediment interception from reservoir groups, while the spatiotemporal superposition effects of reservoirs in both tributaries and the mainstream further intensified the cumulative variations. The research findings can provide a theoretical basis for regulation of runoff and sediment load in the basin.
ZHANG Guoshuai, et al. Analysis of cumulative mutations of the relationship between annual runoff and sediment load in the upper Yangtze River basin based on improved double mass curve method[J]. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 2025, 39(3):97-104,115.
"}, bioImg=null, bioContent=
ZHANG Guoshuai, et al. Analysis of cumulative mutations of the relationship between annual runoff and sediment load in the upper Yangtze River basin based on improved double mass curve method[J]. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 2025, 39(3):97-104,115.
MAMEDEG L, GUENTNERA, MEDEIROSP H A, et al. Modeling the effect of multiple reservoirs on water and sediment dynamics in a semiarid catchment in Brazil[J].Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, 2018,23(12):e05018020.
[2]
XUJ X, YANY X. Effect of reservoir construction on suspended sediment load in a large river system: Thresholds and complex response[J].Earth Surface Processes and Landforms,2010,35(14):1666-1673.
[3]
ZHANGQ, HARMANC J, BALLW P. An improved method for interpretation of riverine concentration-discharge relationships indicates long-term shifts in reservoir sediment trapping[J].Geophysical Research Letters,2016,43(19):10,215-224.
QINL L, DONGX Y, DUZ D, et al. Processes of water-sediment and deposition in cascade reservoirs in the lower reach of Jinsha River[J].Journal of Sediment Research,2019,44(3):24-30.
WANGS H, SUB R, WANGY Q, et al. Change analysis of runoff and sediment in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region in recent 16 years[J].Science of Soil and Water Conservation,2021,19(1):69-78.
YANGC G, LIS W, DONGB J. Changes of incoming water and sediment in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River since the experimental impoundment of the Three Gorges Reservoir[J].Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering,2022,53(S1):38-44.
[12]
ZHANGJ, HUQ W, WANGS H, et al. Variation trend analysis of runoff and sediment time series based on the R/S analysis of simulated loess tilled slopes in the Loess Plateau, China[J].Sustainability,2018,10(1):e32.
[13]
SHAUKATR, KHANM M, SHAHIDM, et al. Quantitative contribution of climate changeand land use change to runoff in Tarbela Catchment, Pakistan[J].Polish Journal of Environmental Studies,2020,29(5):3295-3304.
[14]
WANGX X, YANGX M, LIUT X, et al. Trend and extreme occurrence of precipitation in a mid-latitude Eurasian steppe watershed at various time scales[J].Hydrological Processes,2014,28(22):5547-5560.
MUX M, ZHANGX Q, GAOP, et al. Theory of double mass curves and its applications in hydrology and meteorology[J].Journal of China Hydrology,2010,30(4):47-51.
[17]
BAEZ-VILLANUEVAO M, ZAMBRANO-BIGIARINIM, RIBBEL, et al. Temporal and spatial evaluation of satellite rainfall estimates over different regions in Latin-America[J].Atmospheric Research,2018,213:34-50.
[18]
CHANGK L, SCHULTZM G, LANX, et al. Trend detection of atmospheric time series: Incorporating appropriate uncertainty estimates and handling extreme events[J].Elementa-Science of the Anthropocene,2021,9(1):e00035.
[19]
ZHANGG S, DENGA J, CHENJ G, et al. Improving the double mass curve method to analyse the variation trend of runoff and sediment load in watersheds[J]. Gene-Luteinizing Hormone Subunit Beta,2023,109(1):e2236971.
[20]
ZHANGG S, DENGA J, LUQ, et al. Analyzing the adjustment mechanism of daily sediment content under large reservoir operations[J].Science of the Total Environment,2024,947:e174729.
LIS X, YANGC G, DONGB J, et al. Sediment transport characteristics during high floods in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River[J].Journal of Yangtze River Scientific Research Institute,2021,38(12):6-11.
[23]
LIUS W, WANGD Y, MIAOW, et al. Characteristics of runoff and sediment load during flood events in the upper Yangtze River, China[J].Journal of Hydrology,2023,620:e129433.
ZHUL L, XUQ X, DONGB J, et al. Study on the effect and influencing factors of sand discharge of Xiluodu Reservoir in the lower Jinsha River[J].Advances in Water Science,2021,32(4):544-555.
[26]
ZHANGQ, XUC Y, BECKERS, et al. Sediment and runoff changes in the Yangtze River basin during past 50 years[J].Journal of Hydrology,2006,331(3/4):511-523.
LIUJ, YANGS F, SHENY. Impact of runoff and sediment from the upper Yangtze River on deposition in the Three Gorges Reservoir[J].Journal of Sediment Research,2019,44(6):33-39.
PENGT, TIANH, QINZ X, et al. Impacts of climate change and human activities on flow discharge and sediment load in the Yangtze River[J].Journal of Sediment Research,2018,43(6):54-60.
WANGY G, HUC H, LIUX, et al. Study on variations of runoff and sediment load in the upper Yangtze River and main influence factors[J].Journal of Sediment Research,2016,41(1):1-8.
XUJ X. Recent variations in water and sediment in relation with reservoir construction in the upper Changjiang River basin[J].Journal of Mountain Science,2009,27(4):385-393.
DONGY H, HUIX X, LINQ S. Preliminary analysis on characteristics and changing tendency of annual runoff and sediment load of Changjiang River main channels[J].Journal of Yangtze River Scientific Research Institute,2008,25(2):16-20.
WUX T, LIN, WANGL C. Characteristics of runoff and sediment discharge in Yangtze River in recent 60 years[J].Journal of Sediment Research,2016,41(5):40-46.
CHAIY F, LIY T, LIS X, et al. Analysis of recent variation trend and cause of runoff and sediment load variations in the Yangtze River Basin[J].Journal of Irrigation and Drainage,2017,36(3):94-101.