Objective This study aims to quantify the impact of hydropower reservoir impoundment on local climate, thereby providing scientific support for regional ecological management. Methods Four hydropower stations (Longkaikou, Guanyinyan, Xiluodu, and Xiangjiaba) in the dry-hot valley of the middle and lower reaches of the Jinsha River were selected. The precipitation-temperature normalization index (PT) during the drawdown period and the flood season of hydropower reservoirs was calculated. Additionally, a regional local climate effect intensity index (RLCEI) was constructed, and Spearman correlation analysis was applied to reveal the driving factors. Results Reservoir impoundment generally caused the climate in the study areas of the hydropower stations during both periods to become more humid, with a reduction in the drought-affected areas. Significant differences in local climate effect intensity were observed among the reservoirs, with the area of strong impact during the drawdown period being much smaller than that during the flood season. During the flood season, the downstream Xiluodu hydropower station exhibited the most significant impact, with the proportion of strong impact areas reaching 44%, followed by Xiangjiaba. In contrast, the effects of the midstream Longkaikou and Guanyinyan hydropower stations were relatively weaker. Correlation analysis indicated that reservoir capacity had the strongest correlations with the proportion of strong impact areas (ρ=0.900) and the average impact radius (ρ=0.800), indicating that the reservoir scale had a decisive impact on the intensity of local climate effects. Among valley terrain factors, the average valley width showed the highest correlation coefficient (ρ) with the lateral diffusion limit width, significantly affecting the spatial patterns of local climate effects. Conclusion The findings demonstrate that the local climate effects of hydropower reservoirs are jointly regulated by reservoir capacity and valley topography, providing a scientific basis for hydropower development and ecological protection in the dry-hot valley of the Jinsha River.
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