Water Regime Evolution of Large Seasonal Lakes: Indicators for Characterization and an Application in Poyang Lake, China

Feng Huang, Bo Yan, Xiao Zhang, Dayong Zhao, Lidan Guo, Yuankun Wang and Ziqiang Xia
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Feng Huang: College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Bo Yan: Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute, Changjiang Water Resources Commission, Wuhan 430015, China
Xiao Zhang: Bureau of Hydrology, Changjiang Water Resources Commission, Wuhan 430012, China
Dayong Zhao: College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Lidan Guo: International River Research Centre, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Yuankun Wang: School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
Ziqiang Xia: College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 11, 1-20

Abstract: Impacted by ongoing climate change and anthropogenic activities, large seasonal lakes experience water regime evolution, which raises challenges for the management of water resources and environment. The water regime evolution refers to the spatial and temporal alterations in the hydrological features of lakes. Characterizing the lake water regime and its alteration may help policymakers design effective adaption strategies. Therefore, total 47 hydrological indicators were proposed, considering intra-annual fluctuations, flood and drought features, and rate and frequency of water level variations. Combined with Mann-Kendall algorithm and Sen’s slope, the indicators were applied in Poyang Lake, a typically large seasonal lake in China, as a case study. The results revealed temporal and spatial variations in different hydrological indicators. The most dramatic alteration was the water level decline in October and November over the entire study phase, especially over the past 30 years. This was an urgent environmental problem that Poyang Lake faced, partially caused by the increased hydraulic gradient between southern and northern lake. It could trigger the drought occurring earlier, prolong the drought duration, and impair the wetland ecosystem. Environmental water requirements of both Poyang Lake and Yangtze River were suggested for regional sustainable development. The application in Poyang Lake showed the practicability and reliability of the indicators, which are applicable in international seasonal lakes. The series of indicators can be used in whole or in part, determined by the ecohydrological characters of a specific lake and the research objectives.

Keywords: seasonal lakes; water regime; indicators; evolution; spatio-temporal variations; environmental problem; Poyang Lake (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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