Streamflow alterations, attributions, and implications in extended East Rapti Watershed, central-southern Nepal

Vishnu Prasad Pandey, Dibesh Shrestha, M. Adhikari and S. Shakya

Papers published in Journals (Open Access), 2020, 12(9):3829. (Special issue: Implications of Climate Change for Ecosystems and Society)

Abstract: Streamflow alteration and subsequent change in long-term average, seasonality, and extremes (e.g., floods and droughts) may affect water security, which is a major concern in many watersheds across the globe. Both climatic and anthropogenic activities may contribute to such changes. Therefore, this study assesses: (i) Streamflow and precipitation trends to identify streamflow alterations in the Extended East Rapti (EER) watershed in central-southern Nepal; (ii) relationship of the alterations to climatic and anthropogenic sources; and (iii) implications of streamflow changes to the socio-environmental system. The trends in streamflow were analyzed for pre-and post-1990 periods considering the abrupt shift in temperature trend in 1990. Results showed a general decreasing trends in discharge post-1990 in the EER watershed. Human activities have significantly contributed in altering streamflow in the EER. Human-induced streamflow alterations have affected the water availability, food security, river health, aquatic biodiversity, and groundwater abstraction in the EER watershed.

Keywords: Watersheds; Stream flow; Climate change; Anthropogenic factors; Rainfall patterns; Precipitation; Temperature; Population density; Social aspects; Environmental effects; Groundwater extraction; Meteorological stations; River basins; Runoff; Hydrological factors; Aquatic ecology; Food security; Land use change; Land cover change; Nepal; East Rapti Watershed; Chitwan; Makwanpur (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:iwt:jounls:h049715

DOI: 10.3390/su12093829

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