Evapotranspiration in a Small Well-Vegetated Basin in Southwestern China

Zitong Zhou, Ying Li, Lingjun Liang, Chunlin Li, Yuanmei Jiao () and Qian Ma ()
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Zitong Zhou: Faculty of Geography, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China
Ying Li: National Climate Center, Beijing 100081, China
Lingjun Liang: Beijing Hydrological Station, Beijing 100089, China
Chunlin Li: CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
Yuanmei Jiao: Faculty of Geography, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China
Qian Ma: State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Faculty of Geographical Science, College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-22

Abstract: Evapotranspiration (ET) crucially regulates water storage dynamics and is an essential component of the terrestrial water cycle. Understanding ET dynamics is fundamental for sustainable water resource management, particularly in regions facing increasing drought risks under climate change. In regions like southwestern China, where extreme drought events are prevalent due to complex terrain and climate warming, ET becomes a key factor in understanding water availability and drought dynamics. Using the SWAT model, this study investigates ET dynamics and influencing factors in the Jizi Basin, Yunnan Province, a small basin with over 71% forest coverage. The model calibration and validation results demonstrated a high degree of consistency with observed discharge data and ERA5, confirming its reliability. The results show that the annual average ET in the Jizi Basin is 573.96 mm, with significant seasonal variations. ET in summer typically ranges from 70 to 100 mm/month, while in winter, it drops to around 20 mm/month. Spring ET exhibits the highest variability, coinciding with the occurrence of extreme hydrological events such as droughts. The monthly anomalies of ET effectively reproduce the spring and early summer 2019 drought event. Notably, ET variation exhibits significant uncertainty under scenarios of +1 °C temperature and −20% precipitation. Furthermore, although land use changes had relatively small effects on overall ET, they played crucial roles in promoting groundwater recharge through enhanced percolation, especially forest cover. The study highlights that, in addition to climate and land use, soil moisture and groundwater conditions are vital in modulating ET and drought occurrence. The findings offer insights into the hydrological processes of small forested basins in southwestern China and provide important support for sustainable water resource management and effective climate adaptation strategies, particularly in the context of increasing drought vulnerability.

Keywords: evapotranspiration; SWAT model; climate change; LUCC; drought; sustainable water management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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