Runoff Changes and Their Impact on Regional Water Resources in Qinling Mountains from 1970 to 2020

Zhaopeng Zhang, Ting Wang (), Chengcheng Zhu, Zhilin Xia, Cai Wu and Keqin Duan
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Zhaopeng Zhang: School of Civil Engineering, Hubei Engineering University, No. 272 Jiaotong Avenue, Xiaogan 432000, China
Ting Wang: School of Civil Engineering, Hubei Engineering University, No. 272 Jiaotong Avenue, Xiaogan 432000, China
Chengcheng Zhu: School of Civil Engineering, Hubei Engineering University, No. 272 Jiaotong Avenue, Xiaogan 432000, China
Zhilin Xia: School of Civil Engineering, Hubei Engineering University, No. 272 Jiaotong Avenue, Xiaogan 432000, China
Cai Wu: School of Civil Engineering, Hubei Engineering University, No. 272 Jiaotong Avenue, Xiaogan 432000, China
Keqin Duan: School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, No. 620 West Chang’an Street, Xi’an 710061, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 9, 1-19

Abstract: The Qinling Mountains serve as the main water source for the Weihe River and Hanjiang River. However, the lack of sufficient observational data limits a deeper understanding and the utilization of its water resources. In this study, the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) hydrological model is used to quantitatively analyze runoff changes and their impacts on these rivers, based on meteorological, land use, and elevation data. By using the hydrological parameter transplantation method, a parameterized system was established to simulate runoff variations from 1970 to 2020. Results showed that the total runoff of the Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi Province ranged between 13.26 and 44.47 billion m 3 /year, with an average perennial runoff of 25.05 billion m 3 /year. Over the past 51 years, the runoff volume has exhibited a slightly decreasing trend. The average runoff at the northern foothills is 3.56 billion m 3 /year, which accounts for 62.4% of the natural average runoff of the Weihe River (Huaxian Station). In contrast, the average runoff at the southern foothills is 21.49 billion m 3 /year, which accounts for 68.1% of the natural average runoff of the Hanjiang River (Huangjiagang Station). The significant variation in water vapor transport from the western equatorial Pacific to the region via the South China Sea has been identified as the primary reason for the changes in runoff. This quantitative study of runoff changes in the Qinling Mountains clarifies their influence on the Weihe River and the Hanjiang River and will provide a basis for the rational usage of ecological water.

Keywords: Qinling Mountains; climate change; runoff; VIC model (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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