Haiyun Shi

Spatial distribution of monthly potential evaporation over mountainous regions: case of the Lhasa River basin, China

Abstract This paper develops an algorithm for computing spatially-distributed monthly potential evaporation (PE) over a mountainous region, the Lhasa River basin in China. To develop the algorithm, first, correlation analysis of different meteorological variables was conducted. It was observed that PE is significantly correlated with vapour pressure and temperature differences between the land surface and the atmosphere. Second, the Dalton model, which was developed based on the mass transfer mechanism, was modified by including the influence of the related meteorological variables. Third, the influence of elevation on monthly temperature, vapour pressure and wind velocity was analysed, and functions for extending these meteorological variables to any given altitude were developed. Fourth, the inverse distance weighting method was applied to integrate the extended meteorological variables from five stations adjacent to and within the Lhasa River basin. Finally, using the modified Dalton model and the integrated meteorological variables, we computed the spatially-distributed monthly PE. This study indicated that spatially-distributed PE can be obtained using data from sparse meteorological stations, even if only one station is available; the results show that in the Lhasa River basin PE decreases when elevation increases. The new algorithm, including the modified model and the method for spatially extending meteorological variables can provide the basic inputs for distributed hydrological models. Editor Z.W. Kundzewicz

Temporal and spatial variations of potential evaporation and the driving mechanism over Tibet during 1961–2001

ABSTRACT Potential evaporation (PE) is the basic component of the global hydrological cycle and energy balance. This study detected the temporal and spatial variations of PE and related driving factors in Tibet, China, for the period 1961–2001, based on observed data recorded at 22 meteorological stations. The results showed that (1) Tibet experienced a statistically significant decrease of PE between 1961 and 2001, which started mainly in the 1980s, along with accelerated warming; (2) the mean annual PE in Tibet showed an east–west increasing trend, and the annual PE at most stations presented decreasing trends; (3) an inverse correlation of mean annual PE with elevation was detected (low–high decreasing trend), and the statistical equations to estimate PE were established based on longitude, latitude and elevation; and (4) PE in Tibet can be well expressed by related meteorological variables, with vapour pressure deficit the dominant factor in determining PE. EDITOR Z. W. Kundzewicz ASSOCIATE EDITOR not assigned

Watershed Sediment Dynamics and Modeling: A Watershed Modeling System for Yellow River

Soil erosion is the root cause of environmental and ecological degradation in the Loess Plateau of the Yellow River. Watershed sediment dynamics was fully analyzed here, and a physically based, distributed, and continuous erosion model at the watershed scale, named the Digital Yellow River Integrated Model (DYRIM), was developed. The framework, the key supporting techniques, and the formulation for natural processes were described. The physical processes of sediment yield and transport in the Loess Plateau are divided into three subprocesses, including the water yield and soil erosion on hillslopes, gravitational erosion in gullies, and hyperconcentrated flow routing in channels. For each subprocess, a physically based simulation model was developed and embedded into the whole model system. The model system was applied to simulate the sediment yield and transport in several typical years in different watersheds of the Yellow River, and the simulation results indicated that this model system is capable of simulating the physical processes of sediment yield and transport in a large-scale watershed.

A new method and a new index for identifying socioeconomic drought events under climate change: A case study of the East River basin in China

Drought is a complex natural hazard that may have destructive damages on societal properties and even lives. Generally, socioeconomic drought occurs when water resources systems cannot meet water demand, mainly due to a weather-related shortfall in water supply. This study aims to propose a new method, a heuristic method, and a new index, the socioeconomic drought index (SEDI), for identifying and evaluating socioeconomic drought events on different severity levels (i.e., slight, moderate, severe, and extreme) in the context of climate change. First, the minimum in-stream water requirement (MWR) is determined through synthetically evaluating the requirements of water quality, ecology, navigation, and water supply. Second, according to the monthly water deficit calculated as the monthly streamflow data minus the MWR, the drought month can be identified. Third, according to the cumulative water deficit calculated from the monthly water deficit, drought duration (i.e., the number of continuous drought months) and water shortage (i.e., the largest cumulative water deficit during the drought period) can be detected. Fourth, the SEDI value of each socioeconomic drought event can be calculated through integrating the impacts of water shortage and drought duration. To evaluate the applicability of the new method and new index, this study examines the drought events in the East River basin in South China, and the impact of a multi-year reservoir (i.e., the Xinfengjiang Reservoir) in this basin on drought analysis is also investigated. The historical and future streamflow of this basin is simulated using a hydrologic model, Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model. For historical and future drought analysis, the proposed new method and index are feasible to identify socioeconomic drought events. The results show that a number of socioeconomic drought events (including some extreme ones) may occur in future, and the appropriate reservoir operation can significantly ease such situation.