A novel coupled algorithm-based method, and the characteristics and driving mechanism of water shortage in the upper Yellow River

ABSTRACT

Gaining a clear understanding of the spatiotemporal characteristics of water shortage and their driving mechanism in the upper Yellow River (UYR) is crucial for the assessment and effective management of water resources in the region. The standardized streamflow index (SSI) and the improved Hilbert-Huang transform (IHHT) algorithm are combined to form a coupled SSI-IHHT method (CSIHM). The streamflow above Lanzhou Station over 1969–2015 is analysed. Results show that summer and autumn are high-risk periods of continuous water shortage. Annual streamflow has inter-annual change cycles of 3.5–9.0 a and inter-decadal change cycles between 16.4 and 28.2 a. The annual streamflow change is mainly affected by climate change. But the seasonal streamflow change is mainly influenced by human activities resulting from the operation of reservoirs. The CSIHM has advantages of mutual verification of the results and wide applicability to the field of water shortage.

KEYWORDS:

• water shortage
• driving mechanism
• standardized streamflow index
• improved Hilbert-Huang transform
• upper Yellow River

Editor S. Archfield; Associate Editor B. Bonaccorso

Editor S. Archfield; Associate Editor B. Bonaccorso

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant No. 52269001] and Guangxi Natural Science Foundation [Grant No. 2021GXNSFAA220085].