scholarly journals The cumulative effects of forest disturbance and climate variability on baseflow in a large watershed in British Columbia, Canada

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiang Li ◽  
Xiaohua Wei ◽  
Mingfang Zhang ◽  
Wenfei Liu ◽  
Krysta Giles-Hansen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Climate Variability ◽  
Climate Changes ◽  
Forest Disturbance ◽  
Groundwater Discharge ◽  
Cumulative Effects ◽  
Land Cover Changes ◽  
Mass Balance Method ◽  
Baseflow Separation ◽  
Double Mass

Abstract. Assessing how forest disturbance and climate change affect baseflow or groundwater discharge is critical for understanding water resource supply and protecting aquatic functions. Previous studies have mainly evaluated the effects of forest disturbance on streamflow, with rare attention on baseflow, particularly in large watersheds. However, studying this topic is challenging as it requires explicit inclusion of climate into assessment due to their interactions at any large watersheds. In this study, we used Upper Similkameen River watershed (USR) (1810 km2), located in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada to examine how forest disturbance and climate variability affect baseflow. The conductivity mass balance method was first used for baseflow separation, and the modified double mass curves were then employed to quantitatively separate the relative contributions of forest disturbance and climate variability to annual baseflow. Our results showed that average annual baseflow and baseflow index (baseflow/streamflow) were about 85.2 ± 21.5 mm year-1 and 0.22 ± 0.05 for the study period of 1954–2013, respectively. The forest disturbance increased the annual baseflow of 18.4 mm, while climate variability decreased 19.4 mm. In addition, forest disturbance also shifted the baseflow regime with increasing of the spring baseflow and decreasing of the summer baseflow. We conclude that forest disturbance significantly altered the baseflow magnitudes and patterns, and its role in annual baseflow was equal to that caused by climate variability in the study watershed despite their opposite changing directions. The implications of our results are discussed in the context of future forest disturbance (or land cover changes) and climate changes.

scholarly journals The Cumulative Effects of Forest Disturbance and Climate Variability on Streamflow in the Deadman River Watershed

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krysta Giles-Hansen ◽  
Qiang Li ◽  
Xiaohua Wei
Keyword(s):  
Climate Variability ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Forest Disturbance ◽  
Climatic Variability ◽  
High Flow ◽  
The Body ◽  
Cumulative Effects ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
River Watershed

Climatic variability and cumulative forest cover change are the two dominant factors affecting hydrological variability in forested watersheds. Separating the relative effects of each factor on streamflow is gaining increasing attention. This study adds to the body of literature by quantifying the relative contributions of those two drivers to the changes in annual mean flow, low flow, and high flow in a large forested snow dominated watershed, the Deadman River watershed (878 km2) in the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Over the study period of 1962 to 2012, the cumulative effects of forest disturbance significantly affected the annual mean streamflow. The effects became statistically significant in 1989 at the cumulative forest disturbance level of 12.4% of the watershed area. The modified double mass curve and sensitivity-based methods consistently revealed that forest disturbance and climate variability both increased annual mean streamflow during the disturbance period (1989–2012), with an average increment of 14 mm and 6 mm, respectively. The paired-year approach was used to further investigate the relative contributions to low and high flows. Our analysis showed that low and high flow increased significantly by 19% and 58%, respectively over the disturbance period (p < 0.05). We conclude that forest disturbance and climate variability have significantly increased annual mean flow, low flow and high flow over the last 50 years in a cumulative and additive manner in the Deadman River watershed.

The cumulative effects of forest disturbance and climate variability on streamflow components in a large forest-dominated watershed

2018 ◽  
Vol 557 ◽  
pp. 448-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiang Li ◽  
Xiaohua Wei ◽  
Mingfang Zhang ◽  
Wenfei Liu ◽  
Krysta Giles-Hansen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Variability ◽  
Forest Disturbance ◽  
Cumulative Effects

scholarly journals Climate bones of contention: How climate variability influences territorial, maritime, and river interstate conflicts

2021 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 132-150
Author(s):  
Cody J Schmidt ◽  
Bomi K Lee ◽  
Sara McLaughlin Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Climate Variability ◽  
Climate Changes ◽  
Heat Waves ◽  
World Politics ◽  
Western Hemisphere ◽  
Intrastate Conflict ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Interstate Conflicts ◽  
The Relationship

Many scholars examine the relationship between climate variability and intrastate conflict onset. While empirical findings in this literature are mixed, we know less about how climate changes increase the risks for conflicts between countries. This article studies climate variability using the issue approach to world politics. We examine whether climate variability influences the onset and militarization of interstate diplomatic conflicts and whether these effects are similar across issues that involve sovereignty claims for land (territory) or water (maritime, river). We focus on two theoretical mechanisms: scarcity ( abundance) and uncertainty. We measure these concepts empirically through climate deviation (e.g. droughts/floods, heat waves/cold spells) and climate volatility (greater short-term variance in precipitation/temperature). Analyses of issue claims in the Western Hemisphere and Europe (1901–2001) show that greater deviations and volatility in climate conditions increase risks for new diplomatic conflicts and militarization of ongoing issues and that climate change acts as a trigger for revisionist states.

scholarly journals Identification of the Impacts of Climate Changes and Human Activities on Runoff in the Jinsha River Basin, China

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaowan Liu ◽  
Dingzhi Peng ◽  
Zongxue Xu
Keyword(s):  
Water Balance ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Human Activities ◽  
Climate Changes ◽  
Balance Method ◽  
Variation Method ◽  
Rainfall Runoff ◽  
Jinsha River ◽  
Water Balance Method ◽  
Double Mass

Quantifying the impacts of climate changes and human activities on runoff has received extensive attention, especially for the regions with significant elevation difference. The contributions of climate changes and human activities to runoff were analyzed using rainfall-runoff relationship, double mass curve, slope variation, and water balance method during 1961–2010 at the Jinsha River basin, China. Results indicate that runoff at upstream and runoff at midstream are both dominated by climate changes, and the contributions of climate changes to runoff are 63%~72% and 53%~68%, respectively. At downstream, climate changes account for only 13%~18%, and runoff is mainly controlled by human activities, contributing 82%~87%. The availability and stability of results were compared and analyzed in the four methods. Results in slope variation, double mass curve, and water balance method except rainfall-runoff relationship method are of good agreement. And the rainfall-runoff relationship, double mass curve, and slope variation method are all of great stability. The four methods and availability evaluation of them could provide a reference to quantification in the contributions of climate changes and human activities to runoff at similar basins in the future.

scholarly journals Investigation of Sinkhole Formation with Human Influence: A Case Study from Wink Sink in Winkler County, Texas

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 3537
Author(s):  
Shannon English ◽  
Joonghyeok Heo ◽  
Jaewoong Won
Keyword(s):  
Land Cover ◽  
Climate Changes ◽  
Meteoric Water ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Direct Result ◽  
Land Cover Changes ◽  
Hydrologic Systems ◽  
Current State

The formation of sinkholes in Winkler County, Texas is concerning due to the amount of oil and gas infrastructure and the potential for catastrophic losses. Evidences of new and potential sinkholes have been documented, and determining the cause of these sinkholes is paramount to mitigate the devastating consequences thereof. Studies have shown that the Wink sinkholes result from both natural and anthropogenic influences. Data depicting land-cover changes, alterations in the hydrologic systems, climate changes, and oil and gas activity were analyzed in an effort to better understand the link between these processes and sinkhole formation. Results indicate that the combination of these processes lead to the current state. Land cover changes were highest in shrub versus grasses, undeveloped to developed and croplands. Rises in temperature and a decrease in precipitation indicate a shift towards a more arid climate. Changes to the hydraulic system are a direct result of these land cover changes while the groundwater quality depicts an environment prone to dissolution. Historical oil and gas activities have created pathways of meteoric water infiltration to the underlying limestone and evaporite formation. The combination of these processes create an environment that accelerates sinkhole formations. Understanding these processes allows for the development and implementation of better land practices, better groundwater protections, and the need for monitoring and maintaining aging oil and gas infrastructure.

scholarly journals Determining contemporary and historical sediment sources in a large drainage basin impacted by cumulative effects: the regulated Nechako River, British Columbia, Canada

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (9) ◽  
pp. 3357-3373 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Gateuille ◽  
Philip N. Owens ◽  
Ellen L. Petticrew ◽  
Barry P. Booth ◽  
Todd D. French ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Drainage Basin ◽  
Cumulative Effects ◽  
Sediment Sources

scholarly journals Climate variability in the Spanish Pyrenees during the last 30,000 yr revealed by the El Portalet sequence

2006 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. González-Sampériz ◽  
B.L. Valero-Garcés ◽  
A. Moreno ◽  
G. Jalut ◽  
J.M. García-Ruiz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Climate Variability ◽  
Climate Changes ◽  
Vegetation History ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
Late Glacial ◽  
Last Glacial ◽  
The North ◽  
Isotopic Analyses ◽  
Spanish Pyrenees

AbstractPalynological, sedimentological and stable isotopic analyses of carbonates and organic matter performed on the El Portalet sequence (1802 m a.s.l., 42°48′00ʺN, 0°23′52ʺW) reflect the paleoclimatic evolution and vegetation history in the central-western Spanish Pyrenees over the last 30,000 yr, and provide a high-resolution record for the late glacial period. Our results confirm previous observations that deglaciation occurred earlier in the Pyrenees than in northern European and Alpine sites and point to a glacial readvance from 22,500 to 18,000 cal yr BP, coinciding with the global last glacial maximum. The patterns shown by the new, high-resolution pollen data from this continental sequence, chronologically constrained by 13 AMS 14C dates, seem to correlate with the rapid climate changes recorded in Greenland ice cores during the last glacial–interglacial transition. Abrupt events observed in northern latitudes (Heinrich events 3 to 1, Oldest and Older Dryas stades, Intra-Allerød Cold Period, and 8200 cal yr BP event) were also identified for the first time in a lacustrine sequence from the central-western Pyrenees as cold and arid periods. The coherent response of the vegetation and the lake system to abrupt climate changes implies an efficient translation of climate variability from the North Atlantic to mid latitudes.

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