Impacts of climate variability and human activities on decrease in streamflow in the Qinhe River,China

Under the impacts of climate variability and human activities, there are statistically significant decreasing trends for streamflow in the Yellow River basin, China. Therefore, it is crucial to separate the impacts of climate variability and human activities on streamflow decrease for better water resources planning and management. In this study, the Qinhe River basin (QRB), a typical sub-basin in the middle reach of the Yellow River, was chosen as the study area to assess the impacts of climate variability and human activities on streamflow decrease. The trend and breakpoint of observed annual streamflow from 1956 to 2010 were identified by the nonparametric Mann–Kendall test. The results showed that the observed annual streamflow decreased significantly (P?<?0.05) and a breakpoint around 1973 was detected. Therefore, the time series was divided into two periods: “natural period” (before the breakpoint) and “impacted period” (after the breakpoint). The observed annual streamflow decreased by 68.1 mm from 102.3 to 34.2 mm in the two periods. The climate elasticity method and hydrological model were employed to separate the impacts of climate variability and human activities on streamflow decrease. The results indicated that climate variability was responsible for 54.1 % of the streamflow decrease estimated by the climate elasticity method and 59.3 % estimated by the hydrological modeling method. Therefore, the climate variability was the main driving factor for streamflow decrease in the QRB. Among these driving factors of natural and anthropogenic, decrease in precipitation and increase in water diversion were the two major contributions of streamflow reduction. The finding in this study can serve as a reference for regional water resources management and planning.     

Effects of climate change on annual streamflow using climate elasticity in Poyang Lake Basin, China

Hydrological processes depend directly on climate conditions [e.g., precipitation, potential evapotranspiration (PE)] based on the water balance. This paper examines streamflow datasets at four hydrological stations and meteorological observations at 79 weather stations to reveal the streamflow changes and underlying drivers in four typical watersheds (Meigang, Saitang, Gaosha, and Xiashan) within Poyang Lake Basin from 1961 to 2000. Most of the less than 90th percentile of daily streamflow in each watershed increases significantly at different rates. As an important indicator of the seasonal changes in the streamflow, CT (the timing of the mass center of the streamflow) in each watershed shows a negligible change. The annual streamflow in each watershed increases at different rates, with a statistically significant trend (at the 5 % level) of 9.87 and 7.72 mm year^?1, respectively, in Meigang and Gaosha watersheds. Given the existence of interactions between precipitation and PE, the original climate elasticity of streamflow can not reflect the relationship of streamflow with precipitation and PE effectively. We modify this method and find the modified climate elasticity to be more accurate and reasonable using the correlation analysis. The analyses from the modified climate elasticity in the four watersheds show that a 10 % increase (decrease) in precipitation will increase (decrease) the annual streamflow by 14.1–16.3 %, while a 10 % increase (decrease) in PE will decrease (increase) the annual streamflow by ?10.2 to ?2.1 %. In addition, the modified climate elasticity is applied to estimate the contribution of annual precipitation and PE to the increasing annual streamflow in each watershed over the past 40 years. Our result suggests that the percentage attribution of the increasing precipitation is more than 59 % and the decreasing in PE is less than 41 %, indicating that the increasing precipitation is the major driving factor for the annual streamflow increase for each watershed.     

Separation of the impact of climate change and human activity on streamflow in the upper and middle reaches of the Taoer River,northeastern China

The Taoer River, a representative ecologically sensitive area in Northeast China, has undergone great climate changes and rapid social developments since 1961. Subsequently, a substantial alteration of the streamflow regime was observed and severe eco-environmental problems were becoming prominent. To provide decision makers the scientific basis for effective resource management and sound future planning, it is crucial to understand and assess the impacts of the climate variability and human activities on streamflow in this region. In this study, we combined an observation-based statistical analysis and physical modeling experiments to address this broad question. The Mann–Kendall and Sen’s slope were used to examine the trends and the moving t test was used to identify change points for the streamflow, precipitation, and potential evapotranspiration datasets. A statistically significant upward trend (α?=?5 %) was found for annual streamflow. An abrupt change point was identified in 1985 for the basin outlet station at Taonan. Accordingly, the streamflow was divided into baseline and changed period for attribution analysis. To investigate the impacts of climate change and human activities on annual streamflow, we applied a distributed hydrological model and six Budyko-type functions during the two periods. The results indicated that climate change and human activities accounted for about 45 and 55 % of the changes in streamflow, respectively.     

中国当代土地利用变化对黄河流域径流影响

使用区域气候模式(RegCM3)和大尺度汇流模型(LRM),研究中国地区土地利用/植被覆盖变化对黄河流域降雨径流过程的影响。RegCM3嵌套于欧洲数值预报中心(ECMWF)再分析资料ERA40,分别进行了中国区域在实际植被和理想植被分布情况下两个各15年(1987～2001年)时间长度的积分试验。随后,RegCM3 两个试验的输出径流结果分别用来驱动LRM。与观测资料的对比分析表明,在实际土地利用状况下,LRM能较好地模拟黄河河川径流的季节和年际变化。研究结果指出,当代土地利用引起了冬季黄河上游部分地区降水减少,中下游地区降水增加;引起夏季整个黄河流域降水的减少。总体来说,当代土地利用变化引起黄河流域年平均降水的减少。对于水文站河川径流量,除了冬春季略有增加外,其他月份河川径流均会减少,并且在9月减少最多。土地利用引起的植被退化造成黄河径流的大幅度减少,并且越向下游减少幅度越大,这可能是引起黄河下游断流的重要原因之一。     

Streamflow trend analysis by considering autocorrelation structure,long-term persistence,and Hurst coefficient in a semi-arid region of Iran

Due to the substantial decrease of water resources as well as the increase in demand and climate change phenomenon, analyzing the trend of hydrological parameters is of paramount importance. In the present study, investigations were carried out to identify the trends in streamflow at 20 hydrometric stations and 11 rainfall gauging stations located in Karkheh River Basin (KRB), Iran, in monthly, seasonal, and annual time scales during the last 38 years from 1974 to 2011. This study has been conducted using two versions of Mann–Kendall tests, including (i) Mann–Kendall test by considering all the significant autocorrelation structure (MK3) and (ii) Mann–Kendall test by considering LTP and Hurst coefficient (MK4). The results indicate that the KRB streamflow trend (using both test versions) has decreased in all three time scales. There is a significant decreasing trend in 78 and 73 % of the monthly cases using the MK3 and MK4 tests, respectively, while these percentages changed to 80 and 70 % on seasonal and annual time scales, respectively. Investigation of the trend line slope using Theil–Sen’s estimator showed a negative trend in all three time scales. The use of MK4 test instead of the MK3 test has caused a decrease in the significance level of Mann–Kendall Z-statistic values. The results of the precipitation trends indicate both increasing and decreasing trends. Also, the correlation between the area average streamflow and precipitation shows a strong correlation in annual time scale in the KRB.     

Application of downscaled precipitation for hydrological climate-change impact assessment in the upper Ping River Basin of Thailand

This paper assesses the impacts of climate change on water resources in the upper Ping River Basin of Thailand. A rainfall-runoff model is used to estimate future runoff based on the bias corrected and downscaled ECHAM4/OPYC general circulation model (GCM) precipitation scenarios for three future 5-year periods; the 2023–2027 (2025s), the 2048–2052 (2050s) and 2093–2097 (2095s). Bias-correction and spatial disaggregation techniques are applied to improve the characteristics of raw ECHAM4/OPYC precipitation. Results of future simulations suggest a decrease of 13–19 % in annual streamflow compared to the base period (1998–2002). Results also indicate that there will be a shift in seasonal streamflow pattern. Peak flows in future periods will occur in October–November rather than September as observed in the base period. There will be a significant increase in the streamflow in April with overall decrease in streamflow during the rainy season (May–October) and an increase during the dry season (November–April) for all future time periods considered in the study.     

气候暖干化对西北四省(区)农业种植结构的影响及调整方案

利用陕、甘、宁、青四省(区)141个气象站1961-2008年的气象要素值计算和分析得出,暖干化是西北四省(区)现代气候变化的基本特征。年平均气温表现为一致的增温趋势,每10年增温0.27℃,1996年是突变年。年降水量自1961年以来呈持续下降趋势,1986年是转折年,1987-2008年年平均降水量比1961-1986年平均减少20～40mm。以黄河为界,黄河以东降水量呈减少趋势,每10年减少10～40mm;黄河以西呈增多趋势,每10年增加10mm左右,减少的幅度明显高于增加的幅度。进入21世纪,气候暖干化的势头有所减缓。在分析不同区域自然资源特点和气候暖干化及其对农作物影响特征的基础上,运用系统规划理论,采用气候生态相似原理,提出了陕、甘、宁、青四省(区)13个不同地域农业种植结构调整方案。为了加快农业结构调整进程,使农业结构调整方案收到明显的生态、社会和经济效益,提出了四个方面的保障措施。     

Validating the Runoff from the PRECIS Model Using a Large-Scale Routing Model

The streamflow over the Yellow River basin is simulated using the PRECIS （Providing REgional Climates for Impacts Studies） regional climate model driven by 15-year （1979-1993） ECMWF reanalysis data as the initial and lateral boundary conditions and an off-line large-scale routing model （LRM）. The LRM uses physical catchment and river channel information and allows streamflow to be predicted for large continental rivers with a 1°×1° spatial resolution. The results show that the PRECIS model can reproduce the general southeast to northwest gradient distribution of the precipitation over the Yellow River basin, The PRECIS- LRM model combination has the capability to simulate the seasonal and annual streamflow over the Yellow River basin. The simulated streamflow is generally coincident with the naturalized streamflow both in timing and in magnitude.     

未来气候变化对黄河和长江流域极端径流影响的预估研究

使用NASA-NCAR全球环流模式FvGCM结果驱动高分辨率区域气候模式RegCM3 (20 km),进行1961～1990年当代气候模拟(控制试验)和2071～2100年IPCC A2排放情景下未来气候情景模拟(A2情景模拟试验)。将RegCM3同高分辨率大尺度汇流模型LRM(分辨率0.25°×0.25°)连接,分析水文极端事件在A2情景下相对于当代气候的变化,预估未来气候变化对我国黄河和长江流域水文极端事件的影响。结果表明:(1)未来黄河流域径流年变率增大,月变率减小,日变率在头道拐站以上流域减小,以下流域增大。未来兰州以上半湿润地区,流域东南部湿润区出现径流量峰值的可能性增大,而流域西北部干旱半干旱区出现径流量百分位极值的可能性减小。未来黄河流域中游地区发生流域洪水的风险在夏季月份减少,其余月份均增大。(2)未来长江干流径流年际变率增大,上中游地区径流日和月变率减小,下游地区略有增大;未来汉江流域径流量的年、月和日变率均增大。未来长江干流发生流域洪水的风险在夏季明显降低,而汉江流域各月发生流域洪水的可能性均增大。     

Coupling climate change with hydrological dynamic in Qinling Mountains, China

This study intends to disclose orographic effects on climate and climatic impacts on hydrological regimes in Qinling Mountains under global change background. We integrate a meteorological model (MM5 model, PSU/NCAR, 2005) and a hydrological model (SWAT model, 2005) to couple hydrological dynamic with climate change in Qinling Mountains. Models are calibrated and validated based on the simulation of different combined schemes. Following findings were achieved. Firstly, Qinling Mountains dominantly influence climate, and hydrological process in Weihe River and upper Hanjiang River. Results show that Qinling Mountains lead to a strong north–south gradient precipitation distribution over Qinling Mountains due to orographic effects, and it reduces precipitation from 10–25 mm (December) to 55–80 mm (August) in Weihe River basin, and adds 25–50 mm (December) or 65–112 mm (August) in upper Hanjiang River basin; evapotranspiration (ET) decrease of 21% in Weihe River (August) and increase 10.5% in upper Hanjiang River (July). The Qinling Mountains reduce water yields of 23.5% in Weihe River, and decrease of 11.3% in upper Hanjiang River. Secondly, climate change is responsible for the changes of coupling effects of rainfall, land use and cover, river flow and water resources. It shows that average temperature significantly increased, and precipitation substantially reduced which leads to hydrological process changed greatly from 1950 to 2005: temperature increased and precipitation decreased, climate became drier in the past two decades (1980–2005), high levels of precipitation exists in mid-1950, mid-1970, while other studied periods are in low level states. The inter-annual variation in water yield correlates with surface runoff with an R ² value of 0.63 (Weihe River) and 0.87 (upper Hanjiang River). It shows that variation of annual precipitation was smaller than that of seasonal precipitation.     

Comparison of the streamflow sensitivity to aridity index between the Danjiangkou Reservoir basin and Miyun Reservoir basin, China

The central route of China’s South-to-North Water Diversion Project would divert water from the Danjiangkou Reservoir basin (DRB) to Beijing beginning in the year 2014. The current main surface water source for Beijing is the Miyun Reservoir basin (MRB). The observed streamflows into the DRB and the MRB decreased significantly due to climatic variation and human activities from 1960 to 2005. The climate elasticity method is widely used to quantitatively separate the impacts of climatic variation and human activities on streamflow. One of the uncertainties of the method is that the impacts of changes in precipitation and potential evapotranspiration on streamflow are separated with the assumption that they are independent. However, precipitation and potential evapotranspiration are not totally independent. Aridity index, as the ratio between potential evapotranspiration and precipitation, could be considered as the representative indicator of climatic variation. In this study, the sensitivity of streamflow to aridity index is evaluated to assess the impact of climatic variation on streamflow in the DRB and the MRB. The result shows that streamflow in the MRB is more sensitive to climatic variation than that in the DRB. However, the effective impact of aridity index on streamflow is the product of the sensitivity and the change rate of aridity index. The attribution results show that change in aridity index contributed 68.8 % of the decrease in streamflow in the DRB while it contributed 31.5 % of the decrease in streamflow in the MRB. This indicated that the impact of climatic variation was the main reason of decrease in streamflow in the DRB while human activities such as increasing water consumption and land use change were the main reasons of decreasing streamflow in the MRB.     

Spatial and temporal changes in aridity index in northwest China: 1960 to 2010

Northwest China is the driest region in China and the regional climate fluctuated dramatically during the last century. Aridity index, as the ratio between potential evapotranspiration and precipitation, is a good indicator to represent regional climate character. In this study, the change and attribution of the aridity index was investigated in northwest China using the observed climate data from 80 national meteorological stations during 1960–2010. The spatial and temporal variabilities of the aridity index shows that the annual aridity index decreased significantly (P?<?0.05) by 0.048 year^?1, indicating that northwest China became wetter from 1960 to 2010. A differentiation equation method was used to attribute the change in aridity index to climate variables. The results indicate that the aridity index was most sensitive to the change in precipitation, followed by vapor pressure, solar radiation, wind speed, and air temperature. Increase in air temperature should have led to an increase in aridity index, but this effect had been offset by the increase in precipitation and vapor pressure and the decrease in wind speed. Increasing precipitation, which contributed 91.7 % of the decrease in the aridity index, was the dominant factor to the decrease in the aridity index in northwest China from 1960 to 2010.     

Latest update of the climatology and changes in the seasonal distribution of precipitation over China

Based on daily precipitation data from 524 meteorological stations in China during the period 1960–2009, the climatology and the temporal changes (trends, interannual, and decadal variations) in the proportion of seasonal precipitation to the total annual precipitation were analyzed on both national and regional scales. Results indicated that (1) for the whole country, the climatology in the seasonal distribution of precipitation showed that the proportion accounted for 55 % in summer (June–August), for around 20 % in both spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November), and around 5 % in winter (December–February). But the spatial features were region-dependent. The primary precipitation regime, “summer–autumn–spring–winter”, was located in central and eastern regions which were north of the Huaihe River, in eastern Tibet, and in western Southwest China. The secondary regime, “summer–spring–autumn–winter”, appeared in the regions south of the Huaihe River, except Jiangnan where spring precipitation dominated, and the southeastern Hainan Island where autumn precipitation prevailed. (2) For the temporal changes on the national scale, first, where the trends were concerned, the proportion of winter precipitation showed a significantly increasing trend, while that of the other three seasons did not show any significant trends. Second, for the interannual variation, the variability in summer was the largest among the four seasons and that in winter was the smallest. Then, on the decadal scale, China experienced a sharp decrease only in the proportion of summer precipitation in 2000. (3) For the temporal changes on the regional scale, all the concerned 11 geographic regions of China underwent increasing trends in the proportion of winter precipitation. For spring, it decreased over the regions south of the Yellow River but increased elsewhere. The trend in the proportion of summer precipitation was generally opposite to that of spring. For autumn, it decreased over the other ten regions except Inner Mongolia with no trend. It is noted that the interannual variability of precipitation seasonality is large over North China, Huanghuai, and Jianghuai; its decadal variability is large over the other regions, especially over those regions south of the Yangtze River.     

Hydrologic impacts of climate change on the Nile River Basin: implications of the 2007 IPCC scenarios

We assess the potential impacts of climate change on the hydrology and water resources of the Nile River basin using a macroscale hydrology model. Model inputs are bias corrected and spatially downscaled 21st Century simulations from 11 General Circulation Models (GCMs) and two global emissions scenarios (A2 and B1) archived from the 2007 IPCC Fourth Assessment Report (AR4). While all GCMs agree with respect to the direction of 21st Century temperature changes, there is considerable variability in the magnitude, direction, and seasonality of projected precipitation changes. Our simulations show that, averaged over all 11 GCMs, the Nile River is expected to experience increase in streamflow early in the study period (2010–2039), due to generally increased precipitation. Streamflow is expected to decline during mid- (2040–2069) and late (2070–2099) century as a result of both precipitation declines and increased evaporative demand. The predicted multimodel average streamflow at High Aswan Dam (HAD) as a percentage of historical (1950–1999) annual average are 111 (114), 92 (93) and 84 (87) for A2 (B1) global emissions scenarios. Implications of these streamflow changes on the water resources of the Nile River basin were analyzed by quantifying the annual hydropower production and irrigation water release at HAD. The long-term HAD release for irrigation increases early in the century to 106 (109)% of historical, and then decreases to 87 (89) and 86 (84)% of historical in Periods II and III, respectively, for the A2 (B1) global emissions scenarios. Egypt’s hydropower production from HAD will be above the mean annual average historical value of about 10,000 GWH for the early part of 21st century, and thereafter will generally follow the streamflow trend, however with large variability among GCMs. Agricultural water supplies will be negatively impacted, especially in the second half of the century.     

The influence of precipitation intensity growth on the urban drainage systems designing

For 50 years of long observation period (1960–2009), on a high level of statistical significance (95 %), a decreasing trend of annual precipitation amounts and an increasing trend of the number of rainy days during the year (64 %) were found. For the seasonal changes (V–X), similarly, there was found a statistically significant (94 %) decreasing precipitation amount trend and an increasing trend of the number of rainy days (50 %). As far as the intensity of maximum precipitation is concerned, a very statistically significant increasing trend (95 %) was found. Taking as the basis, the model for a trend, defined for the period of 1960–2009, the increase of weighted average interval values of maximum precipitation amounts (h?≥?0.75?t ^0.5) in the year 2059 was estimated to be about 26 %, in comparison with the starting year 1960. An increasing trend of maximum precipitation frequency in Wroc?aw was also proved. To a safe sewerage systems designing in Wroc?aw according to current standards (EN 752 2008; DWA-A118 2006), the precipitation frequency to the simulations of excessive accumulation occurrences to the land level should be changed.     

近57a长江黄河源区径流量变化异同特征分析

利用1956~2012年长江和黄河源区内2个水文站点逐月流量数据,分析了近57a两江源区径流的长期变化趋势、突变特征以及周期特征的异同。结果表明:长江源区径流量月变化呈单峰型,峰值在7月;黄河源区则表现为双峰型,峰值分别出现在7月和9月。近57a来,长江源区各季节及年平均径流量均呈现上升趋势,而黄河源区表现为年平均、春季和秋季平均流量呈下降趋势,而夏季和冬季则表现为上升趋势的特征。长江源区1960年和1968年前后的突变点比较可靠,在1998年前后可能也存在一次突变;而对于黄河源区,则在1960年和1968年前后的突变点具有较高的可靠性。长江源区年径流量主要存在9~10a和准22a的变化周期,而黄河源区年径流主要存在4a、7~8a和准16a的变化周期。      

A 400-year tree-ring record of the Puelo River summer–fall streamflow in the Valdivian Rainforest eco-region, Chile

The Puelo River is a watershed shared between Chile and Argentina with a mean annual streamflow of 644 m³ s^?1. It has a high ecologic and economic importance, including introduced farmed salmon, tourism, sports fishing and projected hydroelectricity. Using Austrocedrus chilensis and Pilgerodendron uviferum tree-ring records we reconstructed summer–fall (December–May) Puelo River streamflow, which is the first of such reconstructions developed in the Pacific domain of South America. The reconstruction goes back to 1599 and has an adjusted r ² of 0.42. Spectral analysis of the reconstructed streamflow shows a dominant 84-year cycle which explains 25.1% of the total temporal variability. The Puelo River summer–fall streamflow shows a significant correlation (P?>?0.95, 1943–2002) with hydrological records throughout a vast geographic range within the Valdivian eco-region (35 to 46°S). Seasonal Puelo River interannual streamflow variability is related to large-scale oceanic and atmospheric circulation features. Summer–fall streamflows showed a significant negative correlation with the Antarctic Oscillation (AAO), whereas winter–spring anomalies appear to be positively connected with sea surface temperature variations in the tropical Pacific. In general, above- and below-average discharges in winter–spring are related to El Niño and La Niña events, respectively. The temporal patterns of the observed and reconstructed records of the Puelo River streamflow show a general decreasing trend in the 1943–1999 period. Projected circulation changes for the next decades in the Southern Hemisphere would decrease summer–fall Puelo River streamflows with significant impacts on salmon production, tourism and hydropower generation.     

Quantifying the effects of climate variability and human activities on runoff for Kaidu River Basin in arid region of northwest China

Much attention has recently been focused on the effects that climate variability and human activities have had on runoff. In this study, data from the Kaidu River Basin in the arid region of northwest China were analyzed to investigate changes in annual runoff during the period of 1960–2009. The nonparametric Mann–Kendall test and the Mann–Kendall–Sneyers test were used to identify trend and step change point in the annual runoff. It was found that the basin had a significant increasing trend in annual runoff. Step change point in annual runoff was identified in the basin, which occurred in the year around 1993 dividing the long-term runoff series into a natural period (1960–1993) and a human-induced period (1994–2009). Then, the hydrologic sensitivity analysis method was employed to evaluate the effects of climate variability and human activities on mean annual runoff for the human-induced period based on precipitation and potential evapotranspiration. In 1994–2009, climate variability was the main factor that increased runoff with contribution of 90.5 %, while the increasing percentage due to human activities only accounted for 9.5 %, showing that runoff in the Kaidu River Basin is more sensitive to climate variability than human activities. This study quantitatively distinguishes the effects between climate variability and human activities on runoff, which can do duty for a reference for regional water resources assessment and management.     

长江源区近44年气候变化的若干统计分析

利用长江源区5个气象站44年的气温、降水量资料以及其中2个探空站500hPa露点资料,分析了该地区气候变化趋势、突变等情况。结果表明：近44年来长江源区气温普遍升高,冬季升温幅度较大,夏季增温趋势明显,进入21世纪后,长江源区春季平均气温在降低,夏、秋季平均气温增高较趋缓,而冬季增温加剧的趋势十分明显;年、夏季降水量变化呈微弱减少趋势,而冬、春和秋季降水量呈现出增加趋势,其中春季增幅较大,冬季增湿趋势明显;长江源区年平均气温在20世纪60年代末70年代初就显现出波动回升的趋势,在1986年前后发生了由冷到暖的突变,冬、春季降水量均在20世纪70年代和80年代出现了由少向多的突变。长江源区气候在波动性变暖变干过程中,自1986年起出现了气候转向暖湿的信号,其主要原因在于全球变暖并由此引起的海洋蒸发和陆地蒸散加强,地气水分循环加快,空中水汽输送加强。     

Atmospheric moisture budget and floods in the Yangtze River basin, China

In this paper, we explored the trends of the atmospheric moisture budget, precipitation, and streamflow in summer during 1961 to 2005 and possible correlations between them by using the linear regression method in the Yangtze River basin, China. The results indicate that: (1) increasing tendencies can be detected in the atmospheric moisture budget, precipitation and streamflow in the Yangtze River basin; however, the significant increasing trends occur only in the atmospheric moisture budget and precipitation in the middle and lower Yangtze River basin; (2) both the ratio of summer moisture budget to annual moisture budget and the ratio of summer precipitation to annual precipitation exhibit a significant increasing trend in the Yangtze River basin. The ratio of summer streamflow to annual streamflow is in a significant increasing trend in Hankou station. Significant increasing summer precipitation can be taken as the major controlling factor responsible for the higher probability of flood hazard occurrences in the Yangtze River basin. The consecutively increasing summer precipitation is largely due to the consistently increasing moisture budget; (3) the zonal geopotential height anomaly between 1991 and 2005 and 1961 and 1990 is higher from the south to the north, which to a large degree, limits the northward propagation of the summer monsoon to north China. As a result, the summer moisture budget increases in the middle and lower Yangtze River basin, which leads to more summer precipitation. This paper sheds light on the changing properties of precipitation and streamflow and possible underlying causes, which will be greatly helpful for better understanding of the changes of precipitation and streamflow in the Yangtze River basin.