Modelling interannual variations in catchment evapotranspiration considering vegetation and climate seasonality using the Budyko framework

The Budyko framework is an efficient tool for investigating catchment water balance, focusing on the effects of seasonal changes in climate (S) and vegetation cover (M) on catchment evapotranspiration (ET). However, the effects of vegetation seasonality on ET remain largely unknown. The present study explored these effects by modelling interannual variations in ET considering vegetation and climate seasonality using the Budyko framework. Reconstructed 15-day GIMMS NDVI_3g timeseries data from 1982 to 2015 were used to estimate M and extract the relative duration of the vegetation growing season (GL) in the Yellow River Basin (YRB). To characterize S, seasonal variations in precipitation and potential ET were extracted using a Gaussian algorithm. Analysis of the observed datasets for 19 catchments revealed that interannual variation in the catchment parameter ϖ (in Fuh's equation) was significantly and positively correlated with M and GL. Conversely, ϖ was significantly but negatively correlated with S. Furthermore, stepwise linear regression was used to calibrate the empirical formula of ϖ for these three dimensionless parameters. Following validation, based on observations in the remaining 11 catchments, ϖ was integrated into Fuh's equation to accurately estimate annual ET. Over 79% subcatchments showed an upward trend (0.9 mm yr⁻¹), whereas fewer than 21% subcatchments showed a downward trend (−0.5 mm yr⁻¹) across YRB. In the central region of the middle reach, ET increased with increased M, prolonged GL, and decreased S, whereas in the source region of YRB, ET decreased with decreased M and shortened GL. Our study provides an alternative method to estimate interannual ET in ungauged catchments and offers a novel perspective to investigate hydrological responses to vegetation and climate seasonality in the long-term.     

Spatiotemporal shifts in key hydrological variables and dominant factors over China

Quantitatively and physically understanding changes in land surface hydrology is a hot topic in the hydro-meteorological research, especially over China with high population density but uneven distribution of water resources. Therefore, the spatiotemporal dynamics (i.e., the 1980s [1981–1990] and 1990s [1991–2000] relative to the baseline of 1961–1980) in evapotranspiration (ET) and streamflow/runoff (Q) were examined across 426 hydrological divisions (HDs) of China. Both the 1980s and 1990s ET decreased over roughly 50% HDs mainly in the central and southeast parts of China, while the 1980s (1990s) Q decreased over slightly higher than 50% (63%) HDs generally in north and southwest China (the central and north parts of China). Relative to the 1980s, more HDs had strong changes in ET and Q in 1990s. Based on the separated contributions of precipitation (P), reference ET and Budyko-type equation parameter n (an integrated variable of catchment property) to ET and Q changes, we found that in 1980s and 1990s, n dominated ET changes over about 60% HDs mainly in the south, with the dominant of P around 35% HDs generally in the north and northeast, while for Q changes, nearly 60% (slightly less than 40%) HDs were dominated by n (P). Moreover, the dominants for ET (Q) changes have shifted from 1980s to 1990s over 36% (45%) HDs, mainly changing from P to n. This study provides a framework for quantitatively understanding land surface hydrological dynamics from the perspectives of climatic and physiographic controls over regions.     

Trend analysis of reference evapotranspiration in Northwest China: The roles of changing wind speed and surface air temperature

Reference evapotranspiration (ET₀) is an important element in the water cycle that integrates atmospheric demands and surface conditions, and analysis of changes in ET₀ is of great significance for understanding climate change and its impacts on hydrology. As ET₀ is an integrated effect of climate variables, increases in air temperature should lead to increases in ET₀. However, this effect could be offset by decreases in vapor pressure deficit, wind speed, and solar radiation which lead to the decrease in ET₀. In this study, trends in the Penman–Monteith ET₀ at 80 meteorological stations during 1960–2010 in the driest region of China (Northwest China) were examined. The results show that there was a change point for ET₀ series around the year 1993 based on the Pettitt's test. For the region average, ET₀ decreased from 1960 to 1993 by ?2.34 mm yr^?2, while ET₀ began to increase since 1994 by 4.80 mm yr^?2. A differential equation method based on the Food and Agriculture Organization Penman–Monteith formula was used to attribute the change in ET₀. The attribution results show that the significant decrease in wind speed dominated the change in ET₀, which offset the effect of increasing air temperature and led to the decrease in ET₀ from 1960 to 1993. However, wind speed began to increase, and the amplitude of increase in air temperature also rose significantly since the mid‐1990s. Increases in air temperature and wind speed together reversed the trend in ET₀ and led to the increase in ET₀ since 1994. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Remote sensing of volumetric storage changes in lakes

Three‐dimensional remote sensing promises a giant leap forward for surface‐water hydrology in much the same way that radar altimetry transformed physical oceanography. However, the complex geometries of small terrestrial water bodies introduce difficulties, particularly with respect to trade‐offs between changing water depth and inundation area. We use in situ measurements of water‐surface stage (ΔH/dt) and remotely‐sensed area (A) to compute time varying storage changes (ΔS) in nine lakes of the Peace‐Athabasca Delta, Canada. Despite their identical geomorphic setting, regression slopes between ΔH and A vary significantly between lakes, primarily from a predictable ‘area‐effect’ but also small bathymetric variations between basins. On average, lateral contraction/expansion (versus stage adjustment) contributes as little as 7% (versus 93%) to as much as 76% (versus 24%) of overall storage change ΔS. We conclude that both surface‐area and ΔH/dt, rather than just either alone, must be measured to confidently estimate ΔS from space. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The relative contributions of alpine and subalpine ecosystems to the water balance of a mountainous,headwater catchment

Climate change is affecting the hydrology of high‐elevation mountain ecosystems, with implications for ecosystem functioning and water availability to downstream populations. We directly and continuously measured precipitation and evapotranspiration (ET) from both subalpine forest and alpine tundra portions of a single catchment, as well as discharge fluxes at the catchment outlet, to quantify the water balance of a mountainous, headwater catchment in Colorado, USA. Between 2008 and 2012, the water balance closure averaged 90% annually, and the catchment ET was the largest water output at 66% of precipitation. Alpine ET was greatest during the winter, in part because of sublimation from blowing snow, which contributed from 27% to 48% of the alpine, and 6% to 9% of the catchment water balance, respectively. The subalpine ET peaked in summer. Alpine areas generated the majority of the catchment discharge, despite covering only 31% of the catchment area. Although the average annual alpine runoff efficiency (discharge/precipitation; 40%) was greater than the subalpine runoff efficiency (19%), the subalpine runoff efficiency was more sensitive to changes in precipitation. Inter‐annual analysis of the evaporative and dryness indices revealed persistent moisture limitations at the catchment scale, although the alpine alternated between energy‐limited and water‐limited states in wet and dry years. Each ecosystem generally over‐generated discharge relative to that expected from a Budyko‐type model. The alpine and catchment water yields were relatively unaffected by annual meteorological variability, but this interpretation was dependent on the method used to quantify potential ET. Our results indicate that correctly accounting for dissimilar hydrological cycling above and below alpine treeline is critical to quantify the water balance of high‐elevation mountain catchments over periods of meteorological variability. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Potential evapotranspiration and its attribution over the past 50 years in the arid region of Northwest China

Evaporation paradox and its attribution have become a hot research topic in hydrology in recent years. This study estimates the potential evapotranspiration (ET₀) using modified Penman–Monteith method and analyzes the corresponding trend attribution based on the long‐term meteorological data collected at 81 ground‐based meteorological stations in Northwestern arid region of China during the period 1958–2010. The analysis results show: (1) The ET₀ has exhibited an obvious decreasing trend until the early 1990s; however, the downward trend has been reversed to an upward trend after then. (2) Decrease in diurnal temperature range (DTR) and wind speed (WS) may lead to the decrease of ET₀ during 1956–1993. The change of dominant factors in the ET₀ trend has differences after the early 1990s; observed increase in WS is the primary factor contributing to the reversion of ET₀. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The impact of taro (Colocasia esculenta) cultivation on the total evaporation of a Cyperus latifolius marsh

Total evaporation (ET) is one of the major components of the water budget of a wetland. Very little research has been conducted on the loss of water to the atmosphere from different wetland vegetation types occurring in southern Africa. This study on the ET of taro (locally known as madumbe) and sedge within the Mbongolwane wetland was conducted to assess the potential impact of madumbe cultivation on the hydrology of the wetland. Sugarcane planted on the contributing catchment outside the wetland was the other crop examined. Two field campaigns were conducted in November 2009 and January 2010 during the growing season of the madumbe crop to quantify ET rates in the Mbongolwane wetland and from sugar cane in the surrounding catchment. ET was measured over two vegetation types in the wetland, namely: madumbe (Colocasia esculenta); sedge (Cyperus latifolius) with some reeds (Phragmites australis); and sugarcane in adjacent terrestrial areas. ET from the madumbes ranged from 1.0 to 6.0 mm day^?1. The daily average ET rates in November 2009 were 3.5 and 4.9 mm for the madumbe and sedge sites, respectively, and 4.0 mm for sugarcane grown in the catchment. The daily average ET rates in January 2010 were 3.3 and 3.7 mm for the madumbes and sedge sites, respectively, and 2.4 mm for the sugarcane site. The daily ET was therefore lower at the madumbe site in November 2009 and in January 2010 compared to the sedge site. An average crop factor of 0.6 was obtained from this study during the growth stage of the madumbes. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spatiotemporal variations of reference evapotranspiration in recent five decades in the arid land of Northwestern China

Spatial and temporal variations of reference evapotranspiration (ET₀) are useful for regional agricultural and water resources management as well as required in most distributed hydrological modelling. In the current study, the Penman–Monteith estimated ET₀ in the arid land of Northwestern China has been explicitly explored using the Mann–Kendall test. Most stations in the study region exhibited significant decreasing trend of ET₀ (P < 0.05) with only few occasions showing significant increasing trend (P < 0.05), despite the increase of temperature in the entire region. Analysis results revealed that the overall decreasing wind speed contributed most to the decreasing trend of ET₀, whereas the contributions of relative humidity and sunshine duration were limited. Temperature played the second important role on determining ET₀ trend, but its effect was opposite to that of wind speed and was largely offset by the decreasing wind speed. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis suggested the impact of temperature to ET₀ was much larger than formerly reported if its effect on saturated vapour deficit was taken into account. The results obtained in the current study will help for better understanding of the effects of climate changes to water resource management in the arid land of northwest China. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Performance of the White method for estimating groundwater evapotranspiration under conditions of deep and fluctuating groundwater

The White method is a simple but the most frequently applied approach to estimate groundwater evapotranspiration (ET_g) from groundwater level diurnal signals. Because of a lack of direct measurements of ET_g, it is difficult to evaluate the performance of the White method, particularly in field environments with variable groundwater fluctuations. A 2‐year field observation in a hyper‐arid riparian tamarisk (Tamarix spp.) stand with deep groundwater depth in the lower Tarim River basin of China was conducted to measure the surface evapotranspiration (ET_s) and groundwater table. The performance of the White method and the influences of the variable groundwater fluctuations on the determinations of the specific yield (S_y) and recharge rate of groundwater (r) in the White method were investigated. The results showed that the readily available S_y determined by Loheide's method was feasible but must be finely determined based on the soil textures in the layers in which the groundwater level fluctuated. A constant S_y value for a defined porous medium could be assumed regardless of the discharge or recharge processes of groundwater. The time span of 0000 h to 0600 h for r estimation for the White method worked best than other time spans. A 2‐day moving average of r values further enhance ET_g estimation. Slight effects of environmental or anthropogenic disturbances on the diurnal fluctuations of groundwater level did not influence the ET_g estimations by the White method. Our results provide valuable references to the application of the White method for estimating daily ET_g in desert riparian forests with deep groundwater depth. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Interpreting characteristic drainage timescale variability across Kilombero Valley,Tanzania

We explore seasonal variability and spatiotemporal patterns in characteristic drainage timescale (K) estimated from river discharge records across the Kilombero Valley in central Tanzania. K values were determined using streamflow recession analysis with a Brutsaert–Nieber solution to the linearized Boussinesq equation. Estimated K values were variable, comparing between wet and dry seasons for the relatively small catchments draining upland positions. For the larger catchments draining through valley bottoms, K values were typically longer and more consistent across seasons. Variations in K were compared with long‐term averaged, Moderate‐resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer‐derived monthly evapotranspiration. Although the variations in K were potentially related to evapotranspiration, the influence of data quality and analysis procedure could not be discounted. As such, even though recession analysis offers a potential approach to explore aquifer release timescales and thereby gain insight to a region's hydrology to inform water resources management, care must be taken when interpreting spatiotemporal shifts in K in connection with process representation in regions like the Kilombero Valley. © 2014 The Authors. Hydrological Processes published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

Wetlands and low-gradient topography are associated with longer hydrologic transit times in Precambrian Shield headwater catchments

The estimation of hydrologic transit times in a catchment provides insights into the integrated effects of water storage, mixing dynamics, and runoff generation processes. There has been limited effort to estimate transit times in southern boreal Precambrian Shield landscapes, which are characteristically heterogeneous with surface cover including till, thin soils, bedrock outcrops, and depressional wetland features that play contrasting hydrologic roles. This study presents approximately 3.5 years of precipitation and streamflow water isotope data and estimates mean transit times (MTTs) and the young water fraction (p_y) across six small catchments in the Muskoka-Haliburton region of south-central Ontario. The main objectives were to define a typical range of MTTs for headwater catchments in this region and to identify landscape variables that best explain differences in MTTs/p_y using airborne light detection and ranging and digital terrain analysis. Of the transit time distributions, the two parallel linear reservoir and gamma distributions best describe the hydrology of these catchments, particularly because of their ability to capture more extreme changes related to events such as snowmelt. The estimated MTTs, regardless of the modelling approach or distribution used, are positively associated with the percent wetland area and negatively with mean slope in the catchments. In this landscape, low-gradient features such as wetlands increase catchment scale water storage when antecedent conditions are dryer and decrease transit times when there is a moisture surplus, which plausibly explains the increases in MTTs and mean annual runoff from catchments with significant coverage of these landscape features.     

Snowpack disrupts relationship between young water fraction and isotope amplitude ratio; approximately one fifth of mountain streamflow less than one year old

Previous “fraction of young water” (F_yw) estimates based on relative annual isotopic amplitudes in precipitation (A_p) and streamflow (A_s) produced low F_yw values in mountain catchments, which is contrary to extensive research that reports rapid water transmission in mountains. This study investigated this discrepancy by testing the effect of snow accumulation on the model that underpins the F_yw method. A Monte-Carlo analysis of simulations for 20,000 randomly-generated catchment model configurations used 10 years of precipitation inputs for the Upper Elbow River catchment in the Rocky Mountains (Alberta, Canada) to model discharge with and without snowpack storage of winter precipitation. Neither direct nor modified precipitation input produced a 1:1 relationship between A_s/A_p and F_yw, undermining the applicability of the original F_yw method in mountain watersheds with large seasonal snow accumulation. With snowpack-modified input a given A_s/A_p ratio corresponds to a range of F_yw values, which can still provide semi-quantitative information. In the small (435 km²) Elbow River catchment a F_yw range of 7–23% supports previous findings of rapid transmission in mountain catchments. Further analysis showed that the improved discharge prediction (Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency > 0.9) correlates with higher F_yw values and demonstrated that the interannual shifts in δ¹⁸O can be used to estimate of new water (<1 year) fraction in winter streamflow, and the estimate of 20% for the Elbow River further supports rapid transmission in mountain catchments.     

Seasonal snow cover decreases young water fractions in high Alpine catchments

Estimation of young water fractions (F_yw), defined as the fraction of water in a stream younger than approximately 2–3 months, provides key information for water resource management in catchments where runoff is dominated by snowmelt. Knowing the average dependence of summer flow on winter precipitation is an essential context for comparing regional drought severity and provides the hydrological template for downstream water users and ecosystems. However, F_yw estimation based on seasonal signals of stable isotopes of oxygen and hydrogen has not yet explicitly addressed how to parsimoniously include the seasonal shift of water input from snow. Using experimental data from three high-elevation, Alpine catchments (one dominated by glacier and two by snow), we propose a framework to explicitly include the delays induced by snow storage into estimates of F_yw. Scrutinizing the key methodological choices when estimating F_yw from isotope data, we find that the methods used to construct precipitation input signals from sparse isotope samples can significantly impact F_yw. Given this sensitivity, our revised procedure estimates a distribution of F_yw values that incorporates a wide range of possible methodological choices and their uncertainties; it furthermore compares the commonly used amplitude ratio approach to a direct convolution approach, which circumvents the assumption that the isotopic signals have a sine curve shape, an assumption that is generally violated in snow-dominated environments. Our new estimates confirm that high-elevation Alpine catchments have low F_yw values, spanning from 8 to 11%. Such low values have previously been interpreted as the impact of seasonal snow storage alone, but our comparison of different F_yw estimation methods suggests that these low F_yw values result from a combination of both snow cover effects and longer storage in the subsurface. In contrast, in the highest elevation, glacier dominated catchment, F_yw is 3–4 times greater compared to the other two catchments, due to the lower storage and faster drainage processes. A future challenge, capturing spatio-temporal snowmelt isotope signals during winter baseflow and the snowmelt period, remains to improve constraints on the F_yw estimation technique.     

Use of stable water isotopes to identify hydrological processes of meteoric water in montane catchments

This study analyzes the stable isotopic compositions of hydrogen and oxygen (δ²H, δ¹⁸O) in montane meteoric waters including precipitation and stream water of central Taiwan to identify hydrological processes in montane catchments. Results of precipitation demonstrate that monsoon and altitude effects are two principal processes affecting δ and deuterium excess (d^E) values of inland precipitation in central Taiwan. Furthermore, slope and intercept values of summer and winter local meteoric water line are modified by secondary evaporation effects such as moisture recycling and raindrop evaporation. Additionally, stream water's results indicate that differences in δ values among stream waters reflect isotopic altitude effect whereby lower values are more evident in stream water originating from high‐elevation catchments than low‐elevation catchments. Comparison of the isotopic results between precipitation and stream water indicates that summer precipitation containing recycled moisture is the most important water source for the studied stream waters and indicates that catchment effect and base flow contribution are the two major hydrological processes affecting mountain stream hydrology. The hydrological processes identified by the isotopic study re‐stress the important role of forests in mountain hydrology. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Measuring water availability with limited ground data: assessing the feasibility of an entirely remote‐sensing‐based hydrologic budget of the Rufiji Basin,Tanzania, using TRMM,GRACE, MODIS,SRB, and AIRS

This study explores the feasibility of an entirely satellite remote sensing (RS)‐based hydrologic budget model for a ground data‐constrained basin, the Rufiji basin in Tanzania, from the balance of runoff (Q), precipitation (P), storage change (ΔS), and evapotranspiration (ET). P was determined from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission, ΔS from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment, and ET from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, the surface radiation budget, and the Atmosphere Infrared Radiation Sounder. Q was estimated as a residual of the water balance and tested against measured Q for a sub‐basin of the Rufiji (the Usangu basin) where ground measurements were available (R² = 0.58, slope = 1.9, root mean square error = 29 mm/month, bias = 14%). We also tested a geographical information system (GIS)‐driven (ArcCN‐runoff) runoff model (R² = 0.64, slope = 0.43, root mean square error = 39 mm/month). We conducted an error propagation analysis from each of the model's hydrologic components (P, ET, and ΔS). We find that the RS‐based model amplitude is most sensitive to ET and slightly less so to P, whereas the model's seasonal trends are most sensitive to ?S. Although RS–GIS‐driven models are becoming increasingly used, our results indicate that long‐term water resource assessment policy and management may be more appropriate than ‘instantaneous’ or short‐term water resource assessment. However, our analyses help develop a series of tools and techniques to progress our understanding of RS–GIS in water resource management of data‐constrained basins at the level of a water resource manager. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Assessment of reference evapotranspiration across an arid urban environment having poor data monitoring system

Estimation of reference evapotranspiration (ET₀) in urban areas is challenging but essential in arid urban climates. To evaluate ET₀ in an urban environment and non-urban areas, air temperature and relative humidity were measured at five different sites across the arid city of Isfahan, Iran, over 4 years. Wind speed and sunshine hours were obtained from an urban surrounding weather station over the same period and used to estimate ET₀. Calculated ET₀ was compared with satellite-based ET₀ retrieved from the MOD16A2 PET product. Although MODIS PET was strongly correlated with the Valiantzas equation, it overestimated ET₀ and showed average accuracy (r = 0.93–0.94, RMSE = 1.18–1.28 mm/day, MBE = 0.73–0.84 mm/day). The highest ET₀ differences between an urban green space and a non-urban area were 1.1 and 0.87 mm/day, which were estimated by ground measurements and MODIS PET, respectively. The sensitivity of ET₀ to wind speed and sunshine hours indicated a significant effect on cumulative ET₀ at urban sites compared to the non-urban site, which has a considerable impact on the amount of irrigation required in those areas. Although MODIS PET requires improvement to accurately reflect field level microclimate conditions affecting ET₀, it is beneficial to hydrological applications and water resource managers especially in areas where data is limited. In addition, our results indicated that using limited data methods or meteorological data from regional weather stations, leads to incorrect estimation of ET₀ in urban areas. Therefore, decision-makers and urban planners should consider the importance of precisely estimating ET₀ to optimize management of urban green space irrigation, especially in arid and semi-arid climates such as the city of Isfahan.     

Hydrology and related changes after harvesting native forest catchments and establishing pinus radiata plantations. Part 1. Introduction to study

The hydrology of eight small catchments (1.63–8.26 ha) has been monitored in Westland, New Zealand since 1975. Two of these catchments were left in indigenous beech-podocarp-hardwood forest and the rest were subjected to various harvesting and land preparation treatments before being planted with Pinus radiata. This paper introduces a series of papers on the hydrology of the indigenous forest catchments and the changes that occurred after treatment. The catchments, experimental programme, climate of the area and the rainfall regime experienced between 1975 and 1987 are described.     

Statistical downscaling of reference evapotranspiration in Haihe River Basin: applicability assessment and application to future projection

Future changes in reference evapotranspiration (ET₀) are of increasing importance in assessing the potential impacts on hydrology and water resources systems of more pronounced climate change. This study assesses the applicability of the Statistical Downscaling Model (SDSM) in projecting ET₀, and investigates the seasonal and spatial patterns of future ET₀ based on general circulation models (GCMs) across the Haihe River Basin. The results indicate that SDSM can downscale ET₀ well in term of different basin-averaged measures for the HadCM3 and CGCM3 GCMs. HadCM3 has a much superior capability in capturing inter-annual variability compared to CGCM3 and thus is chosen as the sole model to assess the changes in future ET₀. There are three homogeneous sub-regions of the Haihe River Basin: Northwest, Northeast and Southeast. Change points are detected at around 2050 and 2080 under the A2 and B2 scenarios, respectively. The Northwest is revealed to have a slight to strong increase in ET₀, while the Northeast and the Southeast tend to experience a pattern change from decrease to increase in ET₀.

EDITOR M.C. Acreman

ASSOCIATE EDITOR J. Thompson     

Elevation-dependent changes in reference evapotranspiration due to climate change

The Food and Agriculture Organizations' (FAO) Penman–Monteith reference evapotranspiration (ET₀) is a crucial index in the research of water and energy balance. Temporal and spatial variations in ET₀ from 1981–2017 were investigated in the Hengduan Mountains, China_. The results showed a change point around the year 2000 in ET₀ series. ET₀ decreased and increased significantly by +3.200 mm/year (p < 0.01) from 1981–2000 and by +4.109 mm/year (p < 0.01) from 2001–2017, respectively. The contribution analysis shows that the positive significant contribution of air temperature (TA) was offset by negative effects of decreases in downward shortwave radiation (R_s) and wind speed (WS) and an increase in actual vapour pressure (e_a), causing the decrease in ET₀ from 1981 to 2000. WS was the largest contributing factor for the decrease in ET₀ from 1981 to 2000 during spring, winter and annually, while R_s and e_a were the largest negative contributors in summer and autumn, respectively. An increase in TA was responsible for the increase in ET₀ in all seasons except winter and the annual scale in 2001–2017. The sensitivity analysis shows that ET₀ was most sensitive to TA, and WS was the least sensitive variable. The trends of ET₀ increased with elevation; we denote this as the elevation-dependence of ET₀ changes. The elevation-dependence was also noted for the trends of WS and e_a, with higher elevations showing larger changes in WS and lower changes in e_a. Besides, the sensitivities of TA, R_s and e_a decreased with elevation, while that of WS increased slightly with elevation. A comprehensive investigation into the trends of climatic drivers and their sensitivities revealed complex trends of the contributions of climatic variables on ET₀ with elevation, with no uniform trend existed in seasons. The results will contribute to our understanding of the response of ET₀ to climate change in a mountainous area, and provide a guideline for the water resources management under climate change.     

Hydrology and related changes after harvesting native forest catchments and establishing pinus radiata plantations. Part 2. The native forest water balance and changes in streamflow after harvesting

Six small, steep, south-west facing catchments (1.63–4.62 ha) have been monitored in Westland, New Zealand since 1974. Two catchments were retained in native mixed evergreen forest and the rest were subjected to various harvesting and land preparation techniques before being planted with Pinus radiata between 1977 and 1980. The 11-year water balance for the native forest catchments was: rain = streamflow + interception loss + transpiration + seepage (2370mm = 1290mm + 620mm + 360mm + 100mm). In the year after treatment streamflow generally increased by 200–250 mm, except for one treatment (clearfelling, herbicide application, no riparian reserve) where the increase was 550 mm. The catchments were planted with Pinus radiata, but rapid colonization by bracken (Pteridium esculentum) and Himalayan honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa) led to a rapid decline in streamflow, which returned to pre-treatment levels after an average of about five years. Streamflow yields then continued to decline for another two to three years before stabilizing at a level about 250mm yr^?1 lower than pre-treatment levels. At this time the catchments had a dense bracken/honeysuckle understorey beneath 5 m tall pine trees.