Spatiotemporal Variation and Factors Influencing Water Yield Services in the Hengduan Mountains, China

Abstract

Conducting a quantitative assessment of water yield in mountainous areas is crucial for the management, development, and sustainable utilization of water resources. The Hengduan Mountains Region (HDMR) is a significant water-supporting area characterized by complex topography and climate changes. To analyze the spatial and temporal variations of water yield in the HDMR from 2001 to 2020, we employed the InVEST model and examined the influencing factors in conjunction with the elevation gradient. Our results indicate that: (1) The water yield in the Hengduan Mountains decreases from southeast to northwest, with the southwestern and eastern regions having high water yield values, and the high-altitude areas in the northwestern part having low water yield values. (2) The water yield in the Hengduan Mountains exhibits a decreasing trend followed by an increasing trend from 2001 to 2020, with the lowest level in 2011 and higher levels in 2004, 2018, and 2020. (3) Pixel-based trend analysis demonstrates a decreasing trend in water yield in the central and western parts of the study area, while the eastern part shows an increasing trend. (4) The climatic components, particularly precipitation, predominantly influence the spatial and temporal variations of water yield in the Transverse Mountain region. In most areas, evapotranspiration and land surface temperature have a negative impact on water yield. (5) Water yield tends to decrease and then increase on the altitudinal gradient, with precipitation and actual evapotranspiration being the factors directly affecting water yield, and land surface temperature and the proportion of forested areas having a significant indirect effect on water yield. Our study provides a scientific basis for water resources management and sustainable development in the Hengduan Mountains.