Influence of human-induced land use change on hydrological processes in semi-humid and semi-arid region: A case in the Fenhe River Basin

Study Region: The Fenhe River Basin (FRB) is an important tributary of the Yellow River Basin and locate in a semi-arid and semi-humid region in northwest China. Over the past four decades, significant anthropogenic activities have resulted in significant land use and land cover change (LUCC) that have markedly impacted hydrological processes in FRB. Study Focus: To analyze land use changes under multiple historical land use scenarios from LU1980 to LU2015, and to establish the Water and Energy transfer Processes in Large basins (WEP-L) model to quantify the influences of LUCC on hydrological processes, particularly on baseflow. New hydrological insights for the region: LUCC from LU1980 to LU2015 resulted in a 14.5 % increase in water yield (WY) and a 2.7 % and 1.4 % decrease in baseflow (BF) and evapotranspiration, respectively. Urbanization led to a significant increase in WY and a reduction in BF, exhibiting strong spatial gradients between urban centers and their peripheries. Increases in forestland decreased WY, while ET showed no significant change due to large absolute values and moisture limitations. Furthermore, the response of BF to forest cover exhibits spatial variation. A negative correlation between BF and forest cover was evident in upstream, whereas no significant correlation was observed in downstream. The findings of this study offer valuable insights for land use planning and sustainable watershed management in semi-arid semi-humid region. [Display omitted] •From 1980-2015, LUCC in FRB resulted in a decrease in cropland and an increase in urban land.•The LUCC led to 14.5% increase in water yield, 2.7% decrease in baseflow, and 1.4% decrease in evapotranspiration.•Urbanization led to a significant increase in WY and a reduction in BF, exhibiting strong spatial gradients in urban areas.•The response of baseflow to forest cover exhibits spatial variation between the upstream and downstream areas of FRB.