Effect of urban green space changes on the role of rainwater runoff reduction in Beijing, China

•The green space area reduced by 199km2 and became fragmented from 2000 to 2010.•The annual runoff reduction volume ranged from 132millionm3 to 198millionm3.•The rainwater runoff reduction rate decreased by 6% with the land cover changes.•The green space with larger LPI and AI is suitable for flooding risk reduction. The effects of urban green spaces on stormwater runoff have increasingly attracted attention because of climate change and rapid urbanization conditions. This study investigates the spatial–temporal changes of urban green spaces in Beijing and estimates their effects on rainwater runoff reduction based on an empirical model. Results indicate that green spaces in Beijing decreased by 199km2 from 2000 to 2010 and that landscape patches became increasingly isolated and fragmented. The volume of rainwater runoff controlled by urban green spaces first increased and then decreased with the increase in summer rainfall. The runoff reduction rate continuously decreased from 23% in 2000 to 17% in 2010, which is mainly attributed to the composition changes in urban green spaces. In addition, an immense regional difference that is closely related to the changes in the largest patch and aggregation indices of urban green spaces are observed in different regions. This study recommends an optimal landscape pattern of urban green spaces for the planning and management of green spaces in highly urbanized areas.