Effects of precipitation and land use/cover changes on the spatio-temporal distribution of the water yield in the Huang-Huai-Hai basin, China

The Huang-Huai-Hai River Basin (HHHRB) is an important agricultural and economic region of China. Studying the characteristics of the spatio-temporal variations in water yield and the influencing mechanisms of these variations in the HHHRB are of great significance for sustainable development and ecosystem conservation. In this study, based on the InVEST model and scenario-simulation method, the spatio-temporal distributions of water yield in the HHHRB from 1980 to 2020 and the impacts of changes in precipitation (CP) and land use/cover change (LUCC) on water yield in the study area were analyzed. The results show that the high-value water yield areas are distributed in the Huai River Basin (HuRB), the southeastern Hai River Basin (HaRB) and the southern Yellow River Basin (YRB). From 1980 to 2020, the water yield in the HHHRB increased by 976.29 × 10 8 m 3 , or 75.04%. From 1980 to 2020, the contribution rates of CP and LUCC to water yield were 93.28% and 6.72%, respectively. Thus, the influence of CP on water yield is much more significant than that of LUCC. The HuRB had the largest water yield, it also had the largest precipitation amount. However, the water yield in the HaRB had the strongest spatial heterogeneity because this region had the most complex topographic, climatic, and land use/cover spatial distribution patterns. The results will be of great significance to the effective planning and management of water resources in HHHRB.