EVOLUTION AND INFLUENCING FACTORS OF WATER YIELD AND WATER CONSERVATION SERVICES IN THE YELLOW RIVER SOURCE AREA FROM 2000 TO 2020

Abstract

. The Yellow River Source Area (YRSA) in China is an important water yield and water conservation area in the Yellow River basin. Alterations in climate and landscape patterns have had a significant impact on the water yield and conservation services of the YRSA. In this study, we used a modified parameter water yield module of the InVEST model to calculate water yield and a modified equation to calculate water conservation in order to evaluate the spatiotemporal changes in water yield and water conservation services in the YRSA from 2000 to 2020. The results show that water yield and water conservation in the YRSA increased at rates of 14.72 mm/5a and 10.03 mm/5a, respectively, from 2000 to 2020, and both showed a decreasing pattern from southeast to northwest. Precipitation is the main driving factor of water ecosystem services in the YRSA. An appropriate increase in vegetation coverage is conducive to an increase in water yield and water conservation, and an increase in grassland and forest area has a positive impact on water yield and water conservation services. This study provides insights into high-quality development and water resource protection in the YRSA.