Combining the digital filtering method with the SWAT model to simulate spatiotemporal variations of baseflow in a mountainous river basin

Study region

Ganjiang River Basin, a typical mountainous river basin which located on the south bank of the middle-lower Yangtze River. The Ganjiang River is the seventh largest tributary of the Yangtze River.

Study focus

Baseflow, a key recharge source for the river streamflow. This study combined the digital filtering method with the SWAT model to examine the temporal and spatial patterns of baseflow across the Ganjiang River Basin, and quantitatively assessed land use change impact on baseflow.

New hydrological insights for the region

Baseflow in the Ganjiang River Basin shows a "single peak" intra-annual distribution. Monthly variations of streamflow and baseflow across the basin are different. The variation of baseflow index is generally opposite to that of streamflow. A positive correlation has been noted between the annual baseflow and streamflow, while a negative correlation was found between the annual baseflow index and precipitation. Due to the potential influence of basin topography, river flow direction and rock layer distribution, baseflow and baseflow modulus showed a spatially increasing trend from south to north, with the northwest region having extremely strong groundwater recharge. In comparison to the basic scenario, under extreme land use scenarios of forest, grassland, and cropland, baseflow may experience an increase of 14.7 % and 2.9 %, while witness a decrease of 13.9 %. All results improve the understanding of baseflow spatiotemporal variations in river basins.