Impacts of Climate Change and Variability on Hydro-climate Regimes of the Yellow River

This paper examines the impacts of climate variability upon the regional hydro climate regimes of the Yellow River in China. The relationship between precipitation and streamflow of the Yellow River and several climate variability indices, such as the El Nino - Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the South Oscillation Index (SOT), the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO), and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), indicate that the inter annual variation of average annual precipitation is related to ENSO and SOI, and decadal variation of annual precipitation is related to IPO and PDO. The decreasing trend streamflow of the Yellow River result from mixed effects of climate change and variability, as well as human activities. The results of this paper can be used as a reference for watershed water resources planning and management to maintain the healthy life and proper function of the river.