Temporal and spatial variation of water level in urbanizing plain river network region

• Published in: Water science and technology Vol. 69; no. 11; pp. 2191 - 2199
• Main Authors: Xu, Guanglai, Xu, Youpeng, Luo, Xian, Xu, Hongliang, Xu, Xiaohua, Hu, Chunsheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London International Water Association 01-01-2014; IWA Publishing
• Subjects: Applied sciences; China; Cities; Coefficient of variation; Coefficients; Continental surface waters; Exact sciences and technology; Flooding; Hydrology; Indicators; Mathematical analysis; Natural water pollution; Pollution; Regions; River networks; Rivers; Spatial variations; Stations; Time Factors; Urban areas; Urban Renewal; Urbanization; Variation; Water levels; Water treatment and pollution; China; temporal and spatial variation; Yangtze River Delta; Alteration; Urban area; Spatial variation; Time variation; Water level; peri-urban; hydrologic alteration; Surface water; Urbanization; Stream; Anthropogenic factor
• ISSN: 0273-1223; 1996-9732
• DOI: 10.2166/wst.2014.133

As one of the most developed regions in China, the plain of East China is undergoing gradually increased flooding under the obvious urbanization process. This paper mainly analyses the trend of water level time series in the region during the past decades, and assesses the temporal and spatial variation of water level and indicators of hydrological alteration. The results show that there is a trend of increasing water level. Bigger slope and higher significant level can be observed in monthly minimum than in monthly maximum water level, in peri-urban than in urban areas. Meanwhile, it is observed that the mean monthly minimum and maximum water level increased in both urban and peri-urban regions, while decreased coefficients of variation (Cv) in urban and increased Cv in peri-urban regions were calculated. Most indicators of hydrologic alteration in urban stations are concentrated to the range of variability approach target, while most indicators are discrete in peri-urban stations. And the degree of hydrologic alteration is higher in peri-urban than in urban regions.