Quantitative Contributions of Climate and Human Activities to Streamflow and Sediment Load in the Xiliugou Basin of China

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The authors assess the contribution of climate change and human activities on streamflow and sediment load in the Xiliugou Basin. I consider this to be an interesting study and recommend acceptance with minor revisions. Specific comments are provided below.

1. Introduction: I note that the authors used the Bayesian Change Point Detection to evaluate the mutation points. This is rarely seen in previous streamflow and sediment load related studies. Therefore, I think the reasons for choosing this method and the advantages should be added in the introduction.

2. Introduction: The introduction section describes the current state of relevant research, but I think the description of the innovations is still lacking and I suggest to add it.

3. Materials and Methods: The authors used data from only one station for their study. Are there other sites in the region? It is recommended that the authors provide additional information on the reasons for using data from only one station.

4. Lines 121‒123: Please add relevant references, or data to support the division into wet and dry seasons.

5. Materials and Methods: It is recommended that the authors add the necessary formulas and calculation steps in subsection 2.3.2.

6. Lines 302‒303: The contribution of human activities exceeds 100%. I think the authors should clarify the reasons for this situation or discuss them.

7. Figures 7 and 8 are recommended to be merged.

8. Conclusions: I think the findings should be refined again on the basis of the manuscript revisions.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

The overall english level is fine.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The paper, based on observed data of precipitation, streamflow, and sediment load in the Xiliugou Basin from 1990 to 2021, employs the Coefficient of Variation (CV), Bayesian Change Point Detection, and the Double Mass Curve (DMC) method to analyze the trends and abrupt change characteristics of these data. There is a clear research purpose. The study results provide a detailed presentation of the time series changes in streamflow and sediment load, and attempt to distinguish the impacts of climate change and human activities. The research approach is clear, and the methods are scientifically sound and rational. The findings are significant for understanding regional water resource management under changing environmental conditions. With some revisions, particularly in expanding the discussion and clarifying the methods, the manuscript could make a valuable contribution to the field.

Reviewer's Comments:

1，The study provides a valuable analysis of the impacts of climate change and human activities on streamflow and sediment load in the Xiliugou Basin. However, the authors should discuss the broader implications of their findings within the context of global climate change (Precipiation and Temperature) and water resource (Streamflows) management.  How does climate change drive streamflows ?

2，The use of theDouble Mass Curve (DMC) and Bayesian Change Point Detection is appropriate for the analysis. Yet, the manuscript would benefit from a more detailed description of the data preprocessing steps （Not just introduction）and the rationale behind selecting specific statistical methods. Specifically, Table show Influence of climate change and human activities on sediment load by DMC in Section 3, How do you processing the data ? it is not clear.

3，the authors should provide a more thorough explanation of the relation between human activity and hydrological onsequences of these trends. 3.3.1 Land Use Changes is not necessary. Land use change is not all human activities. 

4,The discussion section could be expanded to explore the study's findings in relation to other regional and global studies. The auhor should reoganized this section according to their findings. 

For example, it is said "we utilized precipitation as a proxy for climate change to analyze the influence of human activities and climate change on sediment load" in line 358, but followed by "The results reveal that human activities significantly reduced the sediment load during the period of change in the Xiliugou Basin." in line  359 and 360.  Does Precipitation belong to human activities?

The author said "it is crucial to explore the response mechanisms of streamflow and sediment load to precipitation more comprehen sively." in line 391, it is really main topics according to your aim and titles, but it not been studied clearly

Figures and Tables:

Figure 1. too much blank. Please just show Xiliugoou in the main map.

Figure 3 should be given labels for the lines, colors and points.

 

Figure 5 , what is the Sedimentload and Streamflow ？

 

Figure 7. the two bar figures (b and d) did not show all the type of the land use clearly.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

In the manuscript titled "Quantitative Contributions of Climate and Human Activities  on Streamflow and Sediment Load in the Xiliugou Basin of China," the authors presented the dynamics and influencing factors of streamflow and sediment load changes in Xiliugou, focusing on their dynamic changes, the impacts of climate change and human activities, and the influence of land use. The findings offer valuable theoretical insights to bolster climate change response strategies and ecological environmental protection measures, warranting only minor revisions before potential publication in Sustainability.

 

 

In Figure 5, adding details about the symbols (triangles and circles) in the legend would make it easier to understand.

 

For Figure 9, explaining what different correlation coefficients mean (like "significantly correlated" or "moderately correlated") would help readers better understand the data.

 

 

Regarding the effects of human activities and climate change, the authors should consider detailing the normalization method used for these variables to ensure transparency and reproducibility in the analysis.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 4 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The article is very interesting and topical in terms of understanding the impact of humans and climate on water bodies. A very hot topic at this time in history. 

The authors describe the context of their article well. The methodology used is very thorough and the authors provide a good explanation of each step of their work and of all the indices they have used. The results were clear to me and each graph helps to understand them. 

I have only a few comments.

I would enlarge Figure 1 and the location within the Huanghe Basin region. 

I would put a very light grid under the subsequent graphs showing variables, so that the value of a point in the middle of the graph can be traced immediately. 

In figure 8, I would make the red lines of the impenetrable forest more pronounced, they get lost a little if they are too light. 

 

The work is very interesting and helps to make people think about the impact that humans leave, not only on water bodies, but on the world in general. 

 

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

I agree to accept this manuscript at the present form. Thanks.