Response analysis of rainfall–runoff processes using wavelet transform: a case study of the alpine meadow belt |
| |
| Authors: | Hai‐Long Liu An‐Ming Bao Xi Chen Ling Wang Xiang‐liang Pan |
| |
| Institution: | 1. Water Resources and Architectural Engineering College of Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, P.R. China;2. Key Laboratory of Oasis Ecology and Desert Environment, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, P.R. China;3. Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, P.R. China;4. Normal College of Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, P.R. China |
| |
| Abstract: | Rainfall–runoff processes appear to be highly nonlinear in Bayinbluk watersheds of the northwestern China. In this study, the time‐scale wavelet transform has been used for the analysis of this nonstationary system. The Haar and Morlet wavelet transform were used to analyse the rainfall–runoff conversion relationship. Wavelet power spectrum and change point methods are also employed to analyse rainfall rates and runoffs measured at daily to half‐hourly sampling rate. The four experimental sites (Luoto, Haer, Kuce and Shengl) are located in the Tianshan Mountains (Xinjiang province, China). Correlation analysis and wavelet transform are first applied to runoff process in different underlying surfaces. Wavelet analyses of rainfall rates and runoffs also give meaningful information on the temporal variability of the rainfall–runoff relationship. Change point and wavelet power spectrum analysis provide simple interpretation of energy distribution between different scales. The results indicate that wavelet transform is a good method for analysing the nonlinear relationship of temporal–spatial responses between rainfall and runoff. This method allowed quantification of the processes affecting runoff and provided an insight into their implications in surface water management. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
| |
| Keywords: | nonlinearity wavelet transform change point wavelet power spectrum |
|
|
