The impact of climatic warm-wet situation of the Tibetan Plateau on the water resources and environment in Qaidam Basin

Through studying the changes for meteorological factors, runoff and land cover in Golmud and Delingha in Qaidam Basin, it is found that the water resources and environment has been influenced significantly by climatic warm-wet situation in the-Tibetan Plateau. In the study area, the temperature increases significantly, the drought index decreases significantly, and the climatic warm-wet situation is significant. From 2000 to 2016, the annual average temperature increased respectively 1.7℃ and 1.3℃, annual average precipitation increased respectively 2 mm and 63 mm, annual average runoff increased respectively 240×10⁶ and 90×10⁶ m³, compared with 1960-1999, in Golmud and Delingha basin. From 2000 to 2012, the bare land in the whole basin decreased, the area of grassland, permanent ice, snow, water area and open shrub increased, and ecological vegetation was developed very well. The climatic warm-wet situation promotes the increase in precipitation, and it is the main reason for the increase of runoff, water resources, as well as the improvement of ecological environment. At the present stage, the warm-wet environment is beneficial to water resources development and ecological environmental protection in Qaidam Basin; nevertheless, the sustainable development of the water resources and environment needs further monitoring and deep research.