Simulation of Runoff and Sediment Transport in the Yarlung Zangbo River Under Climate Change

To achieve a sustainable development, more attention to hydropower exploitation is rather critical. Hydropower generation is vulnerable to changes in runoff and sediment transport. However, their observation and projection are still lacking in alpine regions as a result of the harsh environment. In this study, we explored the historical variability of water and sediment flux in the Yarlung Zangbo River using SWAT model. Then, ten global climate models of CIMP6 were integrated to predict the changes of runoff and sediment transport during 2023–2100 under the climate scenarios of SSP128 and SSP245, aiming to provide theoretical support for flow and sediment management in the Yarlung Zangbo River.