The researchers studied how runoff in the Yangtze River Basin has changed over time due to climate change. They found that runoff has been decreasing since 1954, with different patterns from the upper to lower stream. The years 1961 and 2004 were key points of change in runoff. Runoff is influenced more by changes in precipitation than temperature. A decrease in temperature can offset the impact of less rainfall on runoff, while an increase in both temperature and rainfall leads to the strongest changes in runoff in the Yangtze River Basin.