Hydropower reservoirs in China's mountains drastically alter river sediment load.
The study analyzed changes in river runoff and sediment load in a mountainous basin in China. They found that climate change mainly affects runoff, while human activities, like building dams, reduce sediment in the river. The construction of hydropower reservoirs has significantly decreased sediment load and changed the relationship between runoff and sediment. Overall, climate variability and human actions both play a role in shaping the river's water and sediment processes.