The study looked at changes in water flow and sediment in a river in southern China over 50 years. They found that runoff decreased significantly, especially in summer and autumn, while sediment load decreased most in summer. The main reason for the decrease was human activities like soil and water conservation, with climate change playing a smaller role. The relationship between runoff and sediment load varied throughout the year, with the biggest changes in summer. Overall, the river had less water and sediment flowing through it due to human actions and some impact from climate change.