Hydrological Processes in the Huaihe River Basin, China： Seasonal Variations, Causes and Implications

Understanding streamflow changes in terms of trends and periodicities and relevant causes is the first step into scientific management of water resources in a changing environment. In this study, monthly streamflow variations were analyzed using Modified Mann-Kendall(MM-K) trend test and Continuous Wavelet Transform(CWT) methods at 9 hydrological stations in the Huaihe River Basin. It was found that: 1) streamflow mainly occurs during May to September, accounting for 70.4% of the annual total streamflowamount with Cv values between 0.16–0.85 and extremum ratio values between 1.70–23.90; 2) decreased streamflow can be observed in the Huaihe River Basin and significant decreased streamflow can be detected during April and May, which should be the results of precipitation change and increased irrigation demand; 3) significant periods of 2–4 yr were detected during the 1960 s, the 1980 s and the 2000 s. Different periods were found at stations concentrated within certain regions implying periods of streamflow were caused by different influencing factors for specific regions; 4) Pacific Decadal Oscillation(PDO) has the most significant impacts on monthly streamflow mainly during June. Besides, Southern Oscillation Index(SOI), North Atlantic Oscillation(NAO) and the Ni?o3.4 Sea Surface Temperature(Ni?o3.4) have impacts on monthly streamflow with three months lags, and was less significant in time lag of six months. Identification of critical climatic factors having impacts on streamflow changes can help to predict monthly streamflow changes using climatic factors as explanatory variables. These findings were well corroborated by results concerning impacts of El Nino-Southern Oscillation(ENSO) regimes on precipitation events across the Huaihe River Basin. The results of this study can provide theoretical background for basin-scale management of water resources and agricultural irrigation.

On Scientific-Technological Ethics

Ethics and morality are old and constantly updated topic. In the modern science and technology rapid development situation, study of ethics of science and technology is relatively backward. The times call for advanced and reasonable ethics of science-technology. Basic concepts and characteristics of ethics and morals are distinguished and defined in this paper. Three ethic essences of science-technology are abstracted from scientific-technological generation, application, and development. The three-dimension system of basic principles for scientific-technologic ethics is created, as illustrated by the portions given in this paper. The evolution formula of value system is derived, and used for appraising whether the science-technology activity is in all reason. Furthermore, it provides the theory base for quantified management. Finally, it is pointed out that morality and law should be supplemented each other in the science-technology management.