Evaluation of hydrological responses to climate change for a data-scarce mountainous watershed in Taiwan

Abstract Despite the mountainous watersheds being important for ecosystem, water resources, and hydropower, little hydrological data has been collected. This scarcity makes it difficult to evaluate their hydrologic response climate change. study integrated short-term with physics-based meteorological models measure impact of change on future in Wuling Mountain Watershed, Taiwan. Twenty-eight-month datasets from 2013 2015 were used characterization. Scenarios CMIP5 selected projection period 2021–2040 based inferred 1986–2005 baseline data. The results showed that precipitation, percolation, streamflow will decrease by about 10% increase 20–25% dry wet seasons, respectively. evapotranspiration is lower than January, March, December, whereas can be as high 4% during other months. annual amount distribution all studied components indicate possible acceleration cycle. Spectrum analysis surface tends toward becoming more irregular. Groundwater remains mildly persistent thus may serve a buffer resources.