## 5 Conclusions  
This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the impact of terrace reservoir construction in the upper Yellow River (UYR) on local climate change and land use transformation. The long-term effects of 10 constructed reservoirs on regional climate and the ecological environment were assessed using remote sensing imagery, GIS technology, and climate and land cover data spanning from 1985 to 2022. The results indicate that reservoir construction has significant effects on temperature, precipitation, and land use, particularly in the conversion of watersheds, cropland, and grassland.  
1. Climate change around the reservoirs was significant. Following reservoir construction, both temperature and precipitation exhibited an upward trend, especially in spring and fall. For example, the spring temperature at the LJ reservoir increased by 0.51 \({}^{\circ}\)C per decade, while annual precipitation at the JS reservoir rose by 41.26 mm per decade. Precipitation changes showed regional variation, with areas such as ZG, KY, GB, and SZ experiencing a gradual decline in precipitation. However, summer precipitation generally increased, and winter precipitation remained relatively stable.
2. Reservoir construction induced substantial changes in land use types, particularly the conversion of grassland to water and cropland. Notably, the transformation of grassland into cropland constituted the largest portion of ecological change, accounting for approximately 93.2% of the total land use conversion, which included transitions between grassland, cropland, water, and impervious areas. Dynamic analysis revealed that water areas increased the most following reservoir construction, rising by over 200%, while cropland and grassland areas decreased correspondingly.
3. A significant correlation was found between reservoir attributes (e.g., water storage capacity and surface area) and both climate and land use changes. Specifically, a positive correlation was observed between water storage capacity and increased precipitation.
4. This study emphasizes the significant impacts of reservoir construction on local climate and ecological environments, providing valuable insights for future reservoir development and management. The findings can assist policymakers in understanding the long-term effects of reservoirs on local climates and ecosystems, offering a scientific foundation for the rational planning of water resource development, ecological protection, and land use. Furthermore, these results can serve as a reference for ecological and environmental assessments in similar regions, promoting sustainable regional development.  
**Author Contributions:** Conceptualization, P.M.; methodology, P.M. and L.C.; software, K.L; formal analysis, P.M.; investigation, LC.; resources, L.C.; data curation, L.C.; writing--original draft preparation, L.C.; writing--review and editing, P.M.; visualization, Y.N. and L.C.; supervision, P.M. and K.L.; funding acquisition P.M. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.  
**Funding:** This research was funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2023 YFC3008401), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (42477175), the Key Research and Development Program of Shaanxi (2024 SF-YBXM-539), and Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, CHD (300102263401, 300102264908, 300102264903, 300102264911 and 2024-07).  
**Institutional Review Board Statement:** Not applicable.  
**Informed Consent Statement:** Not applicable.  
**Data Availability Statement:** The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author.  
**Conflicts of Interest:** The authors declare no conflicts of interest.