Variability of the low-frequency climate change is the principle driver for the annual and interannual streamflow changes. The influences of lowfrequency climate indices such as El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO)

North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO)

Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO)

on annual mean discharge (Q

ann

) and annual peak discharge (Q

max

) of the Pearl River basin have been quantitatively analyzed. The results show that: ① Q

ann

and Q

max

were significantly affected by different climate indices in different regions with distinctly different spatial patterns in terms of correlation degrees and sensitivity and also the trends of impact strength. ENSO and IOD at the same year exerted a persistent significant impact on the Q

ann

at the regions covering most of the West River basin

and the strength of the correlation increased significantly

which can be taken as the predictor for Q

ann

. For the same reason

PDO at the same year can be taken as the predictor for Q

ann

in the eastern parts of the Pearl River basin and the North River basin

and NAO

IOD a year earlier and NAO at the same year can be taken as the predictor for Q

max

in the middle Pearl River basin; ② As for the entire Pearl River basin

negativephase ENSO

NAO and PDO tend to cause Q

ann

at lower levels with an increasing risk of droughts. However

positivephase ENSO

IOD and negative phase NAO and PDO tend to cause Q

max

at higher levels with an increasing risk of extreme floods; ③ Q

max

was more sensitive to variability of atmospheric circulation than Q

ann

. Q

ann

varied between 03% and 24%

while Q

max

varied between 0.5% and 31% per unit index change. The NAO and IOD both at the same year and a year earlier show a higher sensitivity in most area of the Pearl River basin

but the sensitivity difference between Q

ann

and Q

max

was significant

the latter had an area ratio of 56%

59%

71% and 36% sensitivity higher than the former.