中国西北干旱区水资源与生态环境变化及保护建议

Changes and Protection Suggestions in Water Resources and Ecological Environment in Arid Region of Northwest China

水资源短缺是制约西北干旱区经济社会高质量发展和生态安全保障的最关键自然因素。文章系统分析了西北干旱区水资源与生态环境变化趋势,从用水结构、水资源利用效率等解析了水资源承载力变化。结果显示,西北干旱区气温以0.32℃/10年的速率升高,降水以9.32 mm/10年的速率增加;冰川加速萎缩,冰雪融水径流增加,自20世纪90年代中期以来,山区来水量增加约110×10^(8)m^(3),水资源可利用总量增加。近10年来,水资源节约利用成效显著,用水效率不断提高,水资源承载力不断增强,生态系统健康向好发展。但西北干旱区水资源问题依然突出,极端气候水文事件强度加大,生态环境仍然脆弱,未来需要进一步挖掘水资源潜力,提升水资源管理水平,加大生态保护修复力度,以应对气候变化可能带来的风险。

The arid region of Northwest China is one of the driest regions in the world and is characterized with severe water scarcity. Water shortage is the most critical natural factor limiting the high-quality economic and social development and ecological security in the arid region of Northwest China. Based on the long-term monitoring data from the field stations of Chinese Academy of Sciences, observation data of meteorological stations, water resources bulletin and the remote sensing data, this study systematically analyzes the basic characteristics of water resources and ecological environment in the arid region of Northwest China, assesses the changing trends of hydrological elements, water resources, and ecological environment. Besides, this study analyzes the changes of water resources carrying capacity in terms of water use structure and water resources utilization efficiency, and puts forward some suggestions on sustainable water resources utilization and ecological and environmental protection. The results show that the temperature in the arid region of Northwest China has increased at a rate of 0.32 ℃/decade and precipitation has increased at a rate of 9.32 mm/decade. The glaciers are shrinking at accelerating rate and the runoff supplied by glacier/snow meltwater has increased. The amount of water resources has increased by about 11 billion m^(3) since the mid-1990s. In the past decade, water use efficiency has been improved, water-saving irrigation area has been expanded, and agricultural water production efficiency has been improved due to water conservation and utilization measures. Water environment capacity has been increased, water carrying capacity has been enhanced, surface water area has been expanded, and the ecosystem condition has improved. However, water resources problems are still prominent in the arid region of Northwest China, the intensity of extreme climate and hydrological events has increased, and the ecological environment is still fragile. In the future, it is necessary to further explore the water resources potential of this region, improve the water resources management, and enhance ecological protection and restoration efforts for better adaptation to the possible risks of climate change, so as to provide scientific and technological support for promoting the construction of the “Green Silk Road” and realizing high-quality regional economic and social development.