Water accounting for conjunctive groundwater and surface water irrigation sources: A case study in the middle Heihe River Basin of arid northwestern China

Oases in arid northwestern China play a significant role in the region＇s economic stability and development. Overex- ploitation of the region＇s water resources has led to serious environmental consequences. In oases, irrigated agriculture is the primary consumer of water, but water shortages resulting from dramatically growing human needs have become a bottleneck for regional sustainable development, making effective management of the limited available water critical. Effective strategies must be formulated to increase agricultural productivity while reducing its environmental impacts. To support the development of such strategies, water use patterns were analyzed during the 2007 and 2008 growing seasons, from May to early October, to identify opportunities for improving water management using the Mold- en-Sakthivadivel water-accounting method, which combines groundwater and surface water into a single domain and can provide a good estimate of the uses, depletion, and productivity of water in a water basin context. The study area lies in Linze County, Gansu Province, China. In the study area, the inflow water resources consist of irrigation, precipita- tion, and soil water, which accounted for 89.3%, 8.9%, and 1.8% of the total in 2007, and 89.3%, 4.8%, and 5.9% in 2008, respectively. The irrigation depends heavily on groundwater, which accounted for 82.1% and 83.6% of the total irrigation water in 2007 and 2008, respectively. In 2007 and 2008, deep percolation accounted for 50.1% and 47.9% of the water outflow, respectively, with corresponding depleted fractions of 0.51 and 0.55, respectively. For the irrigation district as a whole, the water productivity was only 1.37 CNY/m^3. To significantly increase crop water productivity and prevent depletion of the region＇s groundwater aquifer, it will be necessary to reduce the amount of water used for ir- rigation. Several water-saving agricultural practices are discussed and recommended.

Hydrological Characteristics of the Heihe River Basin in the Arid Inland Area of Northwest China

The hydrological characteristics of the Heihe River Basin in the arid inland area of northwest China were investigated.The spatial distribution of annual precipitation in the basin indicates that it decreases from east to west and from south to north,and increases with elevation by a gradient of 24.4 mm per hundred meters below 2,810 m a.s.l.,but decreases with elevation by that of 37.0 mm per hundred meters above 2,810 m a.s.l.For the last 50 years,the mountain runoff of the ba-sin has a tendency of increase.Except in the mountain area,the aridity is very high in the basin,and the aridity index ranges from 1.6 to 7.0 at the piedmont,to 9.0～20.0 in the midstream area and up to 40.0 in the downstream Ejin region.It is estimated for the last 50 years that a 1oC increment of annual temperature causes a 21.5 mm increase of evaporation in the mountain area,and the equivalent reduction of mountain runoff is 0.215×109 m3/yr at the Yingluoxia Hydrometric Sta-tion.The estimation shows also that a 1oC increment of annual temperature causes 1,842 mm increase of farmland evapotranspiration in the midstream area,an equivalent of 0.298×109 m3/yr more water consumption.The anthropogenic influence on the hydrological processes and water resources is then discussed.

Hydrological and water cycle processes of inland river basins in the arid region of Northwest China

The increasing shortage in water resources is a key factor affecting sustainable socio-economic development in the arid region of Northwest China(ARNC). Water shortages also affect the stability of the region's oasis ecosystem. This paper summarizes the hydrological processes and water cycle of inland river basins in the ARNC, focusing on the following aspects: the spatial-temporal features of water resources(including air water vapor resources, runoff, and glacial meltwater) and their driving forces; the characteristics of streamflow composition in the inland river basins; the characteristics and main controlling factors of baseflow in the inland rivers; and anticipated future changes in hydrological processes and water resources. The results indicate that:(1) although the runoff in most inland rivers in the ARNC showed a significant increasing trend, both the glaciated area and glacial ice reserves have been reduced in the mountains;(2) snow melt and glacier melt are extremely important hydrological processes in the ARNC, especially in the Kunlun and Tianshan mountains;(3) baseflow in the inland rivers of the ARNC is the result of climate change and human activities, with the main driving factors being the reduction in forest area and the over-exploitation and utilization of groundwater in the river basins; and(4) the contradictions among water resources, ecology and economy will further increase in the future. The findings of this study might also help strengthen the ecological, economic and social sustainable development in the study region.

Mutual optimization of water utilization structure and industrial structure in arid inland river basins of Northwest China

Water is a key restricting factor of the economic development and eco-environmental protection in arid inland river basins of Northwest China. Although water supplies are short, the water utilization structure and the corresponding industrial structure are unbalanced. We constructed a System Dynamic Model for mutual optimization based on the mechanism of their interaction. This model is applied to the Heihe River Basin where the share of limited water resources among ecosystem, production and human living is optimized. Results show that, by mutual optimization, the water utilization structure and the industrial structures fit in with each other. And the relationships between the upper, middle and lower reaches of the Heihe River Basin can be harmonized. Mutual benefits of ecology, society and economy can be reached, and a sustainable ecology-production-living system can be obtained. This study gives a new insight and method for the sustainable utilization of water resources in arid inland river basins.

Recent Changes in Precipitation Extremes in the Heihe River Basin,Northwest China

Changes in rainfall extremes pose a serious and additional threat to water resources planning and management, natural and artificial oasis stability, and sustainable development in the fragile ecosystems of arid inland river basins. In this study, the trend and temporal variation of extreme precipitation are analyzed using daily precipitation datasets at 11 stations over the arid inland Heihe River basin in Northwest China from 1960 to 2011. Eight indices of extreme precipitation are studied. The results show statistically significant and large-magnitude increasing and decreasing trends for most indices, primarily in the Qilian Mountains and eastern Hexi Corridor. More frequent and intense rainfall extremes have occurred in the southern part of the desert area than in the northern portion. In general, the temporal variation in precipitation extremes has changed throughout the basin. Wet day precipitation and heavy precipitation days show statistically significant linear increasing trends and step changes in the Qilian Mountains and Hexi Corridor. Consecutive dry days have decreased obviously in the region in most years after approximately the late 1980s, but meanwhile very long dry spells have increased, especially in the Hexi Corridor. The probability density function indicates that very long wet spells have increased in the Qilian Mountains. The East Asian summer monsoon index and western Pacific subtropical high intensity index possess strong and significant negative and positive correlations with rainfall extremes, respectively. Changes in land surface characteristics and the increase in water vapor in the wet season have also contributed to the changes in precipitation extremes over the river basin.

Vulnerability of an inland river basin water resource system under the background of future accelerated glacier melt: A case of Yarkent River Basin in arid Northwest China

Water resources of inland river basins of arid Northwest China will be profoundly affected by future accelerated glacier melt. Based on scenarios of climate warming, accelerated glacier melt and socioeconomic development in the future, vulnerability of the Yarkent River Basin water resources for 2010-2030 is evaluated quantitatively using the indicator of water deficiency ratio. Results show that the quantity of the basin＇s water resources will continuously increase over the next 20 years, mainly due to the effect of climate warming and accelerated glacier melt. But, in the next 10 years, the basin will have a deficient water status, and the water resource system will be quite vulnerable. This is due to an increased water demand from rapidly increasing socioeco- nomic development and a lack of low water-use efficiency in the near future. After about 2020, water supply will outstrip demand, greatly relieving the basin＇s water deficient due to increased water resources and the advancement of water-saving technology. Contrast to the hypothetical situation of unchanged glacier melt, climate wanning and resulting accelerated glacier melt may play a role in relieving the supply-demand strain to some extent.

Impact of climate change and variability on water resources in Heihe River Basin

Studies indicate that the climate has experienced a dramatic change in the Heihe River Basin with scope of temperature rise reaching 0.5-1.1 o C in the 1990s compared to the mean value of the period 1960-1990, precipitation increased 18.5 mm in the 1990s compared to the 1950s, and 6.5 mm in the 1990s compared to the mean value of the period 1960-1990, water resources decreased 2.6×10 8 m 3 in the 1990s compared to the 1950s, and 0.4×10 8 m 3 in the 1990s compared to the mean value of the period 1960-1990. These changes have exerted a greater effect on the local environment and socio-economy, and also made the condition worsening in water resources utilizations in the Heihe Rver Basin.

Hydrologic modeling of the Heihe watershed by DLBRM in Northwest China

Water shortage is a chronic problem in arid Northwest China.The rapid population growth and expanding urbanization as well as potential climate change impacts are likely to worsen the situation,threatening domestic,irrigation,and industrial supplies and even the survival of the ecosystems in Northwest China.This paper describes the preliminary work of adapting the Distributed Large Basin Runoff Model(DLBRM) to the Heihe watershed(the second largest inland river in arid Northwestern China,with a drainage area of 128,000 km2) for understanding distribution of glacial-snow melt,groundwater,surface runoff,and evapotranspi-ration,and for assessing hydrological impacts of climate change and glacial recession on water supply in the middle and lower reaches of the watershed.Preliminary simulation results show that the Qilian Mountain in the upper reach area produces most runoff in the Heihe watershed.The simulated daily river flows during the period of 1990-2000 indicate that the Heihe River dis-charges about 1×109 m3 of water from the middle reach(at Zhengyixia Station) to lower reach,with surface runoff and interflow contributing 51 and 49 percent respectively.The sandy lower soil zone in the middle reach has the highest evapotranspiration rate and also contributes nearly half of the river flow.Work underway focuses on the DLBRM model improvement and incorporation of the climate change and management scenarios to the hydrological simulations in the watershed.

Spatiotemporal Characteristics of Drought in the Heihe River Basin Based on the Extreme-Point Symmetric Mode Decomposition Method

Assessment of spatiotemporal characteristics of drought under climate change is significant for drought mitigation.In this study,the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index(SPEI)calculated at different timescales was adopted to describe the drought conditions in the Heihe River Basin(HRB)from 1961 to 2014.The period characteristics and spatiotemporal distribution of drought were analyzed by using the extreme-point symmetric mode decomposition(ESMD)and inverse distance weight interpolation methods.Four main results were obtained.(1)The SPEI series of the upper reaches of the HRB at different timescales showed an upward trend(not significant)during 1961–2014.In the middle and lower reaches,the SPEI series exhibited significant downward trends.(2)The annual SPEI series of the lower reaches was decomposed through the ESMD method and exhibited a fluctuating downward trend as a whole.The oscillation showed quasi-3.4-year and quasi-4.5-year periods in the interannual variation,while a quasi-13.5-year period occurred in the interdecadal variation.The interannual period plays a leading role in drought variation across the HRB.(3)The entire research period was divided into three subperiods by the Bernaola–Galvan segmentation algorithm:1961–1966,1967–1996,and 1997–2014.The spring drought frequency and autumn drought intensity arrived at their maxima in the lower reaches during 1997–2014,with values of 72.22%and 1.56,respectively.The high frequency and intensity areas of spring,summer,and autumn drought moved from the middle-upper reaches to the middle-lower reaches of the HRB during 1961–2014.(4)Compared to the wavelet transform,the ESMD method has self-adaptability for signal decomposition and is more accurate for drought period analysis.Extreme-point symmetric mode decomposition is a more efficient decomposition method for nonlinear and nonstationary time series and has important significance for revealing the complicated change features of climate systems.

黄河流域(片)洪水风险区划编制实践与思考

黄河流域及西北诸河片洪水风险区划编制是水旱灾害风险普查的一项重要工作。基于黄河流域及西北诸河区洪水风险区划和洪灾防治区划编制工作实践,依据黄河流域片洪水灾害特点,提出了流域层面洪水风险分析评估方法,分析了流域洪水风险程度和分布特征,针对洪水风险评估方法、成果管理和应用提出了对策建议。

黑河流域环境退化特征分析及防治研究

生态环境条件的好坏,是制约我国社会、经济和人民生活可持续发展的重要问题之一,特别是在生态环境脆弱的西北干旱区的内陆河流域。本文以黑河流域为例,根据最新的野外调查数据,结合该流域已有的研究文献资料,分析了黑河流域生态环境退化的现状和主要特征。研究结果表明,黑河流域生态环境退化主要是由于人类不合理的经济活动造成的,具体表现在土地的沙漠化、水资源的变化、土壤盐渍化和植被退化等方面。在此基础上,初步提出了防止流域生态环境恶化的综合治理对策。

黑河流域水资源可持续利用对策

水资源短缺和生态环境恶化已成为黑河流域面临的严重问题。本文分析了黑河流域水资源开发利用中存在的问题,在结合大量翔实数据的基础上,以水资源可持续利用为原则,提出了黑河流域水资源可持续利用的途经与措施。

甘肃河西地区内陆河流域荒漠化的水资源问题

河西地区内陆河流域荒漠化的水资源问题,根本的原因在于水资源短缺而导致的生态环境脆弱和水资源的过度开发利用.如果上、中游地区水资源的利用超过了水资源量的限度,则流到下游的径流量减沙,地下水位下降;而下游地区为了弥补水资源的不足,便大量开采地下水,致使地下水严重超采,从而导致植被退化和荒漠化.在分析上述问题的基础上,以石羊河为例,说明内陆河流域的荒漠化防治要求实行以农业节水为中心,建立节水型社会的流域综合治理,实现水资源、土地资源、经济、社会和生态环境协调和可持续发展.

黑河流域土地沙漠化与区域可持续发展

土地沙漠化,是制约我国社会、经济和人民生活可持续发展的严重问题之一,特别是在生态环境脆弱的西北干旱区的内陆河流域。以黑河流域为例,从流域沙漠化的现状和特点;土地沙漠化的发生、发展;沙漠化与可持续发展的关系等方面,进行了分析与探讨。在此基础上,提出了区域可持续发展的基本对策。

TRMM月降水产品在西北内陆河流域的适应性定量分析

利用1998-2008年56个气象台站降水资料,结合TRMM月降水产品,通过对TRMM3B43降水数据在不同气候区、不同时空尺度的精度对比分析,探讨了卫星遥感反演降水产品在中国西北内陆河流域的适应性.结果表明:TRMM探测的月降水数据与实测月降水数据在整体上具有较好的一致性和线性相关性,相关系数为0.76,效率系数为0.58,其探测的降水量比观测值略大;TRMM在高原气候区月降水量的探测效果要优于在西风带区的;TRMM数据所反映的降水量的年内变化过程和实测降水量结果基本一致,但在具体的量上有一定的差异,表现为对降水相对集中的5-9月低估实测降水量,而在降水较少的10月-次年4月高估实测降水量,反映了TRMM对较大强度降水量的探测能力不足.流域多年平均降水量呈现南、北部大,中部小的格局,降水量的高值中心主要出现在高山地区,高达300 mm;而受西风环流影响的塔里木盆地东南面的且末-若羌一带、吐鲁番盆地和受高原区影响的柴达木盆地为极端干旱少雨区,降水量均不足100 mm.

西北干旱区内陆河年径流过程的非线性特征--塔里木盆地三源河的实证分析

以塔里木盆地三源河为例,基于1957-2002年的时间序列,运用小波分析方法从不同的时间尺度上分析了年径流过程的非线性变化趋势,并运用关联维数和R/S分析方法揭示了其分形与混沌特征。主要结论如下:(1)西北干旱区内陆河年径流过程,是复杂的非线性系统,它们具有波动性以及分形和混沌特征。(2)从大的时间尺度,即16(24)年的时间尺度上来看,阿克苏河、叶尔羌河的年径流量,在整体上基本呈上升趋势,而和田河在整体上却基本呈轻微的下降趋势。如果把时间尺度缩小到8(23)或4(22)年,则各河流的年径流量就不再是上升或下降趋势,而是呈明显的波动变化,而且4(22)年尺度上的波动比8(23)年尺度上的波动更加明显。(3)和田河、叶尔羌河与阿克苏河的关联维数分别为3.2227、3.2118与3.2092,均为非整数,是分形,这说明三源河的年径流过程具有混沌特征。由于每一个关联维数都大于3,这就意味着,要从动力学角度描述三源河的径流过程,至少需要4个独立变量。(4)从1989-2002年期间的Hurst指数可以判断,在2002年以后的14年里,阿克苏河与叶尔羌河的年径流量基本上将呈增加趋势,而和田河基本上将呈轻微的减少趋势。

西北内陆河流域水资源优化配置与可持续利用--以石羊河流域民勤县为例

西北内陆河流域,气候干旱,降水稀少,蒸发量大,水资源极其宝贵,生态环境脆弱。然而,西北内陆河流域工农业用水却存在不同程度的浪费现象,致使流域水资源管理出现诸如上下游利用不公,工农业利用不均等许多问题。现在,如何科学合理地优化配置西北内陆河流域水资源,并使其可持续利用,发挥最大的经济、社会和生态效益,已经成为学界和政界关注的重大问题。本文以石羊河下游流域民勤县为例,通过分析和研究流域水资源利用现状,提出了适合西北内陆河流域水资源优化配置的支撑体系,以期对本流域水资源可持续利用有所裨益。

干旱内陆河流域土地利用变化及其对环境的影响——以西北地区黑河流域为例

从区域的角度,研究土地利用/土地覆被变化导致的生态环境退化,对于丰富土地利用/土地覆被变化研究内容具有重要的理论意义,同时又对当地生态环境的保护与恢复具有现实的指导意义。文章以我国西北干旱区内陆河流域黑河为例,利用遥感和GIS技术,分析和评价近17年(1987—2004年)来该流域土地利用的动态变化及其对于整个流域环境的影响。研究结果表明,自1987—2004年黑河流域5种土地利用类型面积发生了显著的变化。具体表现在耕地面积由1987年的5178.0km2增加到2004年的5357.8km2,林地面积从1987年的6422.1km2增加到2004年的6450.4km2,城镇用地面积从1987年的115179.5km2增加到2004年的115791.4km2;另一方面,草地面积却从1987年的27710.6km2减少到2004年的27209.3km2,水域面积从1987年的1645.7km2减少到2004年的1386.4km2。同时又分别从黑河上、中、下游方面,对土地利用变化情况作了具体的分析。通过以上研究可以看出,近17年来,黑河流域土地利用发生了深刻的变化,由此造成了整个流域的生态环境退化问题,主要表现在水环境的变化、土地荒漠化、土壤盐渍化以及植被退化等方面。

西北干旱区水面蒸发的遥感研究

利用ASTER数据和Penman公式,以黑河流域中下游为研究区域,估算黑河流域的水面蒸发量。结果表明,利用ASTER数据估算的水面蒸发量和实际水面蒸发量之间的绝对误差在1.1 mm/d以内,相对误差绝对值的平均值为8%,可以达到实际应用的精度。利用ASTER数据估算的水面蒸发量具有明显的空间分布特征,对于研究西北干旱区水面蒸发量的空间分布特征具有一定的应用价值。