The Lower Mekong River basin (LMB) covers the lower part of the Mekong river basin, including Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Due to numerous pressures from high population growth and intensive hydropower develo...The Lower Mekong River basin (LMB) covers the lower part of the Mekong river basin, including Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Due to numerous pressures from high population growth and intensive hydropower development, the LMB has been facing significant challenges concerning its biodiversity and ecosystem. In 2017, Mekong River Commission (MRC), an intergovernmental organisation founded in 1995 among LMB countries, established the Council Study, which analysed the impacts of water development scenarios concerning the environmental, socioeconomic aspects of the LMB. This paper explores the nature of risks to the LMB water development and subsequently evaluates LMB’s water development scenarios described in the Council Study by using a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) method. MCDA method has been widely applied in the field of water resource management in order to assist the decision-making process by systematically evaluating a certain number of alternatives against well-selected criteria through a preference rating scheme. By implementing a risk-based comprehensive assessment of the LMB transboundary water, this study provides insights into the impacts of the increasing risks to the ecosystem and human beings on the water development of the basin over time, which assists to change the awareness and the perspective toward humans’ risks and transboundary river ecosystem of decision-makers. This paper provides valuable recommendations for MRC to improve their policy concerning benefit-sharing scheme, water planning and risk mitigation strategies.展开更多
River＇s healthy life is a description of their living conditions, and it is also a comprehensive assessment of river＇s functions and relations with the human society. Through analyzing the demands of human being and...River＇s healthy life is a description of their living conditions, and it is also a comprehensive assessment of river＇s functions and relations with the human society. Through analyzing the demands of human being and river ecosystem, the continuous flow, safe river channel for water and sediment transportation, good water quality, sustainable river ecosystem and water supply capacity are regarded as symbols of the healthy Yellow River. Minimum flow, maximum flood discharging capacity, bank-full discharge, transverse slope of floodplain, water quality degree, wetlands area, aquatic ecosystem, and water supply capacity, altogether eight quantitative indicators are set as symbols of healthy Yellow River, and their corresponding standards are determined based on the analysis with historical hydrological data and observed data of 1956-2004.展开更多
Precipitation, a natural feature of weather systems in the Earth, is vitally important for the environment of any region. Under global climate change condition, the characteristics of precipitation have changed as a c...Precipitation, a natural feature of weather systems in the Earth, is vitally important for the environment of any region. Under global climate change condition, the characteristics of precipitation have changed as a consequence of enhanced global hydrological cycle. The source region of the Yellow River（SRYR）, locating within the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, is sensitive to the global climate change due to its complex orography and fragile ecosystem. To understand the precipitation characteristics and its impacts on the environment in the region, we studied the characteristics of rainy days and precipitation amount of different precipitation classes, such as light（0–5 and 5–10 mm）, moderate（10–15, 15–20 and 20–25 mm） and heavy（≥25 mm） rains by analyzing the precipitation data of typical meteorological stations in the SRYR during the period 1961–2014, as well as the trends of persistent rainfall events and drought events. Results showed that annual average precipitation in this area had a non-significant（P〉0.05） increasing trend, and 82.5% of the precipitation occurred from May to September. Rainy days of the 0–5 mm precipitation class significantly decreased, whereas the rainy days of 5–10, 10–15, and 20–25 mm precipitation classes increased and that of ≥25 mm precipitation class decreased insignificantly. The persistent rainfall events of 1-or 2-day and more than 2-day showed an increasing trend, with the 1-or 2-day events being more frequent. Meanwhile, the number of short drought periods（≤10 days） increased while long drought periods（〉10 days） decreased. Since the 0–5 mm precipitation class had a huge impact on the grasslands productivity; the 5–10, 10–15, and 20–25 mm precipitation classes had positive effects on vegetation which rely on the deep soil water through moving nutrients and water into the root zone of these vegetation or through the plant-microbe interactions; the ≥25 mm precipitation class contributed to the floods; and more persistent rainfall events and fewer long drought events inferred positive effects on agriculture. Thus, these results indicate grassland degradation, less risk of floods, and the upgrading impact of climate change on agriculture. This study may provide scientific knowledge for policymakers to sustain the eco-environmental resources in the SYSR.展开更多
Sediment transport is one of the main concerns in a river system with hyper-concentrated flows. Therefore, the water use for sediment transport must be considered in study on the water demand for river ecosystem. The ...Sediment transport is one of the main concerns in a river system with hyper-concentrated flows. Therefore, the water use for sediment transport must be considered in study on the water demand for river ecosystem. The conventional methods for calculating the Minimum Water Demand for River Ecosystem (MWDRE) are not appropriate for rivers with high sediment concentration. This paper studied the MWDRE in wet season, dry season and the whole year under different water-and-sediment conditions in the Lower Yellow River, which is regarded as a typical river with sediment-laden flows. The characteristics of MWDRE in the river are analyzed. Firstly, the water demand for sediment transport (WDST) is much larger than the demands for other riverine functions, the WDST accounts for the absolute majority of the MWDRE. Secondly, in wet season when the WDST is satisfied, not only most of the annual incoming sediment can be transported downstream, but also the water demands for other river functions can be satisfied automatically, so that the MWDRE in wet season is identical to the WDST. Thirdly, in dry season, when the WDST is satisfied, the water demands for other river functions can also be satisfied, but the low sediment transport efficiency results in significant waste of water resources. According to these characteristics and aiming at decreasing sediment deposition in the riverbed and improving the utilization efficiency of water resources, hydrological engineering works can be used to regulate or control flow and sediment so that the sediment incoming in dry season can be accumulated and be transported downstream intensively and thus efficiently in wet season.展开更多
本文以石羊河流域中下游为研究区,采用考虑生态系统恢复力(latitude of ecosystem resilience,LER)的月尺度生态需水评估方法计算19822020年植被月适宜生态需水量、最小生态需水量以及相应的生态缺水量,并与土壤水分特征值法(characteri...本文以石羊河流域中下游为研究区,采用考虑生态系统恢复力(latitude of ecosystem resilience,LER)的月尺度生态需水评估方法计算19822020年植被月适宜生态需水量、最小生态需水量以及相应的生态缺水量,并与土壤水分特征值法(characteristic value of soil water,CVSW)进行比较,分析不同类型植被生长期的水分盈亏关系。结果表明:LER法和CVSW法计算结果相近,但LER法具有更大的生态需水阈值区间;天然降水基本可以满足植被的基本生存,但无法满足正常生长需求;LER法的适宜需水条件下,各植被生长期总体处于缺水状态,缺水严重程度排序为灌木林>其他林地>疏林地>高覆盖度草地>中覆盖度草地>有林地,全部植被生长期总适宜生态需水量为3.7×10^(8)m^(3),亏缺水量为1.2×10^(8)m^(3),同一植被亏缺水量基本符合春秋多、夏季少的规律;最小需水条件下,只有其他林地存在生长期缺水情况,全部植被生长期总最小生态需水量为0.8×10^(8)m^(3);在缺乏土壤水分数据的干旱地区,LER法具有良好的适用性。研究结果可为石羊河流域水资源高效利用和干旱区生态系统的恢复与重建提供理论参考。展开更多
文摘The Lower Mekong River basin (LMB) covers the lower part of the Mekong river basin, including Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Due to numerous pressures from high population growth and intensive hydropower development, the LMB has been facing significant challenges concerning its biodiversity and ecosystem. In 2017, Mekong River Commission (MRC), an intergovernmental organisation founded in 1995 among LMB countries, established the Council Study, which analysed the impacts of water development scenarios concerning the environmental, socioeconomic aspects of the LMB. This paper explores the nature of risks to the LMB water development and subsequently evaluates LMB’s water development scenarios described in the Council Study by using a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) method. MCDA method has been widely applied in the field of water resource management in order to assist the decision-making process by systematically evaluating a certain number of alternatives against well-selected criteria through a preference rating scheme. By implementing a risk-based comprehensive assessment of the LMB transboundary water, this study provides insights into the impacts of the increasing risks to the ecosystem and human beings on the water development of the basin over time, which assists to change the awareness and the perspective toward humans’ risks and transboundary river ecosystem of decision-makers. This paper provides valuable recommendations for MRC to improve their policy concerning benefit-sharing scheme, water planning and risk mitigation strategies.
基金The Technological Innovative Plan of Ministry of Water Resources, China, No.XDS2004-03
文摘River＇s healthy life is a description of their living conditions, and it is also a comprehensive assessment of river＇s functions and relations with the human society. Through analyzing the demands of human being and river ecosystem, the continuous flow, safe river channel for water and sediment transportation, good water quality, sustainable river ecosystem and water supply capacity are regarded as symbols of the healthy Yellow River. Minimum flow, maximum flood discharging capacity, bank-full discharge, transverse slope of floodplain, water quality degree, wetlands area, aquatic ecosystem, and water supply capacity, altogether eight quantitative indicators are set as symbols of healthy Yellow River, and their corresponding standards are determined based on the analysis with historical hydrological data and observed data of 1956-2004.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41530529,41375022,41575013)the Key Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (KZZD-EW-13)
文摘Precipitation, a natural feature of weather systems in the Earth, is vitally important for the environment of any region. Under global climate change condition, the characteristics of precipitation have changed as a consequence of enhanced global hydrological cycle. The source region of the Yellow River（SRYR）, locating within the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, is sensitive to the global climate change due to its complex orography and fragile ecosystem. To understand the precipitation characteristics and its impacts on the environment in the region, we studied the characteristics of rainy days and precipitation amount of different precipitation classes, such as light（0–5 and 5–10 mm）, moderate（10–15, 15–20 and 20–25 mm） and heavy（≥25 mm） rains by analyzing the precipitation data of typical meteorological stations in the SRYR during the period 1961–2014, as well as the trends of persistent rainfall events and drought events. Results showed that annual average precipitation in this area had a non-significant（P〉0.05） increasing trend, and 82.5% of the precipitation occurred from May to September. Rainy days of the 0–5 mm precipitation class significantly decreased, whereas the rainy days of 5–10, 10–15, and 20–25 mm precipitation classes increased and that of ≥25 mm precipitation class decreased insignificantly. The persistent rainfall events of 1-or 2-day and more than 2-day showed an increasing trend, with the 1-or 2-day events being more frequent. Meanwhile, the number of short drought periods（≤10 days） increased while long drought periods（〉10 days） decreased. Since the 0–5 mm precipitation class had a huge impact on the grasslands productivity; the 5–10, 10–15, and 20–25 mm precipitation classes had positive effects on vegetation which rely on the deep soil water through moving nutrients and water into the root zone of these vegetation or through the plant-microbe interactions; the ≥25 mm precipitation class contributed to the floods; and more persistent rainfall events and fewer long drought events inferred positive effects on agriculture. Thus, these results indicate grassland degradation, less risk of floods, and the upgrading impact of climate change on agriculture. This study may provide scientific knowledge for policymakers to sustain the eco-environmental resources in the SYSR.
文摘Sediment transport is one of the main concerns in a river system with hyper-concentrated flows. Therefore, the water use for sediment transport must be considered in study on the water demand for river ecosystem. The conventional methods for calculating the Minimum Water Demand for River Ecosystem (MWDRE) are not appropriate for rivers with high sediment concentration. This paper studied the MWDRE in wet season, dry season and the whole year under different water-and-sediment conditions in the Lower Yellow River, which is regarded as a typical river with sediment-laden flows. The characteristics of MWDRE in the river are analyzed. Firstly, the water demand for sediment transport (WDST) is much larger than the demands for other riverine functions, the WDST accounts for the absolute majority of the MWDRE. Secondly, in wet season when the WDST is satisfied, not only most of the annual incoming sediment can be transported downstream, but also the water demands for other river functions can be satisfied automatically, so that the MWDRE in wet season is identical to the WDST. Thirdly, in dry season, when the WDST is satisfied, the water demands for other river functions can also be satisfied, but the low sediment transport efficiency results in significant waste of water resources. According to these characteristics and aiming at decreasing sediment deposition in the riverbed and improving the utilization efficiency of water resources, hydrological engineering works can be used to regulate or control flow and sediment so that the sediment incoming in dry season can be accumulated and be transported downstream intensively and thus efficiently in wet season.
文摘本文以石羊河流域中下游为研究区,采用考虑生态系统恢复力(latitude of ecosystem resilience,LER)的月尺度生态需水评估方法计算19822020年植被月适宜生态需水量、最小生态需水量以及相应的生态缺水量,并与土壤水分特征值法(characteristic value of soil water,CVSW)进行比较,分析不同类型植被生长期的水分盈亏关系。结果表明:LER法和CVSW法计算结果相近,但LER法具有更大的生态需水阈值区间;天然降水基本可以满足植被的基本生存,但无法满足正常生长需求;LER法的适宜需水条件下,各植被生长期总体处于缺水状态,缺水严重程度排序为灌木林>其他林地>疏林地>高覆盖度草地>中覆盖度草地>有林地,全部植被生长期总适宜生态需水量为3.7×10^(8)m^(3),亏缺水量为1.2×10^(8)m^(3),同一植被亏缺水量基本符合春秋多、夏季少的规律;最小需水条件下,只有其他林地存在生长期缺水情况,全部植被生长期总最小生态需水量为0.8×10^(8)m^(3);在缺乏土壤水分数据的干旱地区,LER法具有良好的适用性。研究结果可为石羊河流域水资源高效利用和干旱区生态系统的恢复与重建提供理论参考。
