Assessment and utilization of soil water resources

Based on the analyses of water interactions and water balance, this paper discusses the issues on the assessment and regulation of soil water resources, which lays the scientific basis for limited irrigation and water-saving agriculture.

A Model of Indicators and GIS Maps for the Assessment of Water Resources

The main intention of the study is to identify appropriate indicator to create a model that represents water resource status for a specific system boundary. The report will assess the different scientific approaches associated with water resource engineering, and compare these approaches with respect to human value. The report will focus on the relationship between ecosystem structure and socio technical structure. Ecosystem deals with plants and living things in specific area and the interaction between them, socio technical system deals with the aspects of people, and society as well as technical aspects of organizational structure with respect to the effect on the environment. Ecosystem directly or indirectly affects the society. At the same time, the socio technical system has an impact on ecosystem services in the perspective of consumption and exploitation of recourses. Finally the two systems are dependent on each other. By the application of scientific tools such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA), Performance Indicator (PI), Drivers Pressure State Impact Response (DPSIR), Mellenium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA), etc., some appropriate indicators can be identified corresponding to each approach. LCA focuses on socio-technical aspects whereas DPSIR is environmentally biased. Environmental impact assessment covers both aspects of the system. A matrix combines these methods with the corresponding keywords, and supports in generating a new general model by considering the most weighted indicators. Since each scientific model focuses on some specific aspects, the newly proposed model will give a general view of water environment status. A final comparison is made to recognize relative bias of the newly proposed model with respect to DPSIR model to assess water environment status of the concerning region.

Defining Cities by Water: Addressing Capital Misallocation in a Race to Conserve Resources

As part of its efforts to promote a sustainable and high-quality development,China has pledged to reduce water consumption and create a water-efficient society.On the basis of identifying the institutional root causes of excessive capital allocation and excessive water consumption in China’s water-intensive industrial sectors,this study elaborates how the national water-efficient cities assessment contributes to optimized capital allocation.Our research shows that national water-efficient cities assessment has motivated local governments to compete for water efficiency.To conserve water,local governments regulated the entry and exit of water-intensive enterprises,discouraged excessive investments in water-intensive sectors,and phased out obsolete water-intensive capacities within their jurisdictions.This approach has resulted in mutually beneficial outcomes,including improved allocation of capital,enhanced water efficiency,and reduced emissions.This paper offers policy recommendations for establishing a water-efficient society throughout the 14^(th) Five-Year Plan(2021-2025)period by presenting empirical evidence on the policy effects of resource efficiency evaluation.

Recommending the IHACRES model for water resources assessment and resolving water conflicts in Africa

The International Association of Hydrological Sciences （IAHS） recognized the lack of hydro- logical data as a world-wide problem in 2002 and adopted the Prediction of Ungauged Basins （PUB） as a decadal research agenda during the period of 2003 to 2012. One of the objectives is to further develop methodologies for prediction in ungauged basins and to reduce uncertainties in model prediction. Estimation of stream flows is required for flood control, water quality control, valley habitat assessment and water budget of a country. However, the majority of water catchments, streams and valleys are ungauged in most developing countries. The main objective of this paper is to introduce the IHACRES （Identification of Hy- drographs and Components from Rainfall, Evaporation and Stream） model into African hydrological plan- ning as a methodology for water resources assessment, which in turn can be used to resolve water conflicts between communities and countries and to study the climate change issues. This is because the IHACRES model is applied for the estimation of flows in ungauged catchments whose physical catchments descriptors （PCDs） can be determined by driving variables （i.e. rainfall and temperature）; and also in gauged streams but whose gauging stations are no longer operational but historical data are available for model calibration. The model provides a valuable insight into the hydrologic behaviour of the upper water sources for valleys as well as provides a useful methodology for water resources assessment in situations of scarce financial resources in developing countries. In addition, it requires relatively few parameters in its calibration and has been successful applied in previous regionalization studies. It will also make possible the equitable distri- bution of water resources in international basins and rivers＇ catchments. This paper does not apply the model anywhere, but recommends it as a methodology for water resources assessment in order to cure water conflicts on the African continent.

Prioritization of Water Resources Management Problems in North Central Nigeria Using Rapid Impact Assessment Matrix (RIAM)

This study employed the Rapid Impact Assessment Matrix (RIAM) to prioritize the water resources management problems in the North Central Nigeria. This was done through the assessment of the status of water resources management in the region, evaluation of existing policy and strategy of water management, identification of the management problems and the prioritization with RIAM. The stakeholders identified water resources management problems, ranked them in other of severity in different categories and also evaluated them using the RIAM techniques in the administered questionnaire. Eleven problems were analyzed based on the physical/chemical, biological/ecological, social/cultural and economic/operational factors using several impact indicators. Scores were assigned, the RIAM models applied and the averages taken to arrive at the final assessment scores. The two major water resources management problems identified are: 1) inadequate funds for further agricultural, hydroelectric, navigation and industrial development;2) poor data collection and banking. These problems were prioritized by RIAM in order of severity for urgent intervention. The RIAM technique has made a key contribution to the prioritization of water resources management by providing insights into urgent problems according to stakeholders and thus guides the policy maker in appropriate decision making.

Study on functions and rational allocation of Shule River Basin groundwater resources

Based on Investigation and Assessment on Rational Exploitation and Utilization of Groundwater Resources in Typical Areas of the Hexi Corridor, the thesis studies on groundwater and environmental problems arising from the large-scale agricultural development projects in Shule River Basin. The thesis analyzes problems in exploiting and utilizing water resources, defines the function zoning of groundwater resources in key areas and evaluates them. Finally, the thesis uses three-dimensional unsteady flow simulation and regional social and economic development plan to study on the allocation of groundwater in Shule River Basin. A proposal for rational allocation of Shule River Basin water resources has been put forward.

Vulnerability of Water Resources and Its Spatial Heterogeneity in Haihe River Basin, China

To manage water resources effectively, a multiscale assessment of the vulnerability of water resources on the basis of political boundaries and watersheds is necessary. This study addressed issues on the vulnerability of water resources and provided a multiscale comparison of spatial heterogeneity under a climate change background. Using improved quantitative evaluation methods of vulnerability, the Theil index and the Shannon-Weaver index, we evaluated the vulnerability of water resources and its spatial heterogeneity in the Haihe River Basin in four scales, namely, second-class water resource regions(Class ⅡWRRs), third-class water resource regions(Class Ⅲ WRRs), Province-Class ⅡWRRs, and Province-Class Ⅲ WRRs. Results show that vulnerability enhances from the north to south in the different scales, and shows obvious spatial heterogeneity instead of moving toward convergence in multiscale assessment results. Among the Class Ⅱ WRRs, the Tuhai-Majia River is the most vulnerable area, and the vulnerability of the Luanhe River is lower than that of the north of the Haihe River Basin, which in turn is lower than that of the south of the Haihe River Basin. In the scales of Class Ⅲ WRRs and Province-Class Ⅲ WRRs, the vulnerability shows obvious spatial heterogeneity and diversity measured by the Theil index and the Shannon-Weaver index. Multiscale vulnerability assessment results based on political boundaries and the watersheds of the Haihe River Basin innovatively provided in this paper are important and useful to characterize the real spatial pattern of the vulnerability of water resources and improve water resource management.

ASSESSMENT OF WATER RESOURCES AT HONGHE NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE

A detailed assessment on water resources of HNNR is to find the changing rules in time and space scale of water resources of HNNR and its adjacent areas, and the generating and degrading factors of wetland and provide scientific base on restoring and managing the hydrologic regime for planning and designing at HNNR. Both the assessment area and its adjacent watershed of Bielahong River belong to the same region in the climate and surface features. Total of 46 years of serial data from 1956 2001 in the Bielahong Hydrology Station was employed. Typical analysis of the serial runoff was conducted by adopting the residual mass curve method. The calculation methods of hydrological parameters are valuable for analyzing the water balance of HNNR. The results showed that the inputs of 118.29×10 6 m 3 of the surface runoff and 1 478km 2 of the areas of natural watershed in HNNR were decreased. At the same time some measurements to control and prevent water resources decreased have been proposed.

Vulnerability assessment of water resources to climate change in Chinese cities

Climate change is an inevitable trend,which challenges security of water resources in China,especially in cities.Assessing vulnerability of water resource to climate change in cities has important role for policy makers. The paper constructs a vulnerability function,including exposure,sensitivity and adaptive capacity,according to the vulnerability concept proposed by IPCC,establishes an assessment indicators system of water resources to climate change in cities,and analyzes vulnerability features of Chinese cites based on 655 cities'data in 2006.The vulnerability assessment results show that there are distinctive differences among all the cities,between east,central and west cities,between ordinary,big and mega cities,while there is no statistical significant difference between north and south cities.Based on the research,the paper suggests that strategic emphasis should focus on the central cities and ordinary

Integrated Assessment of Mineral Resources and Environmentin Mid-South of Shandong Province

On the bases of the field survey and a large number of testing data, we process the qualitative and quantitative assessment of the mine environment in the mid south of Shandong Province using the following grade Ⅰ factors:the surface subsidence in mining area, the three wastes of mine industries, the pollution sources, the surface water pollution, the underground water pollution and the air pollution. By means of emitting factor judgment and water quality indexes, we locate pollution sources, main pollutants, pollution type and pollution grade in the study area. Using the MAPGIS, we draw a zonality map of the mine environment. This paper attempts to offer a concrete example, including valuable assessment method, data and conclusion, for the assessment of mine environment from the integrated assessment of mineral resources and mine environment. This research is oriented towards the sustainable development and the ecological environment optimization.

Assessment of water resources in Yarmouk River Basin using geospatial technique during the period 1980–2020

It is common knowledge that Yarmouk River Basin(YRB)is shared between Jordan and Syria.Management of YRB trans-boundary water resources is attracting increasing interest because it is a strategic water resource for the riparian countries.Actually,lack of sharing information regarding hydrological flows and basin’s water management between partners’countries makes it difficult to distinguish between natural and man-made factors affecting the water body.Therefore,this study seeks to address and assess the main on-site changes that exert on YRB.Geospatial technique and arithmetic equations were combined to carry out an assessment of the changes on water resources in YRB.Data,information and field measurements of the basin were aggregated,compiled and presented to determine the extent of changes during the period 1980-2020.Remarkable findings showed that precipitation amount in the basin significantly declined during the period 1980-2020 in particularly after the year 1992.Pumping rate of groundwater was 550 x 103 m3/a,exceeding the basin’s safe yield.Draw down of static groundwater level over time approached the value of-3.2 m/a due to the over abstraction in the aquifer body.Additionally,the evaporation rate reached more than 99%in some regions in the basin.Moreover,the number of private wells has increased from 98 wells in 1980 to 126 wells in 2020,showing the excessive extraction of groundwater.These findings indicate that the study area is subjected to a considerable groundwater depletion in the near future due to extensive abstraction,continuous drilling of illegal wells and decreased annual precipitation under the shadow of the rapid population growth and continuous influx of refugees.Therefore,decision makers-informed scenarios are suggested in the development of water resource portfolios,which involves the combination of management and infrastructural actions that enhance the water productivity of the basin.Further studies are recommended to evaluate the on-site changes on water resources in YRB in collaboration with riparian countries and to establish monitoring system for continuous and accurate measurements of the basin.

Analysis of Water Resources Vulnerability Assessment Tools

Water resources face many pressures and stresses around the world.Assessing the vulnerability of water resources is,therefore,increasingly an essential practice in water resources management.Several studies of water resources vulnerability have been carried out around the world during the last three decades.Thus,the main objective of this study was to analyze water resources vulnerability assessment tools and identify the methodological trend of water resources vulnerability assessment at the local level in existing literature.To achieve this objective,the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses(PRISMA)method has been applied to include or exclude articles.Articles on water vulnerability numbering 374 were preselected in the ScienceDirect and the Google Scholar databases.Only 32 out of the 374 articles met the inclusion criteria defined for the analysis.The results show that China(21.9%),U.S.A.(9.4%)and Canada(6.3%)are the most active countries publishing water resources vulnerability assessments.Some 191 vulnerability indicators from the 32 articles were classified into five categories of factors:physical factors(33.5%),socio-economic factors(28.3%),environmental or eco-environmental factors(25.1%),institutions and governance factors(7.3%)and infrastructure factors(5.8%).This study shows that almost half of the studies(47%)considered all five categories of factors,9.4%considered four categories of factors,6.3%considered three categories of factors,28%used two types of factors and 9.4%considered only one category.Researchers have used several methods to assess water resources vulnerability:overlay and index methods(59.4%),process-based models(12.5%),statistical methods(9.4%),overlay and index methods plus process-based model(9.4%),overlay and index methods plus statistical methods(6.3%)and statistical methods plus process-based models(3.1%).Geographic information system(GIS)is an important tool in assessing the vulnerability of water resources with almost 60%of the studies using it at some stage of the assessment.In recent years,there is an increasing trend toward conceptualizing the vulnerability of water resources in a holistic way.

Turkey Creek—A Case Study of Ecohydrology and Integrated Watershed Management in the Low-Gradient Atlantic Coastal Plain, USA

Water yield, water supply and quality, wildlife habitat, and ecosystem productivity and services are important societal concerns for natural resource management in the 21st century. Watershed-scale ecohydrologic studies can provide needed context for addressing complex spatial and temporal dynamics of these functions and services. This study was conducted on the 5240 ha Turkey Creek watershed (WS 78) draining a 3rd order stream on the Santee Experimental Forest within the South Carolina Atlantic Coastal Plain, USA. The study objectives were to present the hydrologic characteristics of this relatively undisturbed, except by a hurricane (Hugo, 1989), forested water-shed and to discuss key elements for watershed management, including water resource assessment (WRM), modeling integrated water resources management, environmental assessment, land use planning, social impact assessment, and information management. Runoff coefficients, flow duration curves, flood and low flow frequency curves, surface and ground water yields were assessed as elements of the WRM. Results from the last 10 years of interdisciplinary studies have also advanced the understanding of coastal ecohydrologic characteristics and processes, water balance, and their modeling including the need of high resolution LiDAR data. For example, surface water dynamics were shown to be regulated primarily by the water table, dependent upon pre- cipitation and evapotranspiration (ET). Analysis of pre- and post-Hugo streamflow data showed somewhat lower but insignificant (α = 0.05) mean annual flow but increased frequency of larger flows for the post-Hugo compared with the pre-Hugo level. However, there was no significant difference in mean annual ET, potentially indicating the resiliency of this coastal forest. Although the information from this study may be useful for comparison of coastal ecohydrologic issues, it is becoming increasingly clear that multi-site studies may be warranted to understand these complex systems in the face of climate change, sea level rise, and increasing development in coastal regions.

Spatio-Temporal Assessment of Water Quality in Douala IV Municipality, Cameroon

The study analysed the spatial and temporal contamination levels of fresh water resources by saline intrusion in the Douala coastal area. Water samples were collected from 19 stations. 3 stations were selected from the mangrove area and 16 stations were selected from the rest of the area partitioned into four transects (coastal transect, inner transect 1, inner transect 2 and inner transect 3). Sampling was done repeatedly during the wet and dry seasons. They were analyzed for physico-chemical parameters according to the American Public Health Association methods. Geostatistical analysis was used in mapping the water properties. Considerable levels of actual electrical conductivity values (208.91 to 660.63 and 45 to 7540 μS/cm for the wet and dry seasons, respectively);calcium (0.06 to 85 and 4 to 256 mg/L for the wet and dry seasons, respectively);sulphate (0 to 103 and 0 to 99 mg/L for the wet and dry seasons) and total dissolved solids (15.79 to 1467 and 20 to 3750 mg/L for the wet and dry seasons, respectively) were observed for ground water in the study area based on spatio-temporal assessment. From the output grid, it could be deduced that the south eastern region had a hint of salt water intrusion (SWI) contamination of fresh water resources with actual value highs of electrical conductivity (1790 and 820 μS/cm) for the dry and wet seasons, respectively. Calcium highs (140 and 16 mg/L) for the dry and wet seasons were obtained at the central part of the study area. The spatial distribution of calcium highs extends from the central zone of the study area in the dry season and the south eastern zone in the wet season. The southern region is more vulnerable to contamination by calcium ions during this season. An up to date scope for surveillance monitoring and forecasting regarding the deterioration of coastal aquifers is recommended. Modelling of aquifers shifts for the coastal zone should be instituted as a means of ensuring efficient fresh water resources evaluation and utilization. An indepth study of the geochemical characteristics of ground water of the coastal zone could determine factors that most significantly impact on fresh water resource quality.

Modelling Hydrological Consequences of Climate Change—Progress and Challenges

The simulation of hydrological consequences of climate change has received increasing attention from the hydrology and land-surface modelling communities. There have been many studies of climate-change effects on hydrology and water resources which usually consist of three steps： （1） use of general circulation models （GCMs） to provide future global climate scenarios under the effect of increasing greenhouse gases, （2） use of downscaling techniques （both nested regional climate models, RCMs, and statistical methods） for ＂downscaling＂ the GCM output to the scales compatible with hydrological models, and （3） use of hydrologic models to simulate the effects of climate change on hydrological regimes at various scales. Great progress has been achieved in all three steps during the past few years, however, large uncertainties still exist in every stage of such study. This paper first reviews the present achievements in this field and then discusses the challenges for future studies of the hydrological impacts of climate change.

Groundwater characteristics and climate and ecological evolution in the Badain Jaran Desert in the southwest Mongolian Plateau

The Badain Jaran Desert is the third largest desert in China,covering an area of 50000 km2.It lies in Northwest China,where the arid and rainless natural environment has a great impact on the climate,environment,and human living conditions.Based on the results of 1∶250000 regional hydrogeological surveys and previous researches,this study systematically investigates the circulation characteristics and resource properties of the groundwater as well as the evolution of the climate and ecological environment since the Quaternary in the Badain Jaran Desert by means of geophysical exploration,hydrogeological drilling,hydrogeochemistry,and isotopic tracing.The results are as follows.(1)The groundwater in the Badain Jaran Desert is mainly recharged through the infiltration of local precipitation and has poor renewability.The groundwater recharge in the desert was calculated to be 1.8684×10^(8)m^(3)/a using the water balance method.(2)The Badain Jaran Desert has experienced four humid stages since the Quaternary,namely MIS 13-15,MIS 5,MIS 3,and the Early‒Middle Holocene,but the climate in the desert has shown a trend towards aridity overall.The average annual temperature in the Badain Jaran Desert has significantly increased in the past 50 years.In detail,it has increased by about 2.5℃,with a higher rate in the south than in the north.Meanwhile,the precipitation amount has shown high spatial variability and the climate has shown a warming-drying trend in the past 50 years.(3)The lakes in the hinterland of the Badain Jaran Desert continuously shrank during 1973‒2015.However,the vegetation communities maintained a highly natural distribution during 2000‒2016,with the vegetation cover has increased overall.Accordingly,the Badain Jaran Desert did not show any notable expansion in that period.This study deepens the understanding of groundwater circulation and the climate and ecological evolution in the Badain Jaran Desert.It will provide a scientific basis for the rational exploitation of the groundwater resources and the ecological protection and restoration in the Badain Jaran Desert.

水资源集对系统中的对立关系分析

水资源集对系统中同一项和对立项构成的对立关系是水资源集对分析辩证思维的集中体现,是构建集对系统联系数的基石。通过五种常见对立关系类型的概念解析与其应用之间对应关系的分析,以及面向五类对立关系的水资源集对系统差异项不确定性分析,在对立关系复杂、深刻的涵义方面取得了一些新的认识:在水资源集对系统中常见的反比型、互斥型、正负型、互补型和虚实型对立关系可分别由模糊、随机、涨落、分配和存在型不确定性对应产生并进行分析计算;在集对系统中最基本的对立关系是反比型、互斥型对立关系,对应的模糊性、随机性是事件发生的内容性质、事件发生的结果数量方面的不确定性;差异项不确定性的变化是导致联系数中同异反三类关系变化的原因,是“一分为三”辩证思维的一种典型展开,反映了量变到质变的转化规律;在差异项表征的五类不确定性中最常见的是模糊不确定性,模糊不确定性变量的运算可通过随机模拟技术转化为随机不确定性变量的运算。模糊和随机的不确定性分析分别注重物理内涵解析和数学定量计算,这反映了水资源集对分析学科属于计算思维领域,对进一步推动模糊水文学、随机水文学、水资源集对分析、结构水资源学等学科发展无疑具有明显的启发作用和指导意义。

长江流域重要饮用水水源地保护长效机制

指导重要饮用水水源地保护是《中华人民共和国水法》《中华人民共和国长江保护法》和“三定”规定赋予水行政主管部门的法定职责,也是维系流域供水安全保障的底线。通过对长江流域重要饮用水水源地保护管理现状的回顾分析,针对保护管理中存在的水源地名录准入退出机制不健全、安全评估制度不完善、资金投入保障机制不足等问题,提出了完善水源地安全保障规划体系、规范水源地名录管理机制、强化水源地安全评估和保护、严格水源地保护考核等长效机制构建思路和后续工作建议。研究成果对于落实《中华人民共和国水法》《中华人民共和国长江保护法》饮用水水源地保护要求、贯彻长江经济带绿色发展和长江大保护建设的要求、推动长江流域重要饮用水水源地保护长效机制建设具有重要意义。

基于OWA算子赋权和后悔理论的城市水资源脆弱性评价

为解决城市水资源脆弱性评价方法主观性过强、未考虑自然人有限理性和后悔规避心理行为特征造成评价结果失真的问题,提出基于OWA(有序加权平均)算子赋权和后悔理论的城市水资源脆弱性评价方法。运用DPSIR模型,从驱动力、压力、状态、影响、响应5个方面构建29个评价指标;采用OWA算子对决策数据重新排序,充分考虑数据位置和大小,弱化极端决策数据对权重的负面作用;选择后悔理论中决策数据效用值和理想效用值间的差异性作为评判专家主观性的依据,实现决策主观数据的客观化,从而提升评价结果的客观性。最后对郑州市2017—2022年水资源脆弱性进行评价,并将评价结果与AHP(层次分析法)和后悔理论、OWA算子和模糊数学的评估结果对比分析。结果表明:基于OWA算子赋权和后悔理论的城市水资源脆弱性评价方法评价结果与其他方法评价结果基本一致,均认为郑州市水资源重度脆弱,但该方法评价结果相对误差更小,更贴近实际情况,可更好地用于城市水资源脆弱性评价。