Environmental effects of water resource development and use in the Tarim River basin of northwestern China

The unbridled development and use of water resources in the Tarim River basin over the last 50 years have led to a serious degradation of soil (>12×10³ km² of land desertified between the 1960s and 1990s) and water quality (rise in maximum salinity was from 1.3 g l^–1 in 1960, to 4.0 g l^–1 in 1981–1984, and to 7.8 g l^–1 in 1998). Approximately 300 km of the lower reaches of the river course dried up between the 1950s and 1970s, seriously altering the downstream hydrological processes (a 4–6 m drop in groundwater levels from the 1960s to the 1980s, and 0.2 m yr^–1 thereafter) and ecosystems (67% and 50% decrease (1958–1978) in Populus euphratica forest acreage and biomass, respectively). Between the 1950s and 1990s, 3820 km² of P. euphratica forest and 200 km² of shrub- and grassland were lost in the lower reaches of the Tarim River. In this study, based on estimates of soil organic carbon in desertified lands, it has been found that in the last 30 years (1970–2000), approximately 112 Tg of organic carbon (28% originating in the 0–1.0 m soil profile) has been released into the atmosphere as a result of soil degradation in the Tarim River basin. Intensive anthropogenic disturbance has been one of the foremost factors leading to the deterioration of water resources in this region. The key to solving these problems is to enhance the scientific and technical level of monitoring, management, and restoration of water resources and associated water and soil components of local ecosystems.     

Oasis evolution and water resource utilization of a typical area in the inland river basin of an arid area: a case study of the Manas River valley

The Manas River valley is a typical inland river basin of an arid area in central Asia, and illustrates oasis evolution and economic development in this region. Based on the historical documents, monitoring data from field surveys, and remote sensing image data, this paper illustrates the oases evolution over the last 2,000 years and analyzes the rapid expansion of the Manas River oasis in the last 60 years. We also examine the relationship between oasis evolution and water resource utilization. We discuss the characteristics and effects of oasis expansion and the proposed adjustment measures for sustainable development of the Manas River valley. The principal objectives of this paper were to analyze the relationship between oasis expansion and water resource utilization over the last 60 years, and to solve the conflict between the continuous expansion of oases and a shortage of water resources to keep development of the Manas River valley sustainable. The results indicate that (1) oasis evolution in the Manas River valley over 2,000 years can be divided into three periods: a period dominated by animal husbandry, a period of semi-farming and semi-grazing, and a farming-dominated period. During the first two periods, the oasis area was limited, water conservancy facilities were poor and water utilization levels were low. In the third period, oasis expansion over the last 60 years shows a large-scale development. (2) The farming-dominated period can be subdivided into four phases according to the scale of water projects and the level of irrigation. Different oasis scales of the four phases show that artificial oasis evolution has a close connection with water resource utilization. (3) The evolution of oases in the Manas River valley raises some environmental problems although it plays an active role in promoting sustainability. Therefore, adjustment measures for the future development of oases could be proposed from the perspective of sustainable development, such as oasis scale control, forbidding reclamation, moderating exploitation of groundwater, and transforming industrial structures.     

水资源承载力动态预测与调控 ——以黄河流域为例

为准确预测区域水资源承载力的变化趋势和制定优化的调控方案,从"经济社会-水资源-生态环境"系统互馈机理出发,建立水资源承载力水量、水质、水域空间、水流的全要素诊断体系,识别关键驱动指标;采用支持向量机、系统动力学等多种方法,建立水资源承载力定量动态预测模型,同时制定调控目标,结合分析驱动指标的实现难易程度和代价,采用正交试验方法,优选承载力提升和减负方案。应用于黄河流域水量要素承载力的诊断、预测与调控,结果表明,南水北调西线工程等调水工程运行前各规划水平年黄河流域、上游区、中游区、下游区均处于超载或严重超载状态,运行后均处于临界超载或超载状态,选择非常规水利用、入海水量、亩均灌溉用水量、灌溉面积、万元工业增加值用水量、工业增加值等6个关键驱动指标,进行正交试验,得到了各水平年水量承载力均不超载的最优调控方案,可为黄河流域水资源管理工作提供指导。     

The role of deuterium excess in determining the water salinisation mechanism: A case study of the arid Tarim River Basin,NW China

Understanding the water salinisation mechanism is the basis for regional salt management. Mineral dissolution, evaporation and transpiration are the main factors controlling natural water salinity in arid inland basins; however, the two are difficult to differentiate. Because deuterium excess decreases during evaporation and is unrelated to the isotopic composition of the initial water, it is a potential tool for determining the contribution of the evapoconcentration of a given water body using the relationship between deuterium excess and salinity rather than between δ¹⁸O (or δ²H) and salinity. In this paper, the relationship between the residual water fraction and deuterium excess was derived from the Rayleigh distillation equation. The contribution of evapoconcentration and mineral dissolution and/or transpiration for a given water body can be determined by comparing the residual water fraction and salinity between the initial water and the evapoconcentrated water. The extremely arid Tarim River Basin in NW China is taken as an example to demonstrate deuterium excess and salinity evolution from the source stream to river water, lake/reservoir water and groundwater. The results show that mineral dissolution contributes most of the salinity (67–77%) for Boston Lake and the Kongque and Tarim rivers relative to the source stream. Mineral dissolution and/or transpiration contribute greater salinity (73–99.6%) to the groundwater recharged by the river water in the middle and lower reaches of the Tarim River. The study provides a method for determining the salinisation mechanism and is important for salt movement and management.     

人类活动影响下的干旱区河流地貌演变——以塔里木河为例

全球范围内干旱区河流正日益受到高强度人类活动的扰动,但较少研究报道这种扰动对河流地貌过程的影响。采用历史文献、水文数据和遥感影像相结合的方式,详细分析了人类活动影响下中国最大内陆河塔里木河（简称塔河）的河流地貌变化过程。结果表明:塔河流域人类活动的规模和强度日趋上升,对河流水沙过程和地貌形态等影响显著。近50年来,塔河干流低流量过程发生频率呈显著上升趋势,而中、高流量过程则呈降低趋势,河道径流和输沙量减少显著。塔河干流上游现为游荡河道,冲淤变化剧烈且总体处于淤积抬升状态, 但河道平均河宽呈减小趋势,可能是因为塔河两岸冲积平原的开垦和河岸加固。塔河中游弯曲河道蜿蜒系数在近几十年呈缓慢上升趋势,但明显低于废弃古河道。     

Analysis of snowmelt model for flood forecast for water in arid zone: case of Tarim River in Northwest China

Field studies were carried out in Tarim River Basin, Northwest China for analysis of snowmelt model for flood forecast for a river in arid zone. Snow is a major source for water availability in arid zone of Northwest China where 50% of snow cover withdrew by sublimation during dry and cold climatic condition. The analysis of weekly forecast of daily discharges was helped by the temperature index model, ARIMA model for temperature and flow, D-IUH runoff model and D-IUH model estimation where the temperature forecast was used as driving variable; the numerical simulations were carried out using SUSA^® software for testing the sensitivity of the D-IUH to the input values of the parameter and an analysis of the forecast results against the set of input parameters resulted in a determination coefficient R ² = 0.5. The standard deviation was 3.28 and the mean for the Tarim River was 5.37 (mm d^?1) implying that the forecasted data is in strong agreement with the observed data. The combination of methods is better useful for calculation in order to avoid errors of appreciation.     

大陆盆地的聚敛-闭合过程研究:以塔里木盆地为例

印度与欧亚大陆第三纪以来碰撞汇聚,造成亚洲大陆内部强烈缩短变形。塔里木盆地如何发生相应的变形调节和应变分解,成为中亚板内构造的重要问题。塔里木陆块新生代以来被板内造山带及走滑断裂系环绕,盆地内部以刚性为特征,未发生强烈构造变形。区域大断裂与塔里木盆地的冲断、走滑构造边界共同作用,形成盆地边缘复杂的构造系。其新生代构造变形主要集中于盆地的构造边界上,4条构造边界显示差异性的运动特征和构造交切关系。盆地边缘构造带叠加并向盆内扩展,造成盆地总体上水平缩短,并发生应变分解。盆地内部发生沉积-构造分异,发育前陆盆地、前缘隆起、复合前陆盆地、拉分盆地等单元。其中,盆地西北缘及西南缘发生陆内俯冲,形成前陆盆地及前陆冲断带,对盆内构造演化有重要影响。区域构造研究表明,塔里木盆地新生代主要发生了4期区域构造变形,第三纪以来还发生顺时针旋转。大陆盆地构造边界上的运动组合、盆内不均匀阻挡和滑脱拆离,造成其变形扩展方式的差异,并影响盆内单元构造演化。因此,塔里木盆地是认识大陆盆地聚敛与闭合过程的天然实验室。     

大陆盆地的聚敛-闭合过程研究:以塔里木盆地为例

印度与欧亚大陆第三纪以来碰撞汇聚,造成亚洲大陆内部强烈缩短变形。塔里木盆地如何发生相应的变形调节和应变分解,成为中亚板内构造的重要问题。塔里木陆块新生代以来被板内造山带及走滑断裂系环绕,盆地内部以刚性为特征,未发生强烈构造变形。区域大断裂与塔里木盆地的冲断、走滑构造边界共同作用,形成盆地边缘复杂的构造系。其新生代构造变形主要集中于盆地的构造边界上,4条构造边界显示差异性的运动特征和构造交切关系。盆地边缘构造带叠加并向盆内扩展,造成盆地总体上水平缩短,并发生应变分解。盆地内部发生沉积-构造分异,发育前陆盆地、前缘隆起、复合前陆盆地、拉分盆地等单元。其中,盆地西北缘及西南缘发生陆内俯冲,形成前陆盆地及前陆冲断带,对盆内构造演化有重要影响。区域构造研究表明,塔里木盆地新生代主要发生了4期区域构造变形,第三纪以来还发生顺时针旋转。大陆盆地构造边界上的运动组合、盆内不均匀阻挡和滑脱拆离,造成其变形扩展方式的差异,并影响盆内单元构造演化。因此,塔里木盆地是认识大陆盆地聚敛与闭合过程的天然实验室。     

西北高寒干旱区哈尔腾河流域植被覆盖变化及其对全球气候变化的响应

基于ArcGIS软件, 对哈尔腾河流域1990年、 2000年、 2010年3期Landsat5-TM遥感影像分6种土地覆盖类型进行解译. 结果表明: 近20 a来, 研究区无植被区面积呈净减少趋势, 减少 2 192.37 km²; 上游高海拔地区草地面积增加明显, 新增1 938.15 km², 新增面积约占流域总面积的10%, 哈尔腾河流域呈显著绿化趋势; 冰雪面积增加210.39 km², 主要是沿原有冰雪的前缘延伸. 各种覆盖类型之间的转换主要表现为无植被区向其他5种类型的转变, 反向转换则比较少; 三种草地之间的转换主要表现为由低向中、 高覆盖类型的转换. 气温的升高与降雨量的增加是该流域土地覆盖变化的主要影响因素. 气候变化明显改善了流域上游的植被覆盖, 但“引哈济党”工程调水1.0×10⁸ m³后将对流域下游大苏干湖的生态系统产生一定影响. 应未雨绸缪, 加强监测和评估.     

The development of integrated water resource information management system in arid regions

Water and land-use tension are growing with the growing population of the world especially in arid region. To develop an efficient, sustainable, and integrated water and land-use resource management policy, accurate and complex information about available resources and demand centers is required. Geographical information system (GIS) provides a means of representing the real world through integrated layers of constituent spatial information using overlaying and indexing operations. In Abu Dhabi, Water Resources Information System (AWRIS) was developed. AWRIS is a centralized, GIS-based, Web-enabled integrated information management system that allows storage and management of all water resource information. The system integrates a comprehensive set of tools and applications that facilitate the efficient management of the water resources of the Emirate. All historical water resource information from more than ten existing databases and 10,000 Excel workbooks have now been compiled, quality controlled, and migrated into the central database. AWRIS is built as an Integrated Information Management System and hence designed to improve productivity by linking all relevant applications for data handling to a centralized data repository and management system. This paper outlines the main features of AWRIS which are three-folds. First, it provides full support for the Arabic language. Second, it is the first of its kind in bringing unrestricted data types into a centralized information management system, and third, it provides a wide range of tools to effectively manage information on water resources.     

缺水流域用水竞争与协作关系——以黄河流域为例

缓解水资源供需矛盾是缺水流域水资源管理的重点与难点,量化不同用水部门间的竞争与协作关系,可为缺水流域水资源供需关系提供评估方法和优化思路。分析了水资源的排他性和非排他性特征,定义了不同用水部门之间的竞争与协作关系,建立了用水竞争度和协作度量化方法,并提出减小竞争度、增大协作度的需水过程优化目标。以黄河流域为例评估用水竞争与协作关系,结果显示:2017年兰州以下各河段存在较强的用水竞争关系,汛期河道内缺水导致协作度较小;预测2030年兰州-河口镇和花园口以下用水竞争度较大,跨流域调水工程可有效降低各河段用水竞争度;流域水资源管理需进一步考虑汛期高流量的生态作用和非汛期输沙需水过程,进一步挖掘用水协作潜力;将部分汛期输沙水量调整至非汛期可以减小竞争度、增大协作度。     

缺水流域用水竞争与协作关系——以黄河流域为例

缓解水资源供需矛盾是缺水流域水资源管理的重点与难点,量化不同用水部门间的竞争与协作关系,可为缺水流域水资源供需关系提供评估方法和优化思路。分析了水资源的排他性和非排他性特征,定义了不同用水部门之间的竞争与协作关系,建立了用水竞争度和协作度量化方法,并提出减小竞争度、增大协作度的需水过程优化目标。以黄河流域为例评估用水竞争与协作关系,结果显示：2017年兰州以下各河段存在较强的用水竞争关系,汛期河道内缺水导致协作度较小;预测2030年兰州-河口镇和花园口以下用水竞争度较大,跨流域调水工程可有效降低各河段用水竞争度;流域水资源管理需进一步考虑汛期高流量的生态作用和非汛期输沙需水过程,进一步挖掘用水协作潜力;将部分汛期输沙水量调整至非汛期可以减小竞争度、增大协作度。     

基于资源理论的黄河干流水资源评价

采用循化、小川、兰州、下河沿、青铜峡、石嘴山、三湖河口、头道拐、吴堡、龙门、潼关、三门峡、花园口、泺口和利津共15个黄河干流沿线水文监测断面,计算各水文监测断面水资源多年平均组成。各水文断面监测项目包括水位、流量、气温、水温、pH、电导率、钙、镁、钾、氯离子、硫酸根离子、碳酸根离子、碳酸氢根离子、离子总量、溶解氧、氨氮、亚硝酸盐氮、硝酸盐氮、高锰酸盐指数、生化需氧量、氰化物、砷化物、挥发酚、六价铬、汞、镉、铅、铜、铁、锌和细菌总数等。基于资源理论,采用指标对黄河干流水量和水质进行了统一度量。根据黄河干流实测数据,对水资源化学、物理和生物进行核算,并分析多年水资源变化趋势以模拟黄河干流水资源空间分布状况。最后,势高概念的提出为进一步量化和比较黄河干流的生态发展状况提供基础。     

Evaluation of landscape changes and ecological degradation by GIS in arid regions: a case study of the terminal oasis of the Shiyang River,northwest China

The development and utilization of water and land resources in the Shiyang River basin are the highest among the inland rivers in northwestern China. Using GIS and the landscape structure analysis program FRAGSTATS, landscape metrics of a study area in the lake-district in Minqin Oasis in the lower reaches of Shiyang River basin were calculated and analyzed based on TM images from 1987 to 2001 at class level and landscape level, respectively. Transformation matrix of the landscape mosaics was also examined. The driving forces of landscape changes were analyzed, including the dynamics of runoff and groundwater resources and their exploitation, and influences of policies and market economy. The results showed that: (1) Patch number of farmland and desert decreased, but their mean patch area increased, indicating that reclamation and desertification was very serious in the study area. Contagion index for oasis increased and edge density and landscape diversity were reduced. (2) Farmland and desert areas have enlarged by 1,520.46 and 4,941.27 hm², respectively. This increase was at the cost of woodland and grassland, which shrank by 1,520.46 and 4,941.27 hm², respectively. (3) The net utilization of surface water decreased by 50% in the last 10 years, and dropped to 22.3 × 10⁶ m³ in the later 1990s. Exploitation of groundwater increased remarkably, up to 80 × 10⁶ m³ per year in the last 5 years. (4) The capability of the economic structure to withstand pressures of the market economy has depressed distinctly because of the simplified planting pattern, which is dominated by salinity-enduring cash crops, such as cotton. Based on the above analysis, strategies of ecological reconstruction in the lake-district were suggested.     

Isotopic geochemistry of the groundwater system in arid and semiarid areas and its significance: a case study in Shiyang River basin, Gansu province, northwest China

 Shiyang River basin, located in the eastern part of Hexi Corridor in the middle Gansu province, NW China, is a typical arid to semiarid area. Within its drainage distance of merely 300 km, the groundwater system shows a gradual hydrochemical zonation from the upper reach to the lower reach, which is composed of hydrocarbonate, sulfate to chloride zones respectively. Variation in the saturation index (SI) of calcite and dolomite shows that, under arid to semiarid conditions, the drastic evaporation causes the groundwater quality to deteriorate in the lower reach. Isotopic compositions of H, O and He in the groundwater show that the groundwater recharge sources are mainly from meteoric water. δ³He–³He/²⁰Ne coordinates could clearly distinguish the water sources and mixing among them. In the Caiqi region, there is apparent mixing of the crevice water containing excess ⁴He with the overlying groundwater, which also implies a much lower circulation rate of the groundwater. Fairly high ³He/⁴He ratios of the groundwaters collected from the adjacent area of hidden faults along Qilian Mountains show the eminent input of mantle-derived helium, indicating that these faults not only cut the crust deeply, but are currently active. Received: 11 February 2000 · Accepted: 23 May 2000     

Trends of water resource development and utilization in arid north-west China

 From an analysis of the current water resources and their development and utilization in arid north-west China, the authors conclude the extent of channelled water accounts for only 56.0% of the total, exploitable surface-water resources of arid north-west China. The utilization ratio of canal systems is 42%, and farmland use is 0.8. When the ground and surface waters of river basins in the region are comprehensively developed, the channelled water will reach its climax, accounting for 80% of the total, exploitable surface-water resources, which would constitute a 91% increase over current levels in surface-water resource development. In the future, the utilization ratio of canal system as well as the utilization ratio of farmland water will reach 0.9 with the help of scientific and technological advancements. The channelled water is the same as the comprehensive development and utilization stages, but the total water use will be increased by 247×10⁸ m³, and will reach 756.8×10⁸ m³, accounting for 88.2% of the total, exploitable surface-water resources in arid north-west China. Also, the authors suggest that the scientific and technological measures to increase the water-use ratio include improving management, strengthening protection of water resources and the environment, and increasing studies of water saving techniques. Received: 11 January 1999 · Accepted: 6 July 1999     

塔里木盆地北缘库车盆地白垩系风成砂岩研究--以库车河剖面为例

库车盆地的早白垩世地层为一套干旱气候条件下的红层沉积,包括洪积扇砾岩、间歇性河流砂砾岩、风成细砂岩和粉砂岩、沙漠湖相紫红色泥岩等类型的沉积,组成一个较为典型的沙漠沉积体系。在库车河剖面,下白垩统红层中发育一些厚层至块状的“高能细砂岩和高能粉砂岩”,多为岩屑长石石英砂岩和长石岩屑石英砂岩。它们以良好的分选性和较高的结构成熟度、较细的粒度、较低的成分成熟度和大型交错层理的发育为特征,显示出较为明显的风成沉积特点。