Application of an integrative hydro-ecological model to study water resources management in the upper and middle parts of the Yellow River basin

doi:10.1007/s11707-011-0150-9

Front Earth Sci

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Issue () : 45-55 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-011-0150-9

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Application of an integrative hydro-ecological model to study water resources management in the upper and middle parts of the Yellow River basin

Xianglian LI¹, Qiong GAO², Tingwu LEI³, Xiusheng YANG¹(

)

1. Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-4087, USA; 2. Institute of Resources Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; 3. Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yangling 712100, China

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Abstract

This study presents an application of a well-calibrated integrative hydro-ecological model to examine water resources management in the upper and middle parts of the Yellow River basin, an arid and semiarid area in northwestern China. The hydro-ecological model was developed to simulate dynamic and accumulative hydrologic, ecologic, and economic variables at different spatial units. Four water management scenarios based on water use priorities, a business-as-usual scenario, an ecological scenario, an irrigation use efficiency scenario and water use scenario were designed and modeled over the period of 2011–2020 to reflect alternative water management pathways to the future. Water resource conditions were assessed in terms streamflow, actual evapotranspiration, soil water, groundwater yield, overall water yield, and derived indicator of drought index. Unit crop yield was to assess ecological production, and monetary values of crop productivity and water productivity were used to assess economic output. Scenario analysis results suggested that water stress would continue in the study region under both current water use patterns and ecological scenarios of river flow being fully satisfied. Water use scenarios would result in decreased water availability and ecosystem degradation in the long run. Improving irrigation use efficiency would be the most efficient approach in securing long-term water and food supply. The simulation results from this study provided useful information for evaluating long-term water resources management strategies, and will contribute to the knowledge of interdisciplinary modeling for water resources management in the study region.

Keywords integrative hydro-ecological model scenario analysis water resources management upper and middle parts of the Yellow River basin

Corresponding Author(s): YANG Xiusheng,Email:xiusheng.yang@uconn.edu

Issue Date: 05 March 2011

Cite this article:

Xianglian LI,Qiong GAO,Tingwu LEI, et al. Application of an integrative hydro-ecological model to study water resources management in the upper and middle parts of the Yellow River basin[J]. Front Earth Sci, 0, (): 45-55.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fesci/EN/10.1007/s11707-011-0150-9
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fesci/EN/Y0/V/I/45

Fig.1 Location of the upper and middle parts of the Yellow River basin, China

Fig.2 Flowchart of the hydro-ecological model

Tab.1 Water balance for different scenarios in the upper and middle parts of the Yellow River basin, 2011-2020

Fig.3 Monthly water balance of BAU scenario in the upper and middle parts of the Yellow River basin, 2011-2020

Tab.2 Mean monthly water balance (unit: mm) for BAU scenario in the upper and middle parts of the Yellow River basin, 2011-2020

Fig.4 Crop water demand, irrigation water requirement, and actual irrigation amount for the BSU scenario over a typical crop land with winter-wheat and summer-maize rotation, 2011-2020

Fig.5 Spatial distribution of water balance components for BAU scenario, 2011–2020

Fig.6 Derived indicator of drought index for different scenarios in the upper and middle parts of the Yellow River basin, 2011–2020. (a) BAU scenario; (b) ECO scenario; (c) IUE scenario; (d) WUS scenario

Fig.7 Simulated unit yield for different scenarios relative to that of the BAU scenario in the upper and middle parts of the Yellow River basin, 2011-2020. (a) ECO scenario; (b) IUE scenario; (c) WUS scenario

Fig.8 Monetary outputs of (a) crop production (10 RMB/(ha·mm)) and (b) water productivity (10 RMB/(ha·mm)) for BAU scenario in the upper and middle parts of the Yellow River basin, 2011-2020

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