Sustainable Development Of Water Resources Research Articles

Conservation and management of water resources for sustainable development in mountain ecosystem

Introduction. Human activities cause ongoing disruption to natural systems and affect the way rivers behave in mountain ecosystems. Growing population, depletion of resources, changes in consumption, economic expansion, and unsustainable farming practices put immense pressure on natural and water resources. Objective. This paper examines the impact of water resources on natural resources and the livelihood of local people using traditional and new scientific techniques adopted by the locals. Methodology. A Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) involved research in different villages to understand the actual conditions of natural resource management and the livelihood options of key stakeholders. Results. The Dewal Block, Uttarakhand, India, has abundant natural resources that can meet the daily needs of local people. While the area receives sufficient rainfall, water drains to foothills due to steep slopes, lack of vegetation, and inefficient use of modern technology. Local communities have developed innovative techniques that are culturally accepted, economically feasible, and highly efficient. These include the chal-khal system, pit technology, guls/kuls, among others. Conclusion. The techniques help to enhance the living standards of the locals by actively involving them in the water resource management process. This facilitates ecological restoration, stream rejuvenation, and sustainable livelihood generation.

Factors driving changes in water conservation function from a geospatial perspective: case study of Jilin Province

Jilin Province in China borders other countries in Northeast Asia and is a complex ecosystem of transboundary rivers, varying terrains, and climates, which provides vital freshwater resources to the neighboring countries. Water conservation is one of the ecosystem service functions and is of great significance to maintaining sustainable development of water resources and ecological security. In this study, we analyzed the water conservation function and its variations in Jilin Province from 2000 to 2020 using the InVEST model. Furthermore, we examined the dominant factors governing spatial distribution of the changes in water conservation function over the past two decades using geographical detectors. In addition, a multi-scale geographic weighted regression model was adopted to investigate spatial differences and characteristics of individual drivers across different spatial scales. The study revealed a number of findings. First, between 2000 and 2020, average water conservation in Jilin Province increased by 46.12% overall from 87.14 mm/m2 to 127.28 mm/m2. Second, compared with land use change, climate change had a greater influence on water conservation. However, in some areas, the opposite was true, and the combined impact of both factors was more substantial on water conservation than when each acted independently. Third, except for temperature, the correlation between each driving factor and the change in water conservation function exhibited spatial variations, and the characteristics of each factor also varied across different spatial scales. In the study site, variations in water conservation were positively correlated with forest and grass coverage and negatively correlated with cultivated land and urban-rural and industrial-mining land. This study provides new insights for exploring the driving factors of changes in water conservation function and imparts a more appropriate basis for government agencies to make decisions about ecological and environmental protection and optimization of ecosystem management.

Groundwater potential delineation using geodetector based convolutional neural network in the Gunabay watershed of Ethiopia

Groundwater potential delineation is essential for efficient water resource utilization and long-term development. The scarcity of potable and irrigation water has become a critical issue due to natural and anthropogenic activities in meeting the demands of human survival and productivity. With these constraints, groundwater resource is now being used extensively in Ethiopia. Therefore, an innovative convolutional neural network (CNN) is successfully applied in the Gunabay watershed to delineate groundwater potential based on the selected major influencing factors. Groundwater recharge, lithology, drainage density, lineament density, transmissivity, and geomorphology were selected as major influencing factors during the groundwater potential of the study area. For dataset training, 70% of samples were selected and 30% were used for serving out of the total 128 samples. The spatial distribution of groundwater potential has been classified into five groups: very low (10.72%), low (25.67%), moderate (31.62%), high (19.93%), and very high (12.06%). The area obtains high rainfall but has a very low amount of recharge due to lack of proper soil and water conservation structures. The major outcome of the study showed that moderate and low potential is dominant. Geodetoctor results revealed that the magnitude influences on groundwater potential have been ranked as transmissivity (0.48), recharge (0.26), lineament density (0.26), lithology (0.13), drainage density (0.12), and geomorphology (0.06). The model results showed that using a convolutional neural network (CNN), groundwater potentiality can be delineated with higher predictive capability and accuracy. CNN based AUC validation platform showed that, 81.58% and 86.84% were accrued from the accuracy of training and testing values, respectively. Based on the findings, the local government can receive technical assistance for groundwater exploration, and sustainable water resource development in the Gunabay watershed. Finally, the use of a detector-based deep learning algorithm can provide a new platform for industrial sectors, groundwater experts, scholars, and decision-makers.

Characteristics and Attribution of Spatiotemporal Changes in Qilian Mountains' Runoff Over the Past Six Decades

AbstractTibet's Qilian Mountains (QM) include critical water conservation areas and important ecological barriers, which help maintain downstream inland river oasis stability. For decades, contemporaneous climatic and cryospheric variation has severely impacted QM's hydrological processes, challenging local water resource management and sustainable development. However, due to prevalent data and methodological limitations, QM research has primarily focused on runoff change at a basin scale. Spatial distributions and temporal changes in runoff subsequently remain unclear. Based on multi‐source data and the literature, we estimated that QM's mountain outlets generate approximately 15.671 km3 in total annual runoff, exhibiting a spatially decreasing pattern from northeast to southwest. Moreover, runoff distribution and trend variation at seasonal and annual scales depend upon the river replenishment source type. Beginning in the 1950s and 1960s, eastern rain‐fed rivers experienced a downward trend while those dominated by meltwater or simultaneously fed by multiple sources in its central and western regions experienced an upward trend. As an integrated product of mixed multi‐factor effects, runoff is regulated by temperature, precipitation, and cryospheric meltwater. Moreover, the main controlling runoff factors varied seasonally under different water source concentrations. Annually, precipitation was the main driver for runoff change in the eastern region while, correspondingly, temperature was in the western region where glaciers and the snow line boundary predominant. Besides, this study highlighted that the existing literature has significant limitations in understanding interactions among different cryospheric components and hydrologic process mechanisms when exploring the reasons for runoff variations, which needs further exploration in the future.

Economic benefits of water resources based on input–output model

Abstract To relieve environmental stress on water resources and promote stable socio-economic development, this article combined input–output models to analyze water resource utilization and development and to classify economic benefits. Based on this, an in-depth study was conducted on the economic benefits of water resources. Taking Hubei Province as an example, from the perspective of industrial structure, an empirical analysis was conducted on the water use benefits of various industries through input–output of water resources. The results showed that the mechanical industry and the transportation industry had the highest relative output coefficients, reaching 12.17 and 15.21, respectively. According to the results, the economic benefits of water resources in the secondary and tertiary industries of Hubei Province were relatively ideal. In practical development, industry-leading advantages could be utilized to optimize water resources management, innovate water use models and technologies, promote the improvement of agricultural water utilization rate and thus promote sustainable development of water resources.

Ecological Risks Arising in the Regional Water Resources in Inner Mongolia Due to a Large-Scale Afforestation Project

In recent years, a large-scale afforestation campaign has been implemented in Inner Mongolia, China, to control desertification and soil erosion. However, the water consumption associated with large-scale afforestation significantly impacts the water resources in Inner Mongolia, resulting in a major ecological risk. This study aimed to evaluate the ecological risk of water resources caused by afforestation in the region. In this study, using land cover data, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data, and meteorological data, we performed trend analysis and used the water balance equation and water security index (WSI) to analyze the ecological risks of water resources caused by afforestation in Inner Mongolia from 2000 to 2020. The results show that (1) the afforestation area in Inner Mongolia was 5.37 × 104 km2 in 2000–2020; (2) afforestation in arid and semi-arid areas led to a reduction in water resources; (3) afforestation reduced water resources in the study area by 62 million cubic meters (MCM) per year; and (4) ~76% of afforestation regions faced ecological risks related to water resources. This study provides scientific suggestions for the sustainable development of regional water resources and afforestation.

Improvement of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool Model and Its Application in a Typical Glacial Runoff Watershed: A Case Study of the Qarqan River Basin, China

The composition of runoff in the basins located in the arid region of Northwest China is complex. How to better simulate and analyze the hydrological process and runoff situation of the basin through hydrological models is the key to the effective management of the regional water resources. This study focused on the Qarqan River Basin in Xinjiang, which is a typical river originating from glaciers and crucial for maintaining the oasis ecology in the downstream Tarim River. Based on the original SWAT model, a SWAT-Gla model containing a new glacier module was constructed according to the characteristics of the basin. After simulating, parameter calibration, and verification of the models, it was found that during the calibration period (1975–2009) and verification period (2010–2019), the R2, NSE, and PBIAS results of the SWAT-Gla model were much better than the original SWAT model. Moreover, SWAT-Gla could also simulate the runoff much better, especially in the peak and recession parts of the hydrograph compared with the original SWAT model. It was found that SWAT-Gla could better describe the runoff process in the basin where glacier recharge was the main component of runoff. Further, the analysis revealed that over the past 50 years, glacier and snowmelt water contributed to approximately 80% of the total basin recharge, which predominantly occurred from March to September. The volume of glacier meltwater exhibited a strong correlation with temperature, with both demonstrating an upward trend. The simulation found that in terms of groundwater, the groundwater recharge in the Qarqan River was relatively stable, stabilizing at 13% over the past 30 years, and groundwater recharge was mainly distributed in spring and summer, accounting for about 95% in total. Overall, we observed an increasing trend in the replenishment of glacial meltwater in both the surface runoff and groundwater in the basin. Therefore, it is essential to pay more attention to the future changes in water resources in the basin to ensure the sustainable development of water resources.

Combined cluster and discriminant analysis based on hydrochemical and isotopic evidence: A case study of the Yellow River Delta in China

Groundwater serves as an indispensable resource, fundamental for both sustaining life and underpinning various human endeavors. However, escalating demands, coupled with climate change, have given rise to significant water scarcity in numerous areas, including the Yellow River Delta (YRD) in China. This study aims to characterize the hydrochemical composition and stable isotopes (δ2H and δ18O) of groundwater in YRD and identify spatial clustering patterns using combined Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) and Discriminant Analysis (DA). Comprehensive analyses were conducted on the major ions (i.e., K+, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl-, SO42-, and HCO3-), water quality indicators (i.e., pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP)) and isotopic composition of groundwater samples. Applying HCA on a collection of 38 water samples, the study delineated six distinct clusters, each bearing unique hydrochemical characteristics. DA was used to establish a discriminant model, achieving a classification accuracy of 80% for new groundwater samples. The study underscores that there are localized variations in the hydrochemical characteristics of groundwater in YRD, attributed to different geological conditions and anthropogenic influences. Such insights are instrumental in crafting effective strategies for water resource management, environmental conservation, and sustainable development in YRD and other analogous regions confronted with groundwater challenges.

Dynamic Monitoring of Surface Water Bodies and Their Influencing Factors in the Yellow River Basin

Surface water bodies exhibit dynamic characteristics, undergoing variations in size, shape, and flow patterns over time due to numerous natural and human factors. The monitoring of spatial-temporal changes in surface water bodies is crucial for the sustainable development and efficient utilization of water resources. In this study, Landsat series images on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform, along with the HydroLAKES and China Reservoir datasets, were utilized to establish an extraction process for surface water bodies from 1986 to 2021 in the Yellow River Basin (YRB). The study aims to investigate the dynamics of surface water bodies and the driving factors within the YRB. The findings reveal an overall expansion tendency of surface water bodies in the YRB between 1986 and 2021. In the YRB, the total area of surface water bodies, natural lakes, and artificial reservoirs increased by 2983.8 km2 (40.4%), 281.1 km2 (11.5%), and 1017.6 km2 (101.7%), respectively. A total of 102 natural lakes expanded, while 23 shrank. Regarding artificial reservoirs, 204 expanded, and 77 shrank. The factors that contributed most to the increase in the surface water bodies were increasing precipitation and reservoir construction, whose contribution rates could reach 47% and 32.6%, respectively. Additionally, the rising temperatures melted permafrost, ice, and snow, positively correlating with water expansion in the upper reaches of the YRB, particularly natural lakes.

A lighthouse to enhance the quality of life in the Nile River basin

AbstractThe future of large rivers is related to regional cooperation programs for the sustainable development of water and related resources in great river basins. The objective of this article is to present how roadmaps can be utilized for both building up sustainable development for the Nile River, and supporting the integration of national and regional development strategies in Egypt and other Nile basin countries. The strategic objective is to highlight a wide range of sustainable freshwater pathways for an inclusive, peaceful, and sustainable future for all. In particular, it focuses on generating innovative water solutions, actions, and practices that enhance water exploitation in large river basins, transboundary shared rivers, and other transboundary shared water resources. The roadmapping approach is adopted and developed widely in the science, technology, and innovation community. The paper concentrates on roadmapping as an important tool that promotes sound planning of sustainability of large rivers, and in particular, transboundary shared rivers. The roadmap analyzes the benefits of planning shared water cooperation that extends to ecological, economic, and political features, and also beyond the river for the benefit of all, and identifies at an early stage the actions needed to manage the associated technology and environmental risk. The roadmap includes the key water resources governance characteristics, geographical scope, climate change (CC), and its impact, member states, organizational structure, decision-making, data information sharing, monitoring, the role of multiple stakeholders, financing, legal basis, dispute resolution, and benefit sharing. Therefore, a roadmap for the Nile River can help raise productivity and support faster growth, if considered as a lighthouse for national development strategies. Roadmap for the Nile River proposes windows of opportunity and is a vital milestone for cooperation, peace, stability, joint investment, and prosperity. With possible benefits exceeding those derived from the river itself, a roadmap for the Nile River can catalyze strengthened cooperation and greater regional ecological, economic, social, and political integration. The paper concludes that the roadmap for the Nile River sustainability (NRS) is a promising model for assuring the sustainability of transboundary shared large rivers.

Quantitative analysis of recharge sources of different runoff types in the source region of Three River

This study systematically analyzed 2321 water samples to determine the spatiotemporal supply patterns of different runoff types in the source region of the Three Rivers from 2019 to 2021 using stable isotope tracing and endmember-element mixed runoff segmentation modeling. The results indicate that the δ18O and δD values of the tributary were more negative than those of the mainstream. The mainstream and tributary were primarily recharged by precipitation (61 %) and supra-permafrost water (53 %), respectively. Furthermore, with increasing altitude, the proportions of precipitation and glacial meltwater in the mainstream decreased and increased, respectively. Three river-water supply patterns were observed: (1) water was stored in glaciers and snow after solid precipitation events occurred, and the runoff was directly replenished by the melting of glaciers and snow; (2) various surface water bodies were mixed to recharge the supra-permafrost water, which replenished the runoff; and (3) lake water and wetlands were supplied by various surface water bodies, including surface runoff. These findings reveal the evolutionary mechanism of runoff in cold regions under climatic warming and provide crucial information for water resource management and sustainable development.

Study on the Suitable Ecological Groundwater Depth and the Suitable Well–Canal Combined Irrigation Ratio in the Weigan River Irrigation District

It is important to clarify the suitable ratio of well–canal combined irrigation and the suitable range for ecological groundwater depth for the ecological stability of the arid zone. The MODFLOW model was used to reconstruct long-term groundwater depth by analyzing the response relationship between vegetation cover and groundwater depth in the Weigan River irrigation district. The suitable range for ecological groundwater depth was obtained, and based on this range, the suitable well–canal combined irrigation ratio in the research area was further simulated. The results show the following: (1) The average annual depth of groundwater in 82.9% of the study area increased from 2012 to 2021, and the average annual depth of groundwater increased by 1.03 m in 2021 compared to 2012. The average depth of the groundwater in the upstream area increased the most, with an increase of 1.96 m. (2) The vegetation cover in the study area from 2012 to 2021 increased in general, with an increase of 0.0461 over the 10-year period, but it fluctuated between years. (3) The depth of the groundwater in the study area suitable for the growth of vegetation in the irrigation area ranged from 3 to 5 m, and the value of NDVI within this range concentrated near 0.564–0.731, which represents a good state of vegetation growth. (4) The ratio of combined well and canal irrigation in the study area from 2012 to 2014 surged from 0.13 in 2012 to 0.48 in 2014, and the irrational harvesting and replenishment relationship led to a rapid increase in the depth of buried groundwater. A suitable well–canal combined irrigation ratio of 0.396 in the study area was obtained. This study is beneficial for maintaining the sustainable development and utilization of water resources and ecological stability in the Weigan River irrigation district.

Assessing Water Resource Carrying Capacity and Sustainability in the Cele–Yutian Oasis (China): A TOPSIS–Markov Model Analysis

This study employs the Driving Force–Pressure–State–Response (DPSR) framework to establish an evaluation index system for the water resource carrying capacity (WRCC) in the Cele–Yutian Oasis (China). Utilizing the TOPSIS and obstacle degree models, we analyze the trends in the WRCC and its main hindrance factors in the Cele–Yutian Oasis from 2005 to 2020. Additionally, we employ the Markov model to investigate the dynamic changes in the land use types. The findings reveal that the most unfavorable WRCC status occurred in 2007, with a Grade IV rating (a mild overload). By 2020, the WRCC improved to a Grade III rating (critical), indicating a positive trajectory. However, persistent challenges for water resources remain, with a prolonged critical state. Over the past 15 years, the grassland area has decreased by 15.18%, and the forest area has decreased by 50%. The dynamic degree of grassland, forests, and water bodies is negative, signifying shifts to other land types, with water bodies undergoing the most significant change at −10.16%. Based on the outcomes of these two models, we propose regionally tailored measures to support sustainable development. These research results provide a scientific foundation for optimal water resource allocation and sustainable development in the Cele–Yutian Oasis Economic Belt.

Evaluation of water resources sustainable development in karst area based on the improved emergy ecological footprint model: A case study of Yunnan Province

Abstract This study combined emergy theory with water ecological footprint to analyze and evaluate the sustainable development status of water resources in Yunnan Province from 2012 to 2021. The water pollutant account and the water product account were supplemented to the water ecological footprint. The results showed that the water resources in Yunnan Province were generally in an ecological deficit during the study period, but their absolute values were very small. The ecological pressure index of water resources was high, while the sustainable utilization index of water resources was low, indicating that the water resources were in a state of unsustainable utilization. However, the emergy ecological footprint of water resources and the emergy ecological footprint of water resources of 10,000 Yuan GDP showed a decreasing trend, and the eco-economic coordination index of water resources was relatively high, indicating that the water resources will show a sustainable development trend in the future. The sustainable development of water resources was influenced by both natural ecological factors and social factors. Therefore, suggestions such as improving the utilization rate of water resources development, developing a green low-carbon economy, preventing and controlling water pollution, and protecting the water environment are conducive to promoting the sustainable development of water resources.

Regional differences and dynamic evolution of agricultural water resources utilization efficiency in China.

Improving water resources utilization efficiency is conducive to achieving the sustainable development of water resources. It is essential to explore the regional differences and dynamic evolution of agricultural water resources utilization efficiency in China to promote high-quality development of agriculture. In this study, based on the unexpected output, we build a super slack-based measure model to measure agricultural water resources utilization efficiency in China's provinces from 2007 to 2018. In addition, we use the Dagum Gini coefficient to analyze the source of regional differences. Finally, we construct the distributed dynamics model to explore the distribution of the dynamic evolution trend of China's agricultural water resources utilization efficiency. The results reveal that regional difference is the main source of the overall difference in agricultural water resources utilization efficiency in China. Spatial imbalance exists in the development of agricultural water resources utilization efficiency in China. The agricultural water resources utilization efficiency in various provinces and regions of China is relatively stable, having the characteristics of club convergence. The probability of maintaining the initial state is high, and the internal mobility is low. However, with time, the degree of club convergence decreases.

A multi-step water quality prediction model based on the Savitzky-Golay filter and Transformer optimized network.

Effective water quality prediction techniques are essential for the sustainable development of water resources and implementation of emergency response mechanisms. However, the water environment conditions are complex, and the presence of a large amount of noise in the water quality data makes it difficult to reveal the long-term trends or cycles of the data, affecting the acquisition of serial correlation in the data. In addition, the loss function based on the vertical Euclidean distance will produce a prediction lag problem, and it is difficult to make an accurate multi-step prediction of water quality series. This paper presents a multi-step water quality prediction model for watersheds that combines Savitzky-Golay (SG) filter with Transformer optimized networks. Among them, the SG filter highlights data trend change and improves sequence correlation by smoothing the potential noise of original data. The transformer network adopts a sequence-to-sequence framework, which contains a position encoding module and a self-attentive mechanism to perform multi-step prediction while effectively obtaining the sequence correlation. Moreover, the DIstortion Loss including shApe and TimE (DILATE) loss function is introduced into the model to solve the problem of prediction lag from two aspects of shape error and time error to improve the model's generalization ability. An example validates the model with the benchmark model at four monitoring stations in the Lanzhou section of the Yellow River basin in China. The results show that the predictions of the proposed model have the correct shape, temporal positioning, and the best accuracy in a multi-step prediction task for four sites. It can provide a decision-making basis for comprehensive water quality control and pollutant control in the basin.

Illuminating the complexity of hydrogeological regimes in fault-influenced, anticlinal karst aquifers: Insights into the recharge patterns in tectonically complex karst catchments

For many countries, karst aquifers are a significant source of potable water; thus, understanding their hydrogeological behavior is of great importance. However, in tectonically complex karst areas, knowledge of their hydrogeological behaviors has remained largely limited due to the high heterogeneity, often necessitating the use of costly and time-consuming techniques. In this study, spring discharge hydrographs, water balance estimates, hydrochemical and stable isotopic analyses, geomorphological surveys, and a consideration of the geological and structural setting of the study area were used to investigate the hydrogeological function of karst aquifers drained by two large permanent springs: the Bibitalkhone (Bt) and Sabzab (Sa) springs, located in a highly faulted catchment in the Zagros Mountains (southwest Iran). The results obtained from these different approaches suggested that fault-controlled, external waters from neighboring karst aquifers are responsible for more than two-thirds of the total discharge recorded at both springs. In this study, this predominantly conduit-type recharge is referred to as “regional (or external) autogenic recharge”. A smaller portion of the springs’ discharge (∼25% and ∼5% of the Bt and Sa springs’ discharge, respectively) originates from internal waters associated with the springs’ host aquifer, which is supplied by rainfall and infiltrates into the subsurface via joints and fractures. This type of recharge is largely diffuse and is referred to here as “local (or internal) autogenic recharge”. A relatively large portion of the Sa Spring’s discharge (∼35%) originates from a nearby dam reservoir, which can leak into the host spring aquifer through joints and fractures. This type of recharge is described as “local (or internal) allogenic recharge” and is primarily diffuse. The results of this study demonstrate that the karst aquifers in the downstream catchments can supply a stable and continuous source of potable groundwater that can meet the region’s annual consumption, agricultural, and industrial demands. This study will provide insights into the hydrogeological regimes of fault-influenced aquifers, contributing to the sustainable development and proper management of water resources in tectonically complex karst catchments.

Study on Spatial and Temporal Differences of Water Resource Sustainable Development and Its Influencing Factors in the Yellow River Basin, China

This study conducted a comprehensive analysis of the spatial and temporal variations of water resource carrying capacity (WRCC) and its influencing factors in the significant Yellow River Basin in China. Combining the composite weighting TOPSIS method with geographic detector analysis, the water resource carrying capacity index for nine provinces within the Yellow River Basin was evaluated from 2005 to 2021. The results reveal a continuous upward trend in water resource carrying capacity in the Yellow River Basin, with significant improvements attributed to increased investment in scientific research, enhanced water use efficiency, proactive water resource management, and environmental protection measures. The study also identified differences in water resource carrying capacity among provinces, highlighting the significant impact of factors such as economic development, population density, industrial wastewater discharge, and precipitation. The findings underscore the importance of balancing economic growth with environmental protection. Specifically, Inner Mongolia and Ningxia provinces showed remarkable progress, while Qinghai and Sichuan provinces exhibited slower growth, primarily due to geographical location and industrial development status. Based on these findings, it is recommended that research investment be strengthened, economic structures be optimized, water resource management be improved, and environmental protection measures be enhanced.

Identifying intermittent river sections with similar hydrology using remotely sensed metrics

As the human population grows and the demand for freshwater intensifies, river systems previously overlooked for water production are increasingly being earmarked for development. Many of these rivers are intermittent or in remote locations, and most are insufficiently instrumented (i.e., few to no gauging stations) and poorly understood, even though sustainable water resource development and the effective management of these systems relies on a thorough understanding of their hydrology. Remote sensing of surface water has been posed as a viable method for describing the morphology, resilience and fragmentation of river hydrology, much like metrics generated from discharge data. The low cost and increasing frequency and quality of spectral images means that this approach has a great potential to characterise hydrology at fine scales across large areas. However, the approach remains largely untested with previous research only examining small river sections. This study aimed to characterise a hydrologically diverse 400 km reach of an intermittent lowland river using newly developed, spatially derived, ecohydrological metrics. We used multidimensional clustering to identify river sections with similar hydrology, examined their spatial arrangement along the river and compared their characteristics with discharge data from four gauging stations. Metric clustering revealed four hydrological types (zones) that spanned a continuum from highly intermittent to highly persistent. Spatially, zones were at the scale of pool-run/riffle geomorphic units that alternated along the study area. Density maps of hydrological zones revealed that the mid-section of the study reach had higher persistence and longitudinal connectivity, a finding that aligned with a pre-existing groundwater discharge map generated from field sampling of environmental tracers. Limited gauging station coverage constrained comparisons, but available stations in Persistent or Refuge zones exhibited similar hydrograph responses. The ability to map hydrology continuously along the length of a river is a significant advance compared to a gauged approach, which can only classify hydrology at a single point (i.e., the gauge). Continuous classification increases our ability to describe spatial patterns in hydrology, which could markedly affect how a river is managed.

Spatial pattern and driving forces of regional water use efficiency: From spatial spillover and heterogeneity perspective

AbstractWater use efficiency (WUE) is critical for conserving water resources and protecting the environment, yet the lack of quantitative analysis of its spatial spillover effects and the spatial heterogeneity of its influencing factors hinders improving and achieving the spatial equilibrium regulation of regional WUE. In the current study, a way is proposed to explore the spatial pattern and driving forces of regional WUE from spatial spillover and heterogeneity perspective, in which the Improved Super‐slack‐based Model is firstly applied to estimate the WUE, and then, the spatial Markov chain and the geographically and temporally weighted regression model were, respectively, used to explore the spatial spillover effects of WUE and reveal the spatial heterogeneity of the driving forces behind the WUE. Guangdong Province, a region with rapidly developing economy and significant uneven development in China, was chosen as a case study. Results show that there is a radial pattern of high WUE in the Pearl River Delta and there are significant spatial spillover effects among cities, the city with higher WUE exerted positive effects on its neighboring city's WUE. The key driving factors of WUE include per capita GDP, per capita water consumption, proportion of secondary and tertiary industry water use, foreign direct investment, and R&D input, with spatial heterogeneity in their influences. Policies such as enhancing public awareness of water saving, increasing the reuse of wastewater in industrial parks, and promoting the inter‐municipal socioeconomic and technological exchanges are recommended to achieve a more coordinated and balanced regional WUE. The results of this study have scientific and practical implications for coordinating regional water resources exploitation and sustainable development.