scholarly journals Dynamics of green and blue water flows and their controlling factors in Heihe River basin of northwestern China

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaisheng Luo ◽  
Fulu Tao
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Water Flow ◽  
Heihe River Basin ◽  
Green Water ◽  
Heihe River ◽  
Blue Water ◽  
Water Flows ◽  
Green And Blue Water ◽  
County Scale

Abstract. Climate variation will affect hydrological cycle, as well as the availability of water resources. In spite of large progresses have been made in the dynamics of hydrological cycle variables, the dynamics and drivers of blue water flow, green water flow and total flow (three flows), as well as the proportion of green water (GWC), in the past and future at county scale, were scarcely investigated. In this study, taking the Heihe River basin in China as an example, we investigated the dynamics of green and blue water flows and their controlling factors during 1980–2009 using five statistical approaches and the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). We found that there were large variations in the dynamics of green and blue water flows during 1980–2009 at the county scale. Three flows in all counties showed an increasing trend except Jiayuguan and Jianta county. The GWC showed a downward trend in the Qilian, Suzhou, Shandan, Linze and Gaotai counties, but an upward trend in the Mingle, Sunan, Jinta, Jiayuguan, Ganzhou and Ejilaqi counties. In all the counties, the three flows and GWC had strong persistent trends in the future, which are mainly ascribed to rainfall variation. In the Qilian and Shandan counties, rainfall was the major controlling factor for the three flows and GWC. Rainfall controlled the green water and total flows in the Mingle, Linze and Gaotai counties; green water flow and GWC in the Suzhou county; green water flow, total flow and GWC in the Jinta and Ejilaqi counties. Our results also showed that the "Heihe River basin allocation project" had significant influences on the abrupt changes of the flows above-mentioned. Our results illustrate the status of the water resources at county scale, providing a reference for water resources management of inland river basins.

scholarly journals Impacts of human activities and climate variability on green and blue water flows in the Heihe River Basin in Northwest China

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 9477-9504 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Zang ◽  
J. Liu ◽  
L. Jiang ◽  
D. Gerten
Keyword(s):  
Climate Variability ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Water Flow ◽  
Human Activities ◽  
Northwest China ◽  
Green Water ◽  
Heihe River ◽  
Blue Water ◽  
Water Flows ◽  
Green And Blue Water

Abstract. Human activities and climate factors both affect the availability of water resources and the sustainability of water management. Especially in already dry regions, water has become more and more scarce with increasing requirements from growing population, economic development and diet shifts. Although progress has been made in understanding variability of runoff, the impacts of climate variability and human activities on flows of both green water (actual evapotranspiration) and blue water (discharge accumulated in the river network) remain less well understood. We study the spatial patterns of blue and green water flows and the impacts on them of human activities and climate variability as simulated by the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) for an inland Heihe river basin located in Northwest China. The results show that total green and blue water flow increased from 1980 to 2005, mainly as a result of climate variability (upward precipitation trends). Direct human activities did not significantly change the total green and blue water flow. However, land use change led to a transformation of 206 million m3 from green to blue water flow, while farmland irrigation expansion resulted in a transformation of 66 million m3 from blue to green water flow. The synchronous climate variability caused an increase of green water flow by 469 million m3 and an increase of blue water flow by 146 million m3 at the river basin level, while the geographical distribution showed an uneven change even with reductions of water flows in western sub-basins at midstream. The results are helpful to benchmark the water resources in the context of global change in the inland river basins in China. This study also provides a general approach to investigate the impacts of historical human activities and climate variability on green and blue water flows at the river basin level.

scholarly journals Assessment of spatial and temporal patterns of green and blue water flows under natural conditions in inland river basins in Northwest China

2012 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 2859-2870 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. F. Zang ◽  
J. Liu ◽  
M. van der Velde ◽  
F. Kraxner
Keyword(s):  
River Basin ◽  
River Basins ◽  
Heihe River Basin ◽  
Green Water ◽  
Heihe River ◽  
Blue Water ◽  
Natural Conditions ◽  
Water Flows ◽  
Inland River ◽  
Green And Blue Water

Abstract. In arid and semi-arid regions freshwater resources have become scarcer with increasing demands from socio-economic development and population growth. Until recently, water research and management has mainly focused on blue water but ignored green water. Furthermore, in data poor regions hydrological flows under natural conditions are poorly characterised but are a prerequisite to inform future water resources management. Here we report on spatial and temporal patterns of both blue and green water flows that can be expected under natural conditions as simulated by the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) for the Heihe river basin, the second largest inland river basin in Northwest China. Calibration and validation at two hydrological stations show good performance of the SWAT model in modelling hydrological processes. The total green and blue water flows were 22.05–25.51 billion m3 in the 2000s for the Heihe river basin. Blue water flows are larger in upstream sub-basins than in downstream sub-basins mainly due to high precipitation and a large amount of snow and melting water in upstream. Green water flows are distributed more homogeneously among different sub-basins. The green water coefficient was 87%–89% in the 2000s for the entire river basin, varying from around 80%–90% in up- and mid-stream sub-basins to above 90% in downstream sub-basins. This is much higher than reported green water coefficients in many other river basins. The spatial patterns of green water coefficients were closely linked to dominant land covers (e.g. snow cover upstream and desert downstream) and climate conditions (e.g. high precipitation upstream and low precipitation downstream). There are no clear consistent historical trends of change in green and blue water flows and the green water coefficient at both the river basin and sub-basin levels. This study provides insights into green and blue water endowments under natural conditions for the entire Heihe river basin at the sub-basin level. The results are helpful to benchmark the natural flows of water in the basin as part of improved water resources management in the inland river basins of China.

Influence of human activities and climate variability on green and blue water provision in the Heihe River Basin, NW China

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 800-815 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chuanfu Zang ◽  
Junguo Liu ◽  
Dieter Gerten ◽  
Luguang Jiang
Keyword(s):  
Climate Variability ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Water Flow ◽  
Human Activities ◽  
Heihe River Basin ◽  
Green Water ◽  
Heihe River ◽  
Blue Water ◽  
Green And Blue Water ◽  
Water Provision

Human activities and climate simultaneously affect water cycling and provision. Here, we study the impacts of climate variability and human activities on green and blue water provision (or the flows of both green water and blue water) in the inland Heihe River Basin as simulated by the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). The results show that total green and blue water flow varied significantly from 1980 to 2010. Direct human activities did not significantly change the sum of green and blue water flow volumes. However, land use change led to a transformation of 206 million m3/year in the entire river basin from green to blue water flow, while farmland irrigation expansion resulted in a transformation of 66 million m3 from blue to green water flow. The synchronous climate variability, with an upward precipitation trend, caused an increase of green water flow by 469 million m3/year and an increase of blue water flow by 146 million m3/year at the river basin level over the study period. The results provide a general approach to investigate the impacts of historical human activities and climate variability on water provision at the river basin level.

scholarly journals Assessment of spatial and temporal patterns of green and blue water flows in inland river basins in Northwest China

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 3311-3338 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. F. Zang ◽  
J. Liu ◽  
M. van der Velde ◽  
F. Kraxner
Keyword(s):  
River Basin ◽  
River Basins ◽  
Heihe River Basin ◽  
Green Water ◽  
Heihe River ◽  
Blue Water ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Patterns ◽  
Water Flows ◽  
Inland River ◽  
Green And Blue Water

Abstract. In arid and semi-arid regions freshwater resources have become scarcer with increasing demands from socio-economic development and population growth. Until recently, water research and management in these has mainly focused on blue water but ignored green water. Here we report on spatial and temporal patterns of both blue and green water flows simulated by the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) for the Heihe river basin, the second largest inland river basin in Northwest China. Calibration and validation at two hydrological stations show good performance of the SWAT model in modelling hydrological processes. The total green and blue water flows were 22.09 billion m3 in the 2000s for the Heihe river basin. Blue water flows are larger in upstream sub-basins than in downstream sub-basins mainly due to high precipitation and large areas of glaciers in upstream. Green water flows are distributed more homogeneously among different sub-basins. The green water coefficient was 88.0% in the 2000s for the entire river basin, varying from around 80–90% in up- and mid-stream sub-basins to above 95% in downstream sub-basins. This is much higher than reported green water coefficient in many other river basins. The spatial patterns of green water coefficient were closely linked to dominant land covers (e.g. glaciers in upstream and desert in downstream) and climate conditions (e.g. high precipitation in upstream and low precipitation in downstream). There are no clear consistent historical trends of change in green and blue water flows and green water coefficient at both the river basin and sub-basin levels. This study provides insights into green and blue water endowments for the entire Heihe river basin at sub-basin level. The results are helpful for formulating reasonable water policies to improve water resources management in the inland river basins of China.

scholarly journals A Spatial and Temporal Study of the Green and Blue Water Flow Distribution in Typical Ecosystems and its Ecosystem Services Function in an Arid Basin

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chuanfu Zang ◽  
Ganquan Mao
Keyword(s):  
Water Flow ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Model Simulation ◽  
Swat Model ◽  
Flow Distribution ◽  
Green Water ◽  
Heihe River ◽  
Corn Yield ◽  
Blue Water ◽  
Green And Blue Water

Research on relationship between green and blue water flow and ecosystem service functions has great significance for improving water resources management and for ecological protection. In this study, the distribution patterns and service functions of green and blue water flow in different ecosystems were analysed by Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model simulation and Correlational Analysis. In the entire basin, the amount of green and blue water flow in the grassland was greater than that in the cropland, and that in the cropland was larger than that in the forest. The corn yield per hectare of cropland was highest in the Heihe River Basin, followed by wheat, and the lowest yield was the oil yield from 2000 to 2010. The mutton yield in the grassland ecosystem was greater than the beef yield from 2000 to 2010, which shows that the beef production would consume more water flow. Results show an obvious positive correlation between green or blue water flow and wheat and corn yields. Beef and mutton had a significant correlation with blue water flow, whereas mutton had a stronger correlation with green water flow.

scholarly journals Effect of Climate Variability on Green and Blue Water Resources in a Temperate Monsoon Watershed, Northeastern China

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 2193
Author(s):  
Junchao Jiang ◽  
Leting Lyu ◽  
Yuechi Han ◽  
Caizhi Sun
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Green Water ◽  
Blue Water ◽  
Reference Period ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Green And Blue Water ◽  
The Impact

Over 80% of global grain production relies on green water, water from precipitation that is stored in unsaturated soil and supports plant growth. Blue water, precipitation that turns into surface water and groundwater, is also a vital surface water resource, and it can be directly utilized. The Tanghe River Basin is a typical temperate continental monsoon watershed in Northern China where residents and crops rely on blue and green water resources. In this study, the spatiotemporal distributions of water resources in the Tanghe River Basin were simulated using the soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) model for the period between 1970 and 2015. The results demonstrate that the Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency and coefficient of determination were both higher than 0.64 during the calibration and validation periods at all hydrological stations, indicating high simulation accuracy. The average annual water resources of the Tanghe River Basin are 759.37 mm. Green and blue water account for 68% and 32% of the total water resources, respectively. The study period was divided into the reference period (1970–1976) and the variation period (1977–2015), to explore the impact of climate change on the green and blue water resources of the Tanghe River Basin water resources. Compared with the reference period, the average green and blue water resources in the variation period decreased by 78.48 and 35.94 mm/year, and their rate changes were −13.45% and −13.17%, respectively. The water resource relative change rates were high in the south and low in the north, and they were predominantly affected by precipitation. This study improves our understanding of the hydrological processes as well as the availability of blue and green water in the study region, and can prove beneficial in promoting the sustainable development of small basins and the integrated watershed management in areas with similar climatic conditions.

scholarly journals Simulation of blue and green water resources in the Wei River basin, China

2014 ◽  
Vol 364 ◽  
pp. 486-491 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Xu ◽  
D. Zuo
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Water Flow ◽  
Yellow River ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Green Water ◽  
Blue Water ◽  
The Wei River Basin ◽  
Wei River Basin ◽  
Wei River

Abstract. The Wei River is the largest tributary of the Yellow River in China and it is suffering from water scarcity and water pollution. In order to quantify the amount of water resources in the study area, a hydrological modelling approach was applied by using SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool), calibrated and validated with SUFI-2 (Sequential Uncertainty Fitting program) based on river discharge in the Wei River basin (WRB). Sensitivity and uncertainty analyses were also performed to improve the model performance. Water resources components of blue water flow, green water flow and green water storage were estimated at the HRU (Hydrological Response Unit) scales. Water resources in HRUs were also aggregated to sub-basins, river catchments, and then city/region scales for further analysis. The results showed that most parts of the WRB experienced a decrease in blue water resources between the 1960s and 2000s, with a minimum value in the 1990s. The decrease is particularly significant in the most southern part of the WRB (Guanzhong Plain), one of the most important grain production basements in China. Variations of green water flow and green water storage were relatively small on the spatial and temporal dimensions. This study provides strategic information for optimal utilization of water resources and planning of cultivating seasons in the Wei River basin.

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