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This study presents a comprehensive analysis of rainfall trends in the middle Euphrates region of Iraq, extending from 1980 to 2018, including wide region between the stations of Samawa, Al-Najaf, Karbala, Hilla, and Diwaniya. The research aims to fill a critical gap in the understanding of regional hydrological patterns and provide essential insights for sustainable water resource management. Using advanced statistical methods, such as the MannKendall test and Sen’s slope estimator, along with autocorrelation and cross-correlation analyses, we detected slight trends that were not previously reported. Principally, the Mann-Kendall test indicated no significant overall trends, while Sen’s slope estimator identified slight positive and negative trends at specific stations, highlighting local climatic variations. the findings reveal that all stations, except Samawa, indicated stationarity and homogeneity, with a particularly strong positive mutual correlation between Karbala and Hilla stations (0.7693 at lag 0). This research contributes new insights into rainfall variability in the Middle Euphrates, in Iraq, which presents significant data to improve water resource management strategies and inform future hydrological studies in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implement of water resources spatial equilibrium (WRSE) schemes is fundamental task of integrated water resources management in China, in which, the evaluation and simulation analysis of WRSE system is of great concern for understanding the overall variation and feedback characteristics of WRSE system. Therefore, we utilized the ordered degree, entropy and connection number coupling model to evaluate the variation of WRSE system, and also employed system dynamics (SD) and scenario simulation integrated method to reveal the feedback characteristics between different equilibrium variables and subsystems, and thus the set pair analysis‐SD based approach for structure simulation and variation trend evaluation of WRSE system was constructed. The application results in Anhui province, China demonstrated that, the overall variation of provincial spatial equilibrium situation of WRSE system presented obvious improving trend, 2009–2019, the index of ordered degree and connection number entropy in Hefei, increased from the minimum of 0.6434 (Grade 3, unequilibrium) to maximum of 0.9985 (Grade 1, equilibrium). Moreover, the future variation of WRSE system will display stable improving trend during 2020 to 2029, in which, annual water resources availability and water resources utilization efficiency will have significant influence on WRSE system. And the research findings can be favorable to formulate water resources development and utilization strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying the relationship between grain planting and the environment is an important means to promote sustainable production. This study takes wheat, a typical grain crop in the Yarkant River oasis irrigation district, the fourth largest agricultural irrigation district in China, as an example to analyze the relationship and changing trends between wheat yield and water footprint (WF), and carbon footprint (CF) from 2001 to 2020. The study found that during the research period, wheat yield, W F g r e e n , b l u e , W F g r e y , and CF showed a fluctuating but significantly upward trend. Decoupling analysis indicates that the overall decoupling trend between wheat yield and water footprint and carbon footprint is not obvious. This suggests that the rapid development of wheat production in the Yarkant River Oasis has also led to significant water resource consumption, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. Among the three sub–irrigation districts, the Shache sub–irrigation district has the best decoupling state, reflecting that the increase in wheat yield in Shache did not lead to more water resource consumption and pollution which is may due to its abundant water resources and agriculture development. Further analysis found that the use of nitrogen fertilizers and irrigation electricity have contributed to water resource pressure and greenhouse gas emissions. This study reveals that there are significant environmental risks in the current wheat planting in the Yarkant River oasis irrigation district, but it also points out the direction for green development in the irrigation district. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water resource carrying capacity is a critical measure of the ability of water resources within a region to support social, ecological, and economic scales. This study establishes an evaluation index system for the water resource carrying capacity of Golmud City and calculates the weights of the indices using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Based on an analysis of the current status of Golmud's socio-economic development, agriculture, and water resource utilization, a simulation model based on system dynamics is constructed. By setting 162 different scenario plans and normalizing the simulation results, the development trend of Golmud City's water resource carrying capacity is studied, and an evaluation is made for the sustainable development of water resources in Golmud City. Using data from 2001 to 2018 as the basic data, a carrying capacity analysis of water resources for the future from 2019 to 2030 is conducted. The study reveals that continuing the current development pattern will lead to unsustainable water resource carrying capacity. Among the scenarios aimed at coordinated development in all aspects, the best water resource carrying index is achieved, reaching 0.698 by 2030. By analyzing the development trend of the water resource carrying capacity index, existing problems in the utilization of water resources in Golmud City are identified, and feasible strategies for the sustainable use of water resources in Golmud City are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the dual impacts of global climate change and human activities, how to accurately and quantitatively assess and identify changes in watershed runoff is crucial to the rational development and utilization of water resources. Different methods of identifying runoff change attribution are applicable to different environments. In this study, we used five different methods, including the double mass curve (DMC), the soil and water assessment tool (SWAT), and the three Budyko hypotheses based on Fu, Choudhury‒Yang, and Milly‒Zhang formulas to explore the impact of human activities and climate change on runoff change in the Jinghe River basin (JRB). The results show that annual runoff of the JRB decreased considerably, and human activities accounted for more than 90%. Specifically, the results of the SWAT model and the three Budyko hypotheses are highly consistent except for the DMC method, which is not recommended in basins with significant changes in factors other than precipitation. More importantly, the Budyko hypothesis based on the Milly‒Zhang formula uses the vegetation water utilization coefficient to consider the impact of vegetation change on runoff, which is most consistent with the simulation results of the SWAT model and is recommended for the attribution analysis of changes in the Loess Plateau represented by the JRB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examining the chemical properties of river water and the controlling factors is crucial for devising efficacious strategies in water resources management and ecological conservation. This study investigates the hydrochemical characteristics and driving factors of the Beichuan River in the arid region of Northwest China. Surface water samples were collected during wet and dry seasons, and analyzed using hydrochemical diagrams, mathematical statistics, and principal component analysis (PCA). The results show that the pH value of Beichuan River is generally weakly alkaline, the main hydrochemical types are HCO3-Ca, and the average TDS are 224 mg/L and 236 mg/L respectively, which are higher than the world average level (115 mg/L). The seasonal variation of hydrochemical components is mainly controlled by rainfall, showing that the concentrations of Na+, Cl− and NO3 − in the wet season are higher than those in the dry season, while the concentrations of other chemical components show an opposite trend, while the spatial variation is mainly controlled by human activities, and the concentrations of hydrochemical components show a gradual increasing trend from upstream to downstream, especially Na+, Mg2+, Cl− and NO3 − . Rock weathering is the key natural factor controlling the Hydrochemical Composition of Beichuan River. Na+ and Cl− are mainly from the dissolution of silicate, Ca2+ and Mg2+ are mainly from the weathering of carbonate rocks and silicate, and SO4 2- is mainly from the dissolution of evaporite. It is noted that human activities, especially domestic sewage and agricultural runoff, contribute significantly to NO3 − in the water body. PCA identified rock weathering and agricultural runoff as major wet-season factors, while domestic sewage predominantly affects the dry season. This study can provide a scientific basis for the rational development of water resources and ecological environment protection in arid areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document discusses the importance of water resources management for sustaining ecosystems, economic development, and social well-being. It highlights the significance of reservoir control operations in optimizing water utilization efficiency and supporting various water needs. The document also explores new monitoring technologies, artificial intelligence methods, and integrated water resources management strategies to address challenges such as climate change impacts and increasing water demand. Overall, the document aims to stimulate further research and dialogue on water resources management to achieve global water security and sustainability. [Extracted from the article]

Groundwater is the most dynamic natural resource that is not uniformly distributed both in space and time. Identifying it for sustainable water resource development for domestic use, irrigation, and industrial purposes is the biggest challenge and key concern due to climate change, overexploitation, and a lack of proper management. Geographical information system (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) play a fundamental role in identifying suitable groundwater potential and recharge zones. In this study, groundwater potential and recharge zone map are delineated using GIS and RS techniques integrated with Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) for the Melka Kunture Watershed in Ethiopia. The thematic layers used were: Lithology, geomorphology, slope, lineament density, land use/cover, rainfall, drainage density and soil. GIS has been used to integrate and overlay thematic layers using a weighted overlay analysis tool, whereas the AHP method has been used to assign the weights, normalize, and rank thematic layers and their associated sub-themes based on their suitability, characteristics, or influence on groundwater potential and recharge zones. The output groundwater potential zone map is categorized into four suitable zones: high potential cover 1105.60 km2 (25.70%), moderate potential 2308.00 km2 (53.73%), low potential 880.0 km2 (20.49%), and very low potential 47.80 km2 (1.10%), whereas there are three suitable groundwater recharge potential zones: high potential cover 250.20 km2 (5.80%), moderate recharge 3647.90 km2 (84.00%), and low recharge 443.50 km2 (10.20%) of the study area. Hence, the study areas have been more suitable for groundwater potential and recharge zones as compared to the total area. The groundwater potential map was validated using the existing water source and well points, and it indicated a good prediction accuracy of 88%. Thus, the delineated groundwater potential and recharge zone maps are reliable, and the resultant potentiality mapping has played a vital role in the sustainable development and management of the water resources in the study area. Highlights: → The integration of GIS and RS techniques with the MCDA-AHP method is a powerful tool for delineating the groundwater potential and recharges zones in the Melka Kunture Watershed. → Utilizing both recent conventional data and high-resolution satellite imagery is crucial for creating accurate thematic layers and maps of groundwater potential and recharge zones. → To further validate and enhance these techniques, conducting well drilling or pump tests using geophysical investigations is recommended to gain a more detailed understanding of groundwater potential and recharge zones, as well as to estimate yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The planning, designing, management, and operation of water systems has been one of the most important activities throughout the history of humankind. However, as a scientific and applied discipline, it evolved about 70 years ago. The International Commission on Water Resources Systems (ICWRS) has primarily focused on developing and implementing improved methods for water resources management for the benefit of society since the 1970s. This paper reviews the history of the water resources systems (WRS) discipline over these six decades after the 100th anniversary of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS) and aims to make a synthesis of the history of ICWRS. In the concluding section, an outlook for researchers and decision makers on the future development of WRS research is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitatively assessing the carrying capacity of water and land resources systems in arid and semi-arid areas is crucial for achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. In this work, taking Yulin City in China as a case study and employing the Criteria Importance Through Intercriteria Correlation (CRITIC) method, a modified model of coupling degree was developed to evaluate the carrying capacity of water and land resources systems endowment and utilization, as well as their coupling coordination degree from 2013 to 2020. Our findings indicate that the water and land resources of Yulin are diminishing due to declines in agriculture, higher industrial water use, and wetland shrinkage. However, reallocating domestic water for ecological sustainability and reducing sloping farmland can mitigate this trend of decline. Temporally, as the coupling coordination between water and land resources system endowment in Yulin continuously improved, the coupling coordination between water and land resources system utilization first decreased and then increased with 2016 as the turning point. Spatially, the carrying capacity of water and land resources systems, the coupling coordination degree between water and land resources system endowment, and the coupling coordination degree between water and land resources system utilization in Yulin exhibited the same pattern of being higher in the six northern counties than in the six southern counties. Improving the water resources endowment is vital for the highly efficient use of water and land resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] The aim of this study is to examine the response of hydrological cycle factors to vegetation dynamics and climate change in the inland river basin of Inner Mongolia grassland, which is of important theoretical significance for the ecological protection and regional water resources development and utilization in the inland river basin of Inner Mongolia grassland. [Methods] The inland river basin of Inner Mongolia grassland was taken as the research area. Based on multi-source remote sensing, climate, meteorology, hydrology and other data, the temporal and spatial evolution and driving factors of hydrological cycle elements in the basin were analyzed by trend test, significance test and correlation analysis. [Results] (1) The evapotranspiration of the basin showed a significant upward trend (0.994 mm/a), the precipitation showed a significant downward trend (1.965 mm/a), and the soil moisture showed an increasing trend. (2) The vegetation in the growing season generally showed an increasing trend. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), gross primary productivity (GPP) and leaf area index (LAI) showed a ladder-like spatial distribution pattern of high level in the east and low level in the west, and the temperature showed an overall upward trend. (3) Vegetation change was positively correlated with evapotranspiration (ET) and soil moisture (SSM). There was a significant positive correlation between temperature and evapotranspiration (R= 0.699, p=0.01), and the spatial correlation increased from west to east. There was a negative correlation between temperature and runoff, and a significant negative correlation with soil moisture in the east and west of the basin. [Conclusion] The hydrological cycle variables (precipitation, evapotranspiration, soil moisture, runoff) increased with the increase of vegetation. Precipitation, soil moisture and runoff decreased with the increase of temperature, and evapotranspiration increased with the increase of temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extensive implementation of the 'Grain for Green' project over the Loess Plateau has improved environmental quality. However, it has resulted in a greater consumption of soil water, and its overall hydrological effects remain highly controversial. Our study utilized a coupled land-atmosphere model to evaluate the effects of vegetation changes resulting from revegetation or reclamation on the hydrology of the Loess Plateau. Revegetation was found to stimulate an increase in precipitation, evapotranspiration, and atmospheric water content. However, the increase in precipitation was insufficient to compensate for soil water loss driven by intensified evapotranspiration, resulting in a decrease in both runoff and soil water content. In contrast to revegetation, reclamation would reduce precipitation, although the reduction was less than the decrease in evapotranspiration. This could lead to an increase in both runoff and soil water content. The results provide an important scientific basis for the hydrological effects of vegetation changes on the Loess Plateau, which is particularly important for guiding current and future revegetation activities toward sustainable ecosystem development and water resources management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to analyze the current situation of water resource management in Shaanxi Province, study the basic principles of ecological compensation, evaluate the impact of water conservation projects on the ecological environment by establishing a model, and propose a sustainable water resource management model. Hanzhong City has certain typicality and representativeness within Shaanxi Province, and the problems it faces in water resource management and ecological environment may represent the entire province or similar regions. At the same time, Hanzhong City has rich data and research foundations. Therefore, by conducting a detailed analysis of the current water resource status in the Hanzhong City area of Shaanxi Province, the problems in current water resource management are revealed, and the basic principles of ecological compensation are intensely studied. The original ecological compensation plan in Shaanxi Province has been summarized. Guided by the concept of sustainable development, an ecological compensation model is established using algorithms, and the model is applied to sustainable water resource management. Establish a model for water conservation and water resource management through data collection, preprocessing, and cleaning, and apply it to practical cases in Hanzhong City. Through simulation and analysis of Hanzhong City, the new water resource management model effectively mitigates the adverse effects of water conservation projects on the ecological environment while improving water resource utilization efficiency. The changes in various environmental parameters indicate that the new plan has improved the ecological environment. Through the application of the model, the ecological compensation plan formulated has achieved sustainable protection of the ecological environment while promoting economic development. This study proposes a sustainable water resource management model through a comprehensive study of water resource management and ecological compensation in Shaanxi Province and verifies it in practical cases, demonstrating that the model has not only good applicability but also has significant effects in promoting economic growth and ecological environment protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing drought is crucial for effective water resources management and the development of mitigation strategies. Drought indices serve as indispensable tools in this evaluation process, and choosing an appropriate index is vital for accurate drought assessment. The characteristics and classification of drought depend entirely on the chosen index. Based on the existing literature, the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) are the most commonly and widely used indices, and there is a significant need for a comprehensive comparison between SPI and SPEI to understand their differences and implications for drought assessment. This research aims to compare SPI and SPEI based on drought indices, characteristics, and classifications using the innovative drought classification matrix (IDCM) for spatiotemporal drought evaluation, and the comparison process is done for events and monthly scales. Also, it aims to investigate the comparison between SPEI obtained from in situ meteorological stations and from the SPEI database. The application and the comparison are presented for Istanbul city between 1951 and 2020. The results show similar variations and high correlation (more than 0.65) between SPI and SPEI. For drought characteristics, there is no consistent relationship between SPI and SPEI at the drought event scale. The outcomes revealed that approximately 60% of the months exhibit consistent drought classifications between the two indices. Finally, it shows a significant difference between SPEI based on in situ meteorological stations and satellite data. The comparison between SPI and SPEI based on different aspects is necessary and essential for drought studies and water resources management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sustainable development of water resources, social economy and ecological environment (WSE) system is crucial for achieving regional prosperity, and it is necessary and urgent to improve the sustainability of WSE system. Therefore, a sustainability assessment and multi-angle diagnosis analysis of WSE system are conducted in this study. Firstly, a novel assessment indicator system is constructed based on the Driving force-Pressure-State-Impact-Ecological basis-Response-Management (DPSIERM) model. Subsequently, the TODIMSort is innovatively improved by introducing a machine learning clustering algorithm (i.e., mean shift clustering algorithm) to obtain the sustainability grade. Finally, the sustainable development of the WSE system is diagnosed by employing the standard deviation ellipse model, coupling coordination degree (CCD) model, and the obstacle degree model. To validate the practicability of the proposed comprehensive assessment method, this paper selects Shanxi Province of China as a case study area. The results indicate that from 2012 to 2021, the WSE system sustainability in all cities of Shanxi Province has significantly improved, and the spatial distribution pattern gradually shifts from a north-south direction to a northeast-southwest direction. In addition, from 2012 to 2021, the CCD of each city in Shanxi Province is generally on the rise, and it is found that there is a certain positive correlation between the sustainability of WSE system development and CCD. Furthermore, the primary obstacle factors to WSE system sustainability in Shanxi Province in 2021 are population density, per capita water resources, modulus of water resources production, and investment in environmental conservation as a percentage of GDP. Finally, some management suggestions for promoting the sustainable development of WSE system are put forward based on result analysis and discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our research project specifically focuses on evaluating groundwater quality in six West Texas counties. We aim to determine whether environmental changes have any impact on the levels of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in the water supplied to the public. To achieve this goal, we will be utilizing advanced machine learning algorithms to analyze TDS levels and create geospatial maps for each year between the 1990s and 2010s. To ensure the accuracy of our data, we have gathered information from two trusted sources: the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) and the Groundwater Database (GWDB). We have analyzed the TDS and other elemental analyses from TWDB–GWDB lab reports and compared them with the quality cutoff set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Our approach involves a thorough examination of the data to identify any emerging patterns. The machine learning algorithm has been successfully trained and tested, producing highly accurate results that effectively predict water quality. Our results have been validated through extensive testing, highlighting the potential of machine learning approaches in the fields of environmental research. Overall, our findings will contribute to the development of more effective policies and regulations in predicting groundwater quality and improving water resource management in Texas. Therefore, this research provides important information for groundwater protection and the development of plans for water resource use in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water resources carrying capacity (WRCC) is the basis for sustainable regional development and an important indicator of core competitiveness, and its quantitative assessment and comparison is a key link in clarifying the development capacity of the region. The study comprehensively considers economic, social, resource, environmental and ecological factors, constructs a WRCC evaluation index system based on the Pressure-State-Response (PSR) model, adopts the entropy value method to assign weights to each index, and utilizes the set-pair analysis method and the obstacle diagnostic model to evaluate WRCC of the urban agglomerations in central Yunnan (UACY) in the period from 2008 to 2020. The results show that the comprehensive development of WRCC of UACY is characterized by stage-by-stage evolution in the time dimension, with a decreasing trend in the carrying capacity from 2008 to 2012, and an overall fluctuating upward development trend from 2013 to 2020. In the spatial dimension, Kunming's WRCC is generally poor, and Honghe and Yuxi have the greatest advantages in water resources storage and conservation capacity. The stress of water use in Kunming is higher, but Kunming has advantages in industrial structure and water resources development and utilization rate. Through the diagnosis of obstacle degree, the main obstacle factors of WRCC have large differences among cities (states), but the main subsystems constraining WRCC are all pressure subsystems. The results of the study can provide data support for water resources related policies and rational water resources dispatching in the UACY. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The harmonized development of water resources and cities is of great importance for the high-quality development of regions and water security. Study of water ecological footprint (WEF) has important theoretical and practical significance for the sustainable utilization of water resources. This study utilizes an improved WEF model and panel data from Chinese super-megacities to analyze the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and variation trends of the WEF through the application of kernel density estimation, variable coefficient model and gray neural network model. The research findings are as follows. (1) The WEF per capita of 21 super-megacities shows significant variations from 2003 to 2020, along with large inter-annual fluctuations. This disparity seems to be widening spatially. The regions with the highest WEF per capita are concentrated in 12 cities, where the annual average value exceeded 0.006 hm 2 ∕ cap. Besides, these super-megacities are predominantly located in the northeast. The water ecological carrying capacity (WEC) of super-megacities reflects the supply capability of water resources and is declining during the study period, with an average multiyear decline rate of 1.2%, highlighting the urgent need to enhance water production capacity. (2) Seventeen super-megacities are experiencing water resource ecological deficits and severe ecological imbalances, with the deficit primarily concentrated in the northeastern region. According to sustainability evaluation indicators, water resources in 13 super-megacities are undergoing unsustainable development, particularly with Beijing, Tianjin and Zhengzhou reaching Level I and being in a moderately unsustainable state. Research has shown that the sustainable utilization of water resources is more advanced in southern regions compared to northern regions. (3) Economic development, industrial structure, technology level and environmental regulations have a significant differentiated effect on WEF per capita across various city levels. (4) The prediction results of the gray neural network demonstrate a decrease in the WEF per capita of seven representative super-megacities from 2023 to 2027, showing significant variations across different regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to strengthen data security and establish credibility using novel cryptography-based techniques in the context of the digital revolution in the water resource and hydropower development industry. Protecting sensitive data and guaranteeing the confidentiality of digital assets becomes crucial as the sector depends more and more on digital technology for communication, monitoring, and project management. The goal of this work is to create developed cryptographic protocols and structures that have been tailored to the needs of the water resources and hydropower industry. This study offers a thorough investigation into the use of cryptographic methods to tackle the difficulties presented by the digital construction surroundings in these projects. The research process combines algorithm creation, theoretical advancements, and real-world application. The efficiency and viability of the suggested cryptographic approaches in resolving trust and security issues intrinsic in digital building environments will be evaluated using actual-life scenarios and simulations. The results of this study should offer a strong basis for improving data security, reliability, and integrity in digital construction projects related to water resources and hydropower. Through the development of cryptography techniques specifically suited to this vital infrastructure industry, the research helps to build digital ecosystems that are resilient and secure, which is important for the sustainable growth of hydropower and water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on concrete dam breach are limited compared to earthen and other types of dams. With an increase in the construction of concrete dams, particularly in the developing world, it is imperative to have a better understanding of the dam breach phenomena and the identification of the most influential breach parameters. This study aims to contribute to this gap by taking the case of the concrete arch dam proposed for the 1200 MW Budhigandaki Hydropower Project located in central Nepal. This study carries special significance for Nepal, primarily because of the increasing number of under construction and proposed large dams for water resources development in the country. We carry out dam breach analysis of the Budhigandaki dam using HEC-RAS 2D model to calculate the flood discharge peaks, time to peak, water surface elevation and the extent of inundation for two scenarios (with and without probable maximum flood) to estimate the damage on four downstream settlements. We carry out sensitivity analysis of the breach parameters on the flood magnitudes and severity. Results show that all the study locations lie in the high flood hazard zone. Flood peaks can reach as high as 286,000 m3s− 1 to 511,000 m3s− 1 in the considered settlements. The time to peak ranges from 11.3 to 17 h after the breach at these locations. We estimate that if a breach should happen, it would most likely inundate around 150,000 buildings, impact nearly 672,000 lives and flood 3,500 km of road downstream. Furthermore, dam breach elevation is found to be the most sensitive parameter to downstream floods. Hence, rather than structural measures, it is recommended that non-structural measures are implemented for minimizing the impacts of flood disasters at the study locations. The findings could be a useful reference for future dam projects in Nepal and other areas with similar hydrological and topographical conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glacial lake area change is an indicator of global climate change. The topography of Tianshan Mountains is complex, and the glacial lakes are widely distributed, so their variation characteristics and response mechanism to climate change need to be further explored. Based on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform, this paper studied the changes of glacial lakes in the Tianshan Mountains in the past 20 years, and analyzed the driving forces in combination with precipitation and temperature. The results showed that: (1) There were 1532 glacial lakes in Tianshan Mountains in 2020, with an area of 164.02 km². The distribution of glacial lakes in the Tianshan Mountains was characterized by more in the west and less in the east, and glacial lake area with an annual average growth rate of 3.47% and 0.63% in the east and west, respectively. (2) The glacial lakes at lower altitudes (<3600 m) in the study area generally showed an expanding trend, and the glacial lakes with an area <0.1 km2 showed a more obvious change. (3) The results of the geographic detector showed that temperature and glaciers were the main driving factors affecting the change of the glacial lakes in Tianshan Mountains. From 2000 to 2020, the precipitation in the eastern Tianshan Mountains increased significantly, while the temperature showed an insignificant trend of decrease. The glacial lake area in this region continued to expand under the stable and sufficient glacial meltwater and runoff recharge. Research results can provide scientific basis for the rational development of water resources and the risk assessment of glacial lake outburst disaster in the Tianshan Mountains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-quality development of water resources supports high-quality socio-economic development. High-quality development connects high-quality life, and clarifying the key management contents of small watersheds plays an important role in building ecologically clean small watersheds and promoting regional production and life. Previous research on pollution loads has focused on examining the impact of various external drivers on pollution loads but still lacks research on the impact of changes in pollution sources themselves on pollution loads. In this study, sensitivity analysis was used to determine the impact of changes from different sources on the total pollution loads, which can recognize the critical pollution sources. We first employed the pollutant discharge coefficient method to quantify non-point source pollution loads in the small watershed in the upstream Tuojiang River basin from 2010 to 2021. Then, combination sensitivity analysis with Getis-Ord Gi* was used to identify the critical sources and their crucial areas at the global, districts (counties), and towns (streets) scales, respectively. The results indicate: (1) The pollution loads of COD, NH3-N, TN, and TP all show a decreasing trend, reducing by 18.3%, 16.2%, 18.6%, and 28.1% from 2010 to 2021, respectively; (2) Livestock and poultry breeding pollution source is the most critical source for majority areas across watershed; (3) High-risk areas are mainly concentrated in Jingyang district and its subordinate towns (streets). There is a trend of low-pollution risk areas transitioning to high-pollution risk areas, with high-risk areas predominantly concentrated in the southeast and exhibiting a noticeable phenomenon of pollution load spilling around. This study can promote other similar small watersheds, holding significant importance for non-point source pollution control in small watersheds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Arid Zone Research / Ganhanqu Yanjiu is the property of Arid Zone Research Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Northwest China is both an important coal storage base and an ecologically fragile area, and soil water content (SWC) is a key factor limiting the ecological development of Northwest China. Revealing the characteristics of spatial and temporal distribution changes of soil water content in mining areas under coal mining disturbance and the influencing mechanism is crucial for the protection of water resources in mining areas. In this study, the soil water content (depth 0–1000 cm) of a typical coal mine subsidence area in the western part of Shendong Coal Group was monitored in situ for 1 year after mining, and the absolute value, variability, and spatial distribution of soil water content were temporally analysed by combining classical statistics, 2D Ordinary Kriging and 3D Empirical Bayesian kriging spatial interpolation. sequence analysis. The results showed that the shallow SWC (0 ~ 60 cm) was distributed horizontally in bands, and gradually increased along the direction from northwest to southeast; with the increase of coal mining time, the absolute value of SWC decreased by 0.81% ~ 33.58%, and the coefficient of variation decreased and then increased, with the range of variation from 2.19% ~ 34.49%. The deep SWC (100 ~ 1000 cm) was stratified vertically and increased with soil depth, and the shallow and deeper soil moisture would gradually migrate to the middle layer under the influence of coal mining. In addition, this paper accurately portrays the three‐dimensional spatial and temporal distribution of soil water content by the 3D EBK model, which further reveals the mechanism of coal mining's influence on soil water content. This study can provide technical and data support for predicting and evaluating the potential impacts of mining activities on the water cycle, and help mining areas to formulate policies for managing and protecting water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objectives: Studying the spatiotemporal changes of groundwater storage （GWS） and its sustainable spatiotemporal evolution characteristics in the upper reaches of the Yellow River Basin can provide a valuable reference for the sustainable and rational development of water resources in the Yellow River Basin. Methods: The changes of terrestrial water storage (TWS) and GWS in the upper reaches of the Yellow River Basin from April 2002 to December 2022 were estimated using Masson data and spherical harmonic (SH) data from GRACE (gravity recovery and climate experience) and GRACE-FO (GRACE follow on) gravity satellites, combined with prior hydrological models, and their temporal and spatial variation characteristics were also analyzed. The sustainability index (SI) of water resources in the study area was further calculated to evaluate the sustainability of regional groundwater. And the correlation and contribution of precipitation change, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), evapotranspiration (ET) and regional GWS were discussed. Results: The change of GWS in the study area showed an overall downward trend at a rate of approximately －3.89 ± 0.37 mm / a, and showed obvious spatial characteristics of the difference between the southern and northern values, which was consistent with the monitoring results of the measured wells (correlation was approximately 0.73). During the study period, the regional groundwater was almost in a state of severe unsustainability, and the spatial sustainability also gradually decreased from south to north, with an average sustainability index of only 0.38. The size of the contribution measure shows that NDVI has the greatest impact on the change of GWS in the study area, ET has the second highest impact，and the rainfall has the smallest; there was a significant negative correlation between NDVI, ET and regional GWS changes (correlation coefficients were approximately －0.76 and －0.77, respectively). The rainfall in the south and north of the study area was positively correlated with the corresponding GWS changes (correlation coefficients were approximately 0.54 and 0.50, respectively). Conclusions: This study effectively evaluated the changes of TWS and GWS in the upper reaches of the Yellow River Basin over the past 20 years, and reasonably evaluated the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of groundwater sustainability in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, as well as the correlation between external influences and GWS [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water shortages are serious in northwest China due to the level of social and economic development, engineering, resource shortages, and other factors being restricted, so the conflict between supply and demand for water resources is prominent in different regions and different water use sectors. Therefore, Pingliang City was selected as the research object in this study. The membership function was introduced, and an interactive algorithm to correct model parameters based on the fairness constraint was derived. An uncertain multi-objective fuzzy programming model was also established. The results show that the optimal allocation of water will be 38,051.9~40,740 × 104 m3 and 39,938.4~41,317.5 × 104 m3 under a normal year (p = 50%) and a dry year (p = 75%) in 2025, respectively, and the corresponding water shortage rates will be 4.2% and 6.7%. In 2035, the optimal water allocation will be 45,644.1~49,245.9 × 104 m3 and 46,442.4~50,044.2 × 104 m3 and the water shortage rates will be 7.0% and 7.0%, respectively. The proportion of groundwater supply will decrease by 8.8% and 13.8% in 2025 and 2035 after the optimal allocation, the proportion of surface water supply will increase by 9.6% and 12.2%, and the proportion of reclaimed water will increase by −0.78% and 2.1%, respectively. The results can provide a technical reference for the development and utilization of water resources in other cities and similar areas in semi-arid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ebinur Lake Basin is an ecologically sensitive area in the arid region of northwest China. In recent years, the ecological environment in the basin has continued to deteriorate, and the ecosystem function has been seriously degraded. However, among the functions of the ecosystem in the Ebinur Lake Basin, the water production function is considered to be the core upholding the ecological equilibrium and security of the basin. Water production can reflect the environmental service function, which is essential for the economic vitality and ecological well-being of the basin. The factors that impact water yield are diverse; moreover, of these, climate change and land use conversion are particularly significant. Therefore, understanding how these changes affect water yield will help to formulate proper water management strategies in the basin. Using the InVEST model, this study examined how the water yield evolved and was distributed across the Ebinur Lake Basin between 2000 and 2020 while considering both the temporal and spatial dimensions. Using this foundation, the scenario analysis approach was utilized to explore the impact of climate change and land use conversion on water yield by controlling the variables, and the response of the water yield to climate and land use change was discussed. It was concluded that water yield was on an upward trend from 2000 to 2010, was on a downward trend from 2010 to 2020, and declined from 2000 to 2020 as a whole. Regarding the water yield distribution, higher-water-producing areas were found predominantly in the northwest and southeast and along the higher-altitude rim of the basin. Among the various land categories, the primary types were grassland and unused land, both of which equally and substantially contributed to the water yield, contributing over 85% to the overall water yield. The response of the water yield varied significantly among various land use types when their areas changed, and the land conversion over this period contributed to a slight decline in water yield across the basin. The influence of climate change on water yield in the Ebinur Lake Basin during the study period surpassed that of land use by a wide margin, constituting more than 86% of the total impact. This study can provide relevant information for relevant policies and decisions on the optimal allocation of land use in the Ebinur Lake Basin and can provide scientific development for the comprehensive evaluation of water resources and sustainable development of the basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Background] The problem of agricultural drought has always restricted the sustainable development of agriculture in Yulin area of Northern Shaanxi. In the process of water resources development and utilization, the contradiction between industrial and agricultural production, life and ecology is becoming more and more obvious, and the gap between supply and demand of agricultural water resources continues to increase, which seriously affects the high and stable yield of spring maize. Yulin in northern Shaanxi is located in the central and northern part of the Loess Plateau. It is located in the arid and semi-arid climate zone with sufficient light resources. It is a eugenic and high-yield area of spring maize in China. The field irrigation of spring maize in this area is mainly drip irrigation. [Objective]In order to determine the suitable soil moisture limit of drip irrigation spring maize in Yulin of northern Shaanxi, the irrigation system of drip irrigation spring maize in this area was obtained. [Method] In this study, orthogonal test design method was used to set up four irrigation levels in five growth stages of spring maize, including seedling stage, jointing stage, tasseling stage, filling stage and maturity stage, to explore the effects of different irrigation schemes on the growth and water use efficiency of drip-irrigated spring maize. [Result] The results showed that: (1) The key growth stages of spring maize were jointing stage and tasseling stage, and the seedling stage, filling stage and maturity stage were non-critical stages. Appropriate reduction of irrigation level at jointing stage and tasseling stage is more conducive to the subsequent growth and development of spring maize. (2) Based on the effects of different irrigation schemes on plant height, stem diameter, leaf area index and yield of spring maize, the optimal field soil moisture control limit is: the suitable soil moisture limit at seedling stage is 59%-79%FC (FC represents soil field water holding capacity), 70%-90%FC at jointing stage, 68%-88%FC at tasseling stage, 56%-76%FC at filling stage, and 49%-69%FC at maturity stage. [Conclusion] The optimal irrigation system is irrigation 9 times in the whole growth period, namely 2 times in the seedling stage (m=20 mm), 3 times in the jointing stage (m1=20 mm, m2,3=30 mm), 3 times in the tasseling stage (m=30 mm), 1 time in the filling stage (m=25 mm), no irrigation in the mature stage, and the comprehensive irrigation quota is 235 mm. Under this system, the yield of spring maize was 14 664 kg/hm², and the water use efficiency was 3.01 kg/m³. Compared with the control group, the yield increased by 15.56% and WUE increased by 19.19%. The results of this study have important guiding significance for the field management of drip irrigation spring maize in Yulin, Northern Shaanxi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the need for integrated water resources management (IWRM) that addresses the land-water nexus in South Africa. Topics include the impact of land use and land cover (LULC) on water quality, the need for accurate models to support decision-making, and the consequences of sectoral fragmentation in water and land management.

The article focuses on factors impacting the achievement of water strategy objectives in Sudan. Topics include the role of water availability, community participation, and institutional coordination in water strategy effectiveness, the statistical analysis of these factors' influence on strategy success, and the broader implications for water resource management in Sudan.

The water scarcity issue becomes severe due to the decreasing reservoir storage and increasing population. Reservoir deposition is a global issue and a significant concern in water resource management. Despite numerous researchers having previously proposed various desilting strategies specific to sediment transport in reservoirs, there has been limited discussion and presentation of a comprehensive reservoir desilting approach applicable to diverse regions worldwide. This study introduces a 4-stage reservoir life cycle desilting assessment approach, progressively analyzing reservoir management strategies during different life cycles through integrating the 3-R (Reduction-Removal-Release) approach, decision matrix, life cycle evaluation Index, and TGP (Timing-Guiding-Predicting) optimization approach. Considering the representative, the application field chosen for this study is Taiwan reservoirs in Asia. The results demonstrate that the 4-stage assessment method assists in the priority of desilting order for the reservoir management unit and enhances sediment-releasing efficiency during critical periods. Note that the goal of reservoir sustainable development should focus on prolonging their service life, and future efforts should align with various water resource development plans to address water resource crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reliable estimates of sediment fluxes into rivers provide valuable information for current and future water resource development and management. In this study, empirical equations relating discharge to suspended sediment loads were developed for the three major tributaries (Black Volta, White Volta, and Oti) of the Volta Lake. The empirical equations were fed with projected future river discharges for the three tributaries, to estimate the suspended sediment fluxes into the Volta Lake for the future (2051–2080) relative to a baseline period (2014–2016). The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used to model the projected discharges. The SWAT model was driven by downscaled climate projections from two regional climate models (RCA4 and RACMO22 T) forced by two emission scenarios (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5) from the IPCC Fifth Assessment. Compared to the baseline, the estimated future sediment fluxes show average increments of about 19% and 28%, respectively under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5. This has negative consequences as less water is stored for hydropower generation and the lake water becomes more turbid, which inhibits zooplankton and fishery production. The result underscores the need to improve the management of the Lake's watershed by ensuring proper landcover/use planning, afforestation and enforcing regulations on land degradation and general environmental conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a coupla risk combinations and coping strategies have been developed for confronting conflicts between population-economy development and water resource management (PEWM) due to population-industry transformation (PIT) into a floodplain of the economic belt under climate change. A location-entropy-based PVAR (Panel Vector Autoregression) model coupla-risk analysis (LPCR) can be introduced into PEWM to reflect the adverse effects of population-industry transformation on a special function area (e.g., floodplain) of the economic belt, where the coupla risk map has been addressed. Meanwhile, an adaptive scenario analysis-based stochastic-fuzzy method (ASSF) can be joined to deal with multiple uncertainties and their interactions due to subjective and artificial factors. The proposed LPCR and ASSF can be integrated into a risk-based stochastic-fuzzy scenario method framework (RASF) to apply for a practical PEWM case study of the Yongding River floodplain in the context of the coordinative development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei economic belt, China. The results can be presented as follows: 1) the PIT was accelerated into the floodplain due to the fact that it can require more water resources, where each additional unit can promote the regional gross domestic product (GDP) by 0.019 units, increasing the water demand by 0.046 units. It can strengthen various risks such as water shortage, soil loss, and flood control investment in a floodplain of the economic belt; 2) the farmland returning to wetland (CFW) can decrease the water demand and shortage ratio (would be 0% at highest) for irrigation in the long run, but this would reduce the direct economic income of irrigation in the short run; 3) backward irrigative schemes and low water utilization efficiency require a cleaner production mode, which could reduce water shortages by 77.23 × 103m³ at the highest; and 4) the combined policy (S12) can reduce coupla risks (including the risk of water shortage, soil loss, and flood) compared to other individual policies (S2, S4, S6, and S8). The findings can assist local decision-makers to gain insights into adjusting interegional strategies not only for remitting population-resource stress in core cities but also for improving the resilience against drought and flood in a floodplain area, which is conducive of the special function of the floodplain to support an integrated sustainable development of the economic belt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Low water resource utilization rate, water environment pollution, and water ecology deterioration are unfavorable factors restricting the high-quality development of the Yellow River basin and the coordinated development of the region, and industrial linkage is an important mechanism to promote the regional "pole-diffusion" effect. Currently, the water resource constraints of the Yellow River basin are close to the upper limit; in this context, how to enhance the industrial linkage between regions, promote the coordinated development of resources and economy in the Yellow River basin, and construct new "growth poles" of high-quality development has become an important proposition. Methods: By analyzing the mechanism of water resource constraints affecting industrial linkage and constructing a mediation effect model, we investigate the transmission mechanism of water resource constraints affecting industrial linkage through virtual water trade and optimization of industrial structure. Results: The results show that water resource constraints significantly inhibit the development of industrial linkage in the whole basin, but enhance the development of industrial linkage through the promotion of virtual water trade and optimization of industrial structure; in terms of subregions, there are differences in the mediation effect in the Yellow River basin in the regions with advantages in agriculture and animal husbandry, in the regions with advantages in the energy industry, and in the regions with advantages in the emerging industry and advanced manufacturing industry. Inspiration: This study has several aims: first, the rational use of the virtual water trade model of the Yellow River basin; second, use of the basin as a whole to promote the upgrading of industrial structure; third, the development of water resource rigid constraints in accordance with local conditions to promote the sustainable development of the economy; and fourth, promotion of the construction of the industrial community of the whole basin to realize the synergistic high-quality development of the Yellow River basin. Marginal contribution: In the study of high-quality development in the Yellow River basin, the existing literature focuses on the optimization of the industrial layout and industrial structure based on the theory of resource advantage and industrial division of labor. Based on this, this article analyzes the impact of water resource constraints on the industrial linkage of regions with advantages in agriculture and animal husbandry, energy industry, and emerging industry and advanced manufacturing industry from the perspective of the adaptability of water resources to the layout of productive forces and puts forward the proposal of coordinating the linkage development of industries in the whole river basin, which promotes the research on the relationship between water resources and industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater resources serve as the primary source of water in the agro-pastoral ecotone of northern China, where scarcity of water resources constrains the development of agriculture and animal husbandry. As a typical rainfed agricultural area, the agro-pastoral ecotone in Inner Mongolia is entirely dependent on groundwater for agricultural irrigation. Due to the substantial groundwater consumption of irrigated farmland, groundwater levels have been progressively declining. To obtain a sustainable irrigation pattern that significantly conserves water, this study faces the challenge of unclear water transport relationships among water, soil, and crops, undefined water cycle mechanism in typical irrigation units, and water use efficiency, which was not assessed. Therefore, this paper, based on in situ experimental observations and daily meteorological data in 2022–2023, utilized the DSSAT model to explore the growth processes of potato, oat, alfalfa, and sunflower, the soil water dynamics, the water balance, and water use efficiency, analyzed over a typical irrigation area. The results indicated that the simulation accuracy of the DSSAT model was ARE < 10%, nRMSE/% < 10%, and R2 ≥ 0.85. The consumption of the soil moisture during the rapid growth stage for the potatoes, oats, alfalfa, and sunflower was 7–13% more than that during the other periods, and the yield was 67,170, 3345, 6529, and 4020 kg/ha, respectively. The soil evaporation of oat, potato, alfalfa, and sunflower accounted for 18–22%, 78–82%; 57–68%, and 32–43%, and transpiration accounted for 40–44%, 56–60%, 45–47%, and 53–55% of ETa (333.8 mm–369.2 mm, 375.2 mm–414.2 mm, 415.7 mm–453.7 mm, and 355.0 mm–385.6 mm), respectively. It was advised that irrigation water could be appropriately reduced to decrease ineffective water consumption. The water use efficiency and irrigation water use efficiency for potatoes was at the maximum amount, ranging from 16.22 to 16.62 kg/m3 and 8.61 to 10.81 kg/m3, respectively, followed by alfalfa, sunflowers, and oats. For the perspective of water productivity, it was recommended that potatoes could be extensively cultivated, alfalfa planted appropriately, and oats and sunflowers planted less. The findings of this study provided a theoretical basis for efficient water resource use in the agro-pastoral ecotone of Northern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and human activities exert significant impacts on runoff generation and convergence mechanisms. Understanding the evolution mechanisms and driving forces of runoff is crucial for the sustainable development of water resources. This study is based on the runoff data of the Huayuankou (HYK), Jiahetan (JHT), and Gaocun (GC) stations in the lower reaches of the Yellow River from 1951 to 2019. The objectives are to identify and quantify the hydrological pattern and its driving mechanism of the three stations by the Mann–Kendall test, cumulative deviation method, wavelet analysis, the IHA-RVA method, SCRCO method, and the Budyko method. Our study revealed that the runoff disturbance points at all three stations occurred in 1985. During the two periods before and after the disturbance, the trends and periodicities within the year exhibited high consistency, showing an overall downward trend, with runoff increasing in October and decreasing in June and the primary cycles being 5 and 7 years. All three stations experienced high-degree changes in their hydrological situations, with the high-degree change occupying the largest proportion. At the HYK, JHT, and GC stations, human activities accounted for 66.05%, 71.94%, and 74.38% of runoff changes, respectively. Furthermore, we verified the attribution conclusion of runoff at HYK using the Budyko model, confirming that human activities are the primary factor influencing runoff. Finally, we explored the interactive relationships along the spatial trajectory of runoff at the three stations, analyzed 32 hydrological indicators, and detailed the land use changes in the Yellow River Basin. Our research findings complement the understanding of hydrological change mechanisms in the lower reaches of the Yellow River Basin and provide a scientific basis for future water resource management and flood prevention measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR), a landmark of human engineering, has significantly altered the hydrodynamics and ecology of its surrounding environment. Our research explores the hydrodynamic and ecological changes in the TGR, focusing on their implications for reservoir-induced water quality and water resource issues. We designed a 2D hydrodynamic and water quality model and implemented 15 operational scenarios with an advanced dynamic storage capacity method for the TGR during flood season, drawdown and impoundment periods. Our simulations well reproduced and predicted water levels, discharge rates, and thermal conditions of the TGR, providing critical insights. The dynamic storage capacity method significantly improved the precision of water level simulations. This approach achieved modeling errors below 0.2 m when compared to real measurements from seven stations. We performed a detailed analysis of the sensitive, sub-sensitive, and insensitive areas during three reservoir operation periods. The drawdown period showed the most extensive impact range (468 km river channel), while the impoundment period had the least impact range (76 km river channel). Furthermore, we quantified the delay of temperature waves during these periods, observing a maximum delay of approximately 120 km and a minimum delay of less than 10 km, which underscores the variability in hydrodynamic responses under different operational scenarios. Our findings reveal the complex sensitivities of the TGR to varied operational modes, aiding in the development of eutrophication and water resources control strategies. Our modeling application provides different operational scenarios and insights for ecological management strategies in large dam systems globally, informing future water resource management and policy-making, ensuring sustainable and effective management of large reservoir systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Runoff and evapotranspiration (ET) are pivotal constituents of the water, energy, and carbon cycles. This research presents a 5-km monthly gridded runoff and ET dataset for 1998–2017, encompassing seven headwaters of Tibetan Plateau rivers (Yellow, Yangtze, Mekong, Salween, Brahmaputra, Ganges, and Indus) (hereinafter TPRED). The dataset was generated using the advanced cryosphere-hydrology model WEB-DHM, yielding a Nash coefficient ranging from 0.77 to 0.93 when compared to the observed discharges. The findings indicate that TPRED's monthly runoff notably outperforms existing datasets in capturing hydrological patterns, as evidenced by robust metrics such as the correlation coefficient (CC) (0.944–0.995), Bias (−0.68-0.53), and Root Mean Square Error (5.50–15.59 mm). Additionally, TPRED's monthly ET estimates closely align with expected seasonal fluctuations, as reflected by a CC ranging from 0.94 to 0.98 when contrasted with alternative ET products. Furthermore, TPRED's annual values exhibit commendable concordance with operational products across multiple dimensions. Ultimately, the TPRED will have great application on hydrometeorology, carbon transport, water management, hydrological modeling, and sustainable development of water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water constitutes an important natural and strategic resource, crucial to sustainable development, as well as the social stability and  wellbeing of every economy. The coordinated development of water resource utilisation and economic growth  is currently the focus of attention of social scientists and other representatives of the scholarly community, being one of the key factors for the long‐term development of a country. Based on theories of sustainable development and water resource utilisation, this paper examines the ‘quantity’ and ‘quality’ of water resource utilisation in 19 provinces, municipalities directly under the Central Government, and autonomous regions in the Yangtze River basin from 2006 to 2021, and explores the internal interaction mechanism. First, the decoupling model is used to explore the decoupling relationship between water resource use and economic growth in the Yangtze River Basin, and the LMDI additive index model is used to analyse the corresponding four driving factors. After discovering the interaction between the ‘quantity’ of water resources and economic growth, the ‘quality’ of water resources in the Yangtze River basin was explored, and after measuring the utilisation rate of water resources in the Yangtze River basin, the Tobit model was applied to introduce the explanatory and control variables to deeply analyse the influencing factors of water resources, and the two regulating variables of the digital economy and water endowment are introduced to further analyse the regulating mechanism. The results demonstrate that there is a corresponding ‘weak decoupling‐strong decoupling‐strong decoupling’ stage of development between water resource use and economic growth in the Yangtze River basin, with the corresponding technology effect factor being the most important driver. There is also a corresponding positive regulation impact of the digital economy on the relationship between the two, while water resources endowment has a corresponding negative regulation mechanism, as well as the role of corresponding influencing factors. Relevant recommendations for water resources use have been suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thornthwaite's climate classification is one of the most used in the world, whether for geographic, meteorological, climatological, bioclimatological, ecological studies, among others. This study aimed to generate a detailed Thornthwaite climate classification map for Eastern Maranhão. A total of 101 meteorological observation points were used, from which the variables average air temperature and rainfall were obtained, within the time range from 1950 to 2021. Such data were evaluated and subsequently processed in an Excel and GIS environment. In Excel, climatological water balances were calculated using the Thornthwaite and Mather method, using 100 mm as soil water storage capacity, in addition to determining the indices of the temperature equations by multiple linear regression for subsequent spatialization in matrix images of latitude and longitude. Precipitation and evapotranspiration data were interpolated using ordinary kriging, with a spatial resolution of 90 m, equal to that of the digital elevation model made available by the National Institute for Space Research. More than 8,727,760.0 pixels were evaluated, identifying the dry subhumid C1 and rainy subhumid C2 climate types, described by the subtypesC1 dA’a’,C1 wA’a’,C1w2A’a’ and C2 w2A’a’. Overall, it was identified that 94% of the East Maranhense area is occupied by aC1 climate and 6% by a C2 climate. It is understood that this study generated accurate scientific information to support agricultural and urban planning, water resources management and the development of sustainable environmental policies for Eastern Maranhão. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective water resources management is crucial for the sustainable development of the province of Manabí. The importance of evaluating existing models and institutional changes in the search for efficient water resource management is highlighted. The objective of this research is to analyze the relevance of water resource management agencies in the development of the Province of Manabí, considering previous models and institutional changes. A qualitative study was carried out using documentary and bibliographic methods, applying the analytical-synthetic approach, involving the review of government documents, technical reports and data on water management. An exhaustive search was implemented in academic sources and interviews with experts and members of local communities. The analysis was based on 25 documents selected with specific criteria, supported by a documentary analysis matrix and an interview questionnaire. The results are based on the continuity in water management models in Manabí, with institutional changes in the National Secretariat of Water (SENAGUA) and merger with the Ministry of Environment. Achievements and challenges are identified, highlighting the importance of community participation and the need to assess the institutional impact of these transformations. The SENAGUA-Ministry of the Environment merger has generated both positive aspects and challenges in water management. The importance of complying with the institutional competencies established in laws and regulations is highlighted. The relevance of the Political Constitution of the State in water management in Manabí is underlined as a key factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides a comprehensive overview of Russia's water resources, their development and utilization status, as well as the water rights system and related laws and regulations. It begins by detailing the abundant rivers, lakes, and groundwater resources in Russia. The analysis highlights that Russia has a high proportion of industrial water use, advanced water recycling technology, and significant water storage capacity in numerous reservoirs. The article also delves into the main contents of the Russian Federation Water Law, covering ownership and usage rights of water resources, and the legal responsibilities for water protection and management. Finally, it summarizes the experiences and insights from Russia's water rights system, emphasizing the importance of integrated basin management, clear water rights ownership, and the establishment of a comprehensive legal framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The project titled"Scientific Investigation of Water Resources Development Potential and Utilization Pathways on the northern Slope of the Kunlun Mountains"was initiated in October 2021 as part of the initial set of projects for the Third Xinjiang Scientific Expedition. This study integrates multi- source remote sensing data and field research conducted from 2022 to 2023 to examine hydrological changes, water resources dynamics, and water resource utilization patterns on the northern slope of the Kunlun Mountains. The findings reveal the following: (1) A temperature increase of 0.14 °C·(10a)-1 and precipitation increase of 6.53 mm·(10a)-1 from 1990 to 2020 was observed on the northern slope of the Kunlun Mountains. (2) Glacier variations have remained relatively stable, with a slight expansion observed in snow cover area and depth. (3) Permanent water bodies have experienced a significant growth rate of 79.89%, while seasonal water bodies have expanded by an impressive margin of 144.49%. (4) Ayakkum Lake and Akikkule Lake, two major lakes within the Kumukuli Basin, witnessed increases in their water areas by approximately 68.91% and 58.22%, respectively, and several rivers within this basin exhibit potential for further development regarding water resources utilization. (5) Terrestrial water storage on the northern slope of the Kunlun Mountains generally exhibits an increasing trend, particularly more pronounced from west to east. (6) Average annual runoff of Hotan River, Keriya River, and Qarqan River, the main rivers on the northern slope of the Kunlun Mountains, increased by 20.24%, 27.85%, and 45.17%, respectively, during the period of 2010--2023 when compared with the period of 1957--2023. (7) Based on simulations considering different climate change scenarios, it is predicted that major river runoff will continue to increase throughout the middle-to-later stages of the 21st century, alongside regional augmentation in available water resources. The conditions of water resources on the northern slope of the Kunlun Mountains can provide favorable water resources for the green development of the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing regional water environment carrying capacity (WECC) is crucial for measuring sustainable development and guiding water resource management policies. However, existing methods often overlook the dynamic trends in carrying capacity and uncertainties in the assessment process. This study proposes a time-varying Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluations (PROMETHEE) II model, integrating time series analysis and multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) to address these limitations. Using Guangdong Province, China as a case study, key factors influencing WECC are identified through a simplified assessment index system and obstacle degree model. Results demonstrate that: (1) the developed framework broadens the capabilities of current technologies and provides an effective method for dealing with uncertain trends in WECC over time. (2) the carrying capacity of water environment showed a large spatial difference, with high in the centre and low around, among which Shenzhen ranked first with 0.3498, and Shaoguan ranked 21st with-0.2584., (3) per capita water resources, ecological water ratio, green coverage rate of built-up areas, per capita GDP, proportion of tertiary industry and per capita disposable income affect the level of regional WECC, with obstruction frequency exceeding 85%. These insights assist decision-makers in developing region-specific strategies for comprehensive water resource management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to achieve coordination between regional economic development and ecological environmental protection and to mitigate issues such as competition for water use among industries and significant disparities between water supply and demand. A multi-water-source, multi-user, and multi-objective optimal water resource allocation model was developed for Ordos City using general water allocation and simulation (GWAS). This model was applied to optimize water resource allocation on a monthly scale for various users across different administrative units (banners) in both short- and long-term planning periods. The results indicate that Ordos City's allocated water volume for 2025 and 2030 is projected to be 1833.36 × 106 m3 and 1963.44 × 106 m3, respectively, with an overall water shortage rate of 5.46% and 5.67%, respectively. Water shortages are predicted in Dongsheng District, Dalad Banner, Etuoke Banner, Hangjin Banner, and Wushen Banner, primarily during the agricultural water usage period from March to November. The regional water supply structure was notably optimized, with a gradual decrease in the proportion of groundwater in the total water supply and a corresponding increase in the supply of surface water and unconventional water. These changes effectively improve local groundwater overexploitation and enhance the water supply efficiency. The research findings could offer valuable theoretical and technical support for the development and utilization of water resources, as well as for adjustments in the population–economic–industrial structure of Ordos City. Additionally, this study could provide scientific references for optimizing water resource allocation in other water-deficient cities in arid and semi-arid areas of the Yellow River Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The matching relationship between water and land resources in the karst mountains is closely related to regional ecological and environmental security, human well-being, and high-quality socio-economic development. Based on a massive literature review, this review systematically summarizes the research overview, development process, and matching mechanism of karst water and land resources. The results show the following: (1) Since 1990, the number of publications on karst water and land resources has shown a steady upward trend, with the journals covering multiple fields, characterized by multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary features. (2) The matching relationship between water and land resources in karst mountainous areas has experienced three stages: "single element–binary matching–multiple coupling". It reveals the evolutionary process from focusing on the single internal system of water and land resources to focusing on the mutual matching relationship between water and land resources, and then to the study of multiple coupling between water and land resources system and other external systems. (3) The internal coordinated development of the water and land resources system in karst mountainous areas depends on the joint interactions of natural, economic, and social factors, while the external matching mainly focuses on the mechanism around the three aspects of water and land resources and agricultural production, ecological environment, and economic and social development. Furthermore, the review proposes that future research should explore the matching of water and land resources in karst mountainous areas through theoretical framework construction, model innovation, scale refinement, and mechanism analysis. The expected results will provide a scientific reference for advancing theoretical research on karst water and land resources and optimizing their management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the importance of utilizing hydrogeologic-focused data for various environmental, water resources, and remediation projects. It highlights the underutilization of big data sets and the need to transform and analyze this data to develop more robust conceptual site models. The article also explores the challenges of data management and the potential of artificial intelligence tools to enhance data-driven interpretations. It provides examples of hydrogeologic-based data sets and tools that facilitate data processing and analysis. The article concludes by emphasizing the significance of centralizing and streamlining data management efforts to improve efficiency and workflows. It also introduces several tools, such as the Low-Flow Drawdown Tool (LFDT), the Sieve to Hydraulic Conductivity (K) Tool (SKT), and the AiSieve application, which aim to analyze hydrogeologic data more efficiently and accurately. These tools contribute to centralizing and managing big data, improving efficiency, and providing comprehensive insights into hydrogeologic systems. [Extracted from the article]

In West Africa, the construction of small earth dams is common against water scarcity. Burkina Faso, an inland country in West Africa, is home to 1001 dams that serve agricultural and pastoral needs. These embankments are predominantly made of compacted laterite, a cost-effective material abundant in over 2/3 of the country. However, these dams degrade over time, hindering their functionality. This study aims to establish a catalog of typical degradation occurring on small dams in Burkina Faso, which is virtually non-existent in the region while identifying and analyzing the potential causes. The study uses a diagnostic analysis followed up with technical visits on a representative sample of 24 dams in the Centre and Centre-South regions as a basis for future studies. The results reveal that these dams were constructed between 1965 and 2018, with capacities ranging from 150,000 to 4,740,000 m3. 33% of these dams have undergone total failure, likely attributed to factors such as internal erosion, pore overpressures, settlement, and deformation. Although 67% of the dams remain functional, their structural integrity could be improved. Erosion observed in riprap indicates vulnerability during high flood periods. Additionally, the absence of proper maintenance, as shown by the vegetation development weakening embankments, contributes to deterioration. The analysis also suggests that variability in construction techniques and lateritic material properties across time and regions may further exacerbate degradation. These findings inform infrastructure improvements and policy development for sustainable water resource management in Burkina Faso and similar regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]