Growing water scarcity, food security and government responses in China

Wang, Jinxia; Li, Yanrong; Huang, Jikun; Yan, Tingting; Sun, Tao

doi:10.1016/j.gfs.2017.01.003

Cited by 134 publications

(69 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…The severe water stress but relatively low WSPOP in the Northwest Rivers indicate that this basin is a water-exporting region, which might have aggravated the water stress (Zhao et al, 2015). In order to alleviate water stress, a large amount of groundwater has been pumped for human water use (Liu et al, 2001;Tang et al, 2013), and on the other hand, various measurements, such as controlling the total water withdrawals, improving water use efficiency, water diversion, and optimization of water allocation, have been proposed during the past decades (Cheng et al, 2009;Wang et al, 2017;Yang & Zehnder, 2001). However, most of these measures were not explicitly represented in the multimodel simulations, thereby further investigation is needed to evaluate the effects of the measures on water stress.…”

Section: Distinct Spatial Patterns Of Water Stress From Northern To Smentioning

confidence: 99%

A Spatially Explicit Assessment of Growing Water Stress in China From the Past to the Future

et al. 2019

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In this study, we examine the spatial and temporal characteristics of water stress in China for the historical and the future (2021-2050) periods using a multimodel simulation approach. Three water stress indices (WSIs), that is, the ratios of water withdrawals to locally generated runoff (WSI R ), to natural streamflow (WSI Q ), and to natural streamflow minus upstream consumptive water withdrawals (WSI C ), are used for the assessment. At the basin level, WSI R estimates generally match the reported data and indicate severe water stress in most northern basins. At the grid cell level, the WSIs show distinct spatial patterns of water stress wherein WSI R (WSI Q ) estimates higher (lower) water stress compared to WSI C . Based on the WSI C estimates, 368 million people (nearly one third of the total population) are affected by severe water stress annually during the historical period, while WSI R and WSI Q suggest 595 and 340 million, respectively. Future projections of WSI C indicate that more than 600 million people (43% of the total) might be affected by severe water stress, and half of China's land area would be exposed to stress. The found aggravating water stress conditions could be partly attributed to the elevated future water withdrawals. This study emphasizes the necessity of considering explicit upstream and downstream relations with respect to both water availability and water use in water stress assessment and calls for more attention to increasing levels of water stress in China in the coming decades.Plain Language Summary Severe water stress in China has been widely reported, but its time evolution and spatial patterns are rarely assessed. We examine the spatial and temporal change patterns of water stress in China by using multimodel simulations and three different water stress indices (WSIs). Results suggest that different WSIs imply distinct spatial patterns of water stress over China. The WSIs indicate that water stress conditions in northern China are quite distinct from that in southern China. During the past decades , severe water stress is found in northern areas while little is found in southern areas. In the future (2021-2050), however, water-stressed areas might expand in southern China and water stress levels might aggravate in urban areas, putting considerably more people exposed to severe water stress. This assessment provides useful information for regional water planning/management within the context of future climate change and socioeconomic development in China.

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Section: Distinct Spatial Patterns Of Water Stress From Northern To Smentioning

confidence: 99%

A Spatially Explicit Assessment of Growing Water Stress in China From the Past to the Future

et al. 2019

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“…For example. agricultural development has led to a significant impact on water-soil exploitation [1], resulting in remarkable variations in regional ecohydrology and the availability of water resources in many parts of the world [2][3][4][5][6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of increasing land productivity on groundwater dynamics: a case study of an oasis located at the edge of the Gobi Desert

Li²,

Xie

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: Intensification of agricultural systems may result in overexploitation of water resources in arid regions because enhanced productivity of crops is often associated with increased actual evapotranspiration (AET). The aim of this study was to quantify the effect of increased regional AET on the groundwater level in a case study of the oasis located within the Shiyang River Basin near the edge of the Gobi Desert.Result: The results of the study show that regional AET increased during the period from 1981 to 2010 due to increasing oasis area and air temperature. The water losses due to AET exceeded the water supply from the mountainous discharges of the basin by the end of this period, leading to groundwater overexploitation in the oasis area.Conclusions: This case study shows the importance of considering the effect of climate change on water losses associated with increasing agricultural production for the sustainable agricultural development of arid regions.

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“…China's food production depends highly on irrigation. Climate change has further aggravated water scarcity in several river basins in northern China, resulting in a reduction of irrigation in farmlands areas and lower food production [14,15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anthropogenic Effects on Hydrogeochemical Characterization of the Shallow Groundwater in an Arid Irrigated Plain in Northwestern China

Wang

et al. 2019

Water

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Many irrigated plains in arid and semi-arid regions have groundwater quality issues due to both intensive human activity and natural processes. Comprehensive studies are urgently needed to explore hydrogeochemical evolutions, investigate possible pollution sources, and understand the controls on groundwater compositions in such regions. Here, we combine geostatistical techniques and hydrogeochemical assessments to characterize groundwater quality over time in the Yinchuan Plain (a typical irrigated plain in China), using 12 physicochemical variables derived from sampling in 600 and 602 wells in 2004 and 2014, respectively. Our results show that groundwater-rock interactions and evaporation are the key natural factors controlling groundwater compositions. Hydrogeochemical water types in both 2004 and 2014 were Ca-HCO3, Na-Cl, and mixed Ca·Mg-Cl. Along with the hydrogeochemical compositions, we used ionic ratios and the saturation index to delineate mineral solution reactions and weathering processes. Dissolution of gypsum, halite, fluorite, and mirabilite, along with silicate weathering and cation exchange, were identified in the study area. Our results indicated rising ion concentrations in groundwater, which could be the result of anthropogenic influences. Increasing total hardness and nitrates over the study period were most likely caused by agricultural activity and the discharge of waste water from human residential areas.

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Growing water scarcity, food security and government responses in China

Cited by 134 publications

References 29 publications

A Spatially Explicit Assessment of Growing Water Stress in China From the Past to the Future

A Spatially Explicit Assessment of Growing Water Stress in China From the Past to the Future

The impact of increasing land productivity on groundwater dynamics: a case study of an oasis located at the edge of the Gobi Desert

Anthropogenic Effects on Hydrogeochemical Characterization of the Shallow Groundwater in an Arid Irrigated Plain in Northwestern China

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