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Arid Land Geography ›› 2024, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (9): 1451-1461.doi: 10.12118/j.issn.1000-6060.2023.636

• The Third Xinjiang Scientific Expedition • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Spatiotemporal evolutionary patterns and influencing factors of water use in Xinjiang from 1990 to 2020

LIU Hui1,2(), SUN Siao1,2(), FANG Chuanglin1,2, ZHOU Di3, BAO Chao1,2   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Regional Sustainable Development Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing 100101, China
    2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    3. Jiangsu Yuanhan Architectural Design Co., Ltd., Changzhou 213003, Jiangsu, China
  • Received:2023-11-09 Revised:2024-04-16 Online:2024-09-25 Published:2024-09-24
  • Contact: SUN Siao E-mail:liuhui0026@igsnrr.ac.cn;suns@igsnrr.ac.cn

Abstract:

Drought and water scarcity are inherent features of Xinjiang’s physical geography. It is crucial to understand the spatiotemporal evolutionary patterns and influencing factors of water use for effective water resources demand management. In this study, we investigated the influencing factors which drive the temporal change and spatial heterogeneity in water use pattern in Xinjiang from 1990 to 2020 using the logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) method. In addition, we quantified the main influencing factors contributing to higher per capita water use in Xinjiang in comparison to the average levels of other regions in northwest China and whole China. The conclusions can be drawn: (1) The total water use in Xinjiang showed a first increasing then decreasing trend, whereas per capita water use showed an overall declining trend. (2) The change of water use intensity and industrial structure were the main reasons for the decline of total water use in Xinjiang. (3) High water intensity and agriculture dominated industrial structure were the main reasons for higher per capita water use in Xinjiang than other regions in northwest China and whole China. (4) Per capita water use across various prefectures in Xinjiang exhibited significant spatial heterogeneity, primarily attributable to variations in water use intensity, per capita GDP, and industrial structure. Based on the main results, we propose relevant water management policy recommendations, which can provide a scientific reference for sustainable water use and management in Xinjiang.

Key words: water resources management, logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) method, water resources exploitation, spatial heterogeneity, Xinjiang