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Arid Land Geography ›› 2026, Vol. 49 ›› Issue (3): 569-580.doi: 10.12118/j.issn.1000-6060.2025.229

• Regional Development • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Dynamic coupling and hierarchical obstacle analysis of water resources and ecological resilience in the Yellow River Basin

WANG Huili1,2(), LI Niu1(), LIU Ying1, LIU Yonghan1   

  1. 1. School of Statistics and Data Science, Xi’an University of Finance and Economics, Xi’an 710100, Shaanxi, China
    2. Xi’an Institute of Statistics, Xi’an University of Finance and Economics, Xi’an 710100, Shaanxi, China
  • Received:2025-04-24 Revised:2025-05-23 Online:2026-03-25 Published:2026-03-24
  • Contact: LI Niu E-mail:hlwang@xaufe.edu.cn;liniu330@163.com

Abstract:

Understanding the dynamic coupling relationship and obstacle factors affecting water resource resilience and ecological resilience in the Yellow River Basin of China is essential for promoting regional sustainable development. Based on panel data from nine provinces and regions in the Yellow River Basin from 2011 to 2022, this study comprehensively employed the “pressure-state-response” (PSR) model, a combined weighting method, and an adjusted coupling coordination degree model to calculate the coupling coordination degree between water resource resilience and ecological resilience. A variable-length Markov chain was used to examine the dynamic evolutionary patterns and state transition paths of the coupling coordination degree, and an obstacle degree model was constructed to identify the main obstacle factors. The results indicate that: (1) The resilience of water resources and ecological systems in the Yellow River Basin followed a fluctuating upward trend from 2011 to 2022, with significant spatial heterogeneity. (2) The coupling coordination degree improved continuously over the study period, with relatively higher levels in the upper and middle reaches and lower levels in the lower reaches. The coordinated regions exhibited an evolutionary pattern from point to area and from south to northeast. (3) The state transition paths of the coupling coordination degrees were relatively stable, with upward stepwise transitions as the main pattern. Transition probabilities increased with greater step length. (4) The main obstacle factors at the criterion level are the state of water resources, ecological response, and ecological status. The main obstacle factors at the indicator level include surface water, total water resources, number of urban parks, groundwater, and green space area of parks. These findings provide a basis for formulating more targeted policies to promote ecological security and transformation, thereby facilitating regional coordinated development.

Key words: water resources resilience, ecological resilience, coupling coordination degree, Markov chain, obstacle degree mode, Yellow River Basin