Spatiotemporal Variations and Driving Factors of Water Availability in the Arid and Semiarid Regions of Northern China

It is anticipated that global warming will modify precipitation and evapotranspiration patterns, consequently affecting water availability. Changes in water availability pose challenges to freshwater supply, food security, and ecosystem sustainability. However, the variations and driving mechanisms...

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Main Authors: Xiaoyu Han, Yaning Chen, Gonghuan Fang, Zhi Li, Yupeng Li, Yanfeng Di
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Remote Sensing
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/22/4318
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author Xiaoyu Han
Yaning Chen
Gonghuan Fang
Zhi Li
Yupeng Li
Yanfeng Di
author_facet Xiaoyu Han
Yaning Chen
Gonghuan Fang
Zhi Li
Yupeng Li
Yanfeng Di
author_sort Xiaoyu Han
collection DOAJ
description It is anticipated that global warming will modify precipitation and evapotranspiration patterns, consequently affecting water availability. Changes in water availability pose challenges to freshwater supply, food security, and ecosystem sustainability. However, the variations and driving mechanisms of water availability in the arid and semiarid regions of Northern China remain unclear. This study evaluates the accuracy of three evapotranspiration products and analyzes the changes in water availability in the arid and semiarid regions of Northern China over the past 39 years (1982–2020) along with their driving factors. The results indicate that during this period, precipitation increased at a rate of 7.5 mm/decade, while evapotranspiration rose at a higher rate of 13 mm/decade, resulting in a decline in water availability of 5.5 mm/decade. Spatially, approximately 30.17% of the area exhibited a significant downward trend in water availability, while 65.65% remained relatively stable. Evapotranspiration is the dominant factor leading to the decrease in water availability, with a contribution rate of 63.41%. The increase in evapotranspiration was primarily driven by temperature (32.53% contribution) and the saturation vapor pressure deficit (24.72% contribution). The decline in water availability may further exacerbate drought risks in arid and semiarid regions. The research results can provide a scientific basis for developing water resource management strategies and ecological restoration strategies under environmental change.
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publishDate 2024-11-01
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series Remote Sensing
spelling doaj-art-f856b6fa14e7405f9a910a57c05a66d12024-11-26T18:20:24ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922024-11-011622431810.3390/rs16224318Spatiotemporal Variations and Driving Factors of Water Availability in the Arid and Semiarid Regions of Northern ChinaXiaoyu Han0Yaning Chen1Gonghuan Fang2Zhi Li3Yupeng Li4Yanfeng Di5State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, ChinaIt is anticipated that global warming will modify precipitation and evapotranspiration patterns, consequently affecting water availability. Changes in water availability pose challenges to freshwater supply, food security, and ecosystem sustainability. However, the variations and driving mechanisms of water availability in the arid and semiarid regions of Northern China remain unclear. This study evaluates the accuracy of three evapotranspiration products and analyzes the changes in water availability in the arid and semiarid regions of Northern China over the past 39 years (1982–2020) along with their driving factors. The results indicate that during this period, precipitation increased at a rate of 7.5 mm/decade, while evapotranspiration rose at a higher rate of 13 mm/decade, resulting in a decline in water availability of 5.5 mm/decade. Spatially, approximately 30.17% of the area exhibited a significant downward trend in water availability, while 65.65% remained relatively stable. Evapotranspiration is the dominant factor leading to the decrease in water availability, with a contribution rate of 63.41%. The increase in evapotranspiration was primarily driven by temperature (32.53% contribution) and the saturation vapor pressure deficit (24.72% contribution). The decline in water availability may further exacerbate drought risks in arid and semiarid regions. The research results can provide a scientific basis for developing water resource management strategies and ecological restoration strategies under environmental change.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/22/4318water availabilityevapotranspirationattribution analysisglobal climate changevegetation dynamics
spellingShingle Xiaoyu Han
Yaning Chen
Gonghuan Fang
Zhi Li
Yupeng Li
Yanfeng Di
Spatiotemporal Variations and Driving Factors of Water Availability in the Arid and Semiarid Regions of Northern China
Remote Sensing
water availability
evapotranspiration
attribution analysis
global climate change
vegetation dynamics
title Spatiotemporal Variations and Driving Factors of Water Availability in the Arid and Semiarid Regions of Northern China
title_full Spatiotemporal Variations and Driving Factors of Water Availability in the Arid and Semiarid Regions of Northern China
title_fullStr Spatiotemporal Variations and Driving Factors of Water Availability in the Arid and Semiarid Regions of Northern China
title_full_unstemmed Spatiotemporal Variations and Driving Factors of Water Availability in the Arid and Semiarid Regions of Northern China
title_short Spatiotemporal Variations and Driving Factors of Water Availability in the Arid and Semiarid Regions of Northern China
title_sort spatiotemporal variations and driving factors of water availability in the arid and semiarid regions of northern china
topic water availability
evapotranspiration
attribution analysis
global climate change
vegetation dynamics
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/22/4318
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