Assessing spatial and temporal variability in water consumption and the maintainability oasis maximum area in an oasis region of Northwestern China

摘要

Water consumption is a key role in improving the efficiency and sustainability of water management in arid environments.In this study, we explored an approach based on meta-analysis, MODIS NDVI products, land-use spatial distribution, andsoil water physical parameters to gain insight into long-term and large scale distribution of land use and water consumption,maintain maximum Zhangye Oasis area according to Heihe River runoff, and suitable water resource management inZhangye Oasis. This approach was initiated in order to improve the efficiency of irrigation and water resource managementin arid regions. Results showed that Heihe River runoff can maintain a maximum Zhangye Oasis area of 22.49×104 hm2.During the 2000−2016 growing seasons, actual oasis water consumption ranged from 11.35×108 m3 to 13.73×108 m3, witha mean of (12.89 ± 0.60)×108 m3;if maintaining agricultural production and oasis stability was chosen, oasis water consumptionranged from 10.24×108 m3 to 12.37×108 m3, with a mean of (11.62 ± 0.53)×108 m3. From the perspective of waterresources management and ecosystem stability, it is necessary to reduce the area of Zhangye Oasis or choose the minimumwater consumption method to manage the oasis, to ease the pressure of water shortage and maintain stable and sustainabledevelopment of the Zhangye Oasis. These results can provide future practical guidance for water resource management ofcoordinated development of the economy and the environment in an arid area.