Arid Zone Research ›› 2024, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (2): 181-190.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2024.02.01

• Weather and Climate • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Change in atmospheric and surface water resource in Xinjiang

YAO Junqiang1,2,3()   

  1. 1. Institute of Desert Meteorology, China Meteorological Administration, Urumqi 830002, Xinjiang, China
    2. Field Scientific Experiment Base of Akdala Atmospheric Background, China Meteorological Administration, Akdala 836499, Xinjiang, China
    3. Key Laboratory of Tree-ring Physical and Chemical Research, China Meteorological Administration, Urumqi 830002, Xinjiang, China
  • Received:2023-07-30 Revised:2023-09-23 Online:2024-02-15 Published:2024-03-11

Abstract:

The scarcity of water resources is the most critical natural factor impeding high-quality economic and social development and ecological security in Xinjiang. This paper systematically analyzes trends in precipitation, atmospheric water resources, and surface water resources in Xinjiang. It also establishes the conversion relationship between different water resources in Xinjiang. The findings reveal that annual precipitation water resources amount to 2717.12×108 m3, with water vapor input reaching 21115×108 m3, resulting in a net water vapor income of 347.5×108 m3. Between 1961 and 2022, Xinjiang experienced a 12.5% increase in precipitation conversion. The annual total water resources in Xinjiang is 912.3×108 m3, where surface water resources constituted 864.1×108 m3 from 2001 to 2020, resulting in a water yield coefficient of 0.32. The observed trends show a significant increase in annual precipitation in Xinjiang, a slight decrease in total water vapor input, a marginal increase in net water vapor income, and a significant increase in precipitation conversion between 1961 and 2022. Although surface water resources in Xinjiang are abundant, the water yield coefficient exhibited a weak fluctuating decreasing trend from 2001 to 2020. Nevertheless, prominent issues persist in water resources research in Xinjiang, including insufficient studies on precipitation water resource volumes, understanding of cloud water resource characteristics, and continuous monitoring of the physical process of cloud precipitation. To address these challenges, it is imperative to conduct comprehensive scientific field experiments on cloud precipitation physics, including strengthening research on the physical processes of cloud precipitation, refining cloud water resource assessments, and examining precipitation efficiency and water increase effects within typical cloud systems. These studies will aid in developing cloud water resources and air-groundwater resources joint control technology for arid areas.

Key words: atmospheric water resource, surface water resource, water yield coefficient, change, Xinjiang