Arid Zone Research ›› 2021, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (4): 910-918.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2021.04.02

• Water Resources and Utilization • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Evaluation of water resource exploration potential of the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor based on carrying capacity

LI Li1,2(),LIU Shiqi1,WANG Ping1,3(),QIAO Yuan2,WANG Tao2,WANG Tianye4,LI Zehong1,3,Tcogto Bazarzhapov1,3   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Water Cycle and Related Land Surface Processes, Key Laboratory for Resource Use and Environmental Remediation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
    2. College of Earth and Environment Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, China
    3. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    4. School of Water Conservancy Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, China
  • Received:2020-10-19 Revised:2021-03-12 Online:2021-07-15 Published:2021-08-03
  • Contact: Ping WANG E-mail:ll17@lzu.edu.cn;wangping@igsnrr.ac.cn

Abstract:

In this study, the data of surface water resources, precipitation, population, and gross domestic product for 43 provincial administrative units in the China-Mongolia-Russia economic corridor in 2016 were used to systematically analyze the distribution characteristics and development potential of water resources in these regions by calculating the carrying capacity of water resources. We found that there were more surface water resources in the north and east of the China-Mongolia-Russia economic corridor and less in the west and south, with the middle of the area having the least water resources. Provincial administrative units in Russia were rich in surface water resources, accounting for about 95% of the total surface water resources of the economic corridor. These administrative units in Russia were characterized by having a low population, low demand for water resources, low exploitation and utilization, and high potential for water resources development. Regions in Mongolia were relatively rich in surface water resources in the north, with five administrative regions having a water resources carrying capacity of less than one, which indicates potential for development. However, there was a severe shortage of surface water resources found for the southern part of the Mongolia are in the economic corridor. For three northeastern provinces and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China, the development potential of water resources is low, as their water resources carrying capacities are more than two due to relatively high population densities and the high demand for water resources. The water resources carrying capacity in these regions was higher than two and had low development potential. From the perspective of optimal regional water allocation, the southern part of Mongolia and the four provinces (autonomous regions) of China are the key areas that require the optimal allocation of water resources. There are opportunities in Russia to solve water shortage problems in other regions of the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor. However, as the exploitation of water resources is closely linked to socio-economic development of each area, cooperation over water resources within the China-Mongolia-Russia economic corridor requires further study.

Key words: China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor, spatial distribution characteristics of water resources, water resources development potential, water resources carrying capacity