Spatiotemporal variations of water conservation and its influencing factors in ecological barrier region, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
Jian Xue, Zongxing Li, Qi Feng, Juan Gui, Baijuan Zhang
Abstract
The ecological barrier region is located in the northeastern of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, western China, serves as an important ecological security barrier and water conservation zone. Owing to its unique geographical location, this region has a sensitive and fragile ecosystem. This study comprehensively quantified the water conservation volume, analyzed the spatiotemporal variations and its influencing factors, predicted the future changes of water conservation under different climate scenarios. The results showed that the average water conservation volume of the ecological barrier region was approximately 254 × 108 m3 from 1980 to 2019 with a increasing trend. The spatial distribution of water conservation showed a decreasing trend from southeast to northwest. There is a significant positive correlation between precipitation and water conservation (P < 0.01), the water conservation function in the area with elevation between 3 500–4 500 m and slope less than 10°is obviously stronger than other areas. From 2021–2100, the overall trend of water conservation in the study region is increasing, only part of the Yellow River source’s water conservation has a decreasing trend. This research provides scientific support for optimal allocation of water resources and sustainable development in alpine regions.