IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i14p7589-d589935.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Evaluating Cryospheric Water Withdrawal and Virtual Water Flows in Tarim River Basin of China: An Input–Output Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Yang Yang

    (State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
    College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Shiwei Liu

    (State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
    College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Cunde Xiao

    (State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resources Ecology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Cuiyang Feng

    (State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Chenyu Li

    (State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
    College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

Abstract

In Tarim River Basin (TRB), the retreat of glacier and snow cover reduction due to climate warming threatens the regional economy of downstream basins that critically depends on meltwater. However, the quantitative evaluation of its impact on multiple sectors of the socioeconomic system is incomplete. Based on compiled regional input–output table of the year 2012, this study developed a method to analyze the relationships between economic activities and related meltwater withdrawal, as well as sectoral transfer. The results show that the direct meltwater withdrawal intensity (DMWI) of agriculture was much higher than other sectors, reaching 2348.02 m 3 /10,000 CNY. Except for A01 (agriculture) and A02 (mining and washing of coal), the embodied meltwater withdrawal (EMW) driven by the final demand of other sectors was greater than direct meltwater withdrawal, and all sectors required inflows of virtual water (72.45 × 10 8 m 3 , accounting for 29% of total supply from cryospheric water resources) for their production processes in 2012. For sectors with high DMWI, improving water-use efficiency is an effective way to reduce water withdrawal. To some extent, the unbalanced supply of cryospheric water resources due to geographical segregation can be regulated by virtual water flows from water-saving to water-intensive sectors. Such decisions can affect the balance between socioeconomic development and environment conservation for long-term sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Yang Yang & Shiwei Liu & Cunde Xiao & Cuiyang Feng & Chenyu Li, 2021. "Evaluating Cryospheric Water Withdrawal and Virtual Water Flows in Tarim River Basin of China: An Input–Output Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-16, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:14:p:7589-:d:589935
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/14/7589/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/14/7589/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Matthias Huss & Regine Hock, 2018. "Global-scale hydrological response to future glacier mass loss," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 8(2), pages 135-140, February.
    2. T. P. Barnett & J. C. Adam & D. P. Lettenmaier, 2005. "Potential impacts of a warming climate on water availability in snow-dominated regions," Nature, Nature, vol. 438(7066), pages 303-309, November.
    3. Yue Qin & John T. Abatzoglou & Stefan Siebert & Laurie S. Huning & Amir AghaKouchak & Justin S. Mankin & Chaopeng Hong & Dan Tong & Steven J. Davis & Nathaniel D. Mueller, 2020. "Agricultural risks from changing snowmelt," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 10(5), pages 459-465, May.
    4. Yang, Xuechun & Wang, Yutao & Sun, Mingxing & Wang, Renqing & Zheng, Peiming, 2018. "Exploring the environmental pressures in urban sectors: An energy-water-carbon nexus perspective," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 2298-2307.
    5. Jouni Pulliainen & Kari Luojus & Chris Derksen & Lawrence Mudryk & Juha Lemmetyinen & Miia Salminen & Jaakko Ikonen & Matias Takala & Juval Cohen & Tuomo Smolander & Johannes Norberg, 2020. "Patterns and trends of Northern Hemisphere snow mass from 1980 to 2018," Nature, Nature, vol. 581(7808), pages 294-298, May.
    6. Ben Livneh & Andrew M. Badger, 2020. "Drought less predictable under declining future snowpack," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 10(5), pages 452-458, May.
    7. Lenzen, Manfred & Moran, Daniel & Bhaduri, Anik & Kanemoto, Keiichiro & Bekchanov, Maksud & Geschke, Arne & Foran, Barney, 2013. "International trade of scarce water," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 78-85.
    8. Guiliang Tian & Xiaosheng Han & Chen Zhang & Jiaojiao Li & Jining Liu, 2020. "Virtual Water Flows Embodied in International and Interprovincial Trade of Yellow River Basin: A Multiregional Input-Output Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-21, February.
    9. Manfred Lenzen & Maria Cecilia Pinto de Moura & Arne Geschke & Keiichiro Kanemoto & Daniel Dean Moran, 2012. "A Cycling Method For Constructing Input--Output Table Time Series From Incomplete Data," Economic Systems Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(4), pages 413-432, February.
    10. Eamen, Leila & Brouwer, Roy & Razavi, Saman, 2020. "The economic impacts of water supply restrictions due to climate and policy change: A transboundary river basin supply-side input-output analysis," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    11. Ehsan Qasemipour & Ali Abbasi & Farhad Tarahomi, 2020. "Water-Saving Scenarios Based on Input–Output Analysis and Virtual Water Concept: A Case in Iran," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-16, January.
    12. H. Biemans & C. Siderius & A. F. Lutz & S. Nepal & B. Ahmad & T. Hassan & W. Bloh & R. R. Wijngaard & P. Wester & A. B. Shrestha & W. W. Immerzeel, 2019. "Importance of snow and glacier meltwater for agriculture on the Indo-Gangetic Plain," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 2(7), pages 594-601, July.
    13. Z. Xu & Y. Chen & J. Li, 2004. "Impact of Climate Change on Water Resources in the Tarim River Basin," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 18(5), pages 439-458, October.
    14. Leontief, Wassily, 1974. "Structure of the World Economy: Outline of a Simple Input-Output Formulation," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 64(6), pages 823-834, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Xiuli Liu & Rui Xiong & Pibin Guo & Lei Nie & Qinqin Shi & Wentao Li & Jing Cui, 2022. "Virtual Water Flow Pattern in the Yellow River Basin, China: An Analysis Based on a Multiregional Input–Output Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-24, June.
    2. Yuanlong Mao & Wenjing Dai & Yang Yang & Qiaoxia Liang & Zichao Wei, 2025. "Assessing the Impact of the Digital Economy on Carbon Emission Reduction: A Test of the Mediation Effect Based on Industrial Agglomeration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-23, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Xiangyao Meng & Yongqiang Liu & Yan Qin & Weiping Wang & Mengxiao Zhang & Kun Zhang, 2022. "Adaptability of MODIS Daily Cloud-Free Snow Cover 500 m Dataset over China in Hutubi River Basin Based on Snowmelt Runoff Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-20, March.
    2. Dalei Hao & Gautam Bisht & Hailong Wang & Donghui Xu & Huilin Huang & Yun Qian & L. Ruby Leung, 2023. "A cleaner snow future mitigates Northern Hemisphere snowpack loss from warming," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Michel Wortmann & Doris Duethmann & Christoph Menz & Tobias Bolch & Shaochun Huang & Jiang Tong & Zbigniew W. Kundzewicz & Valentina Krysanova, 2022. "Projected climate change and its impacts on glaciers and water resources in the headwaters of the Tarim River, NW China/Kyrgyzstan," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 171(3), pages 1-24, April.
    4. Wu, Hao & Xu, Min & Peng, Zhuoyue & Chen, Xiaoping, 2022. "Quantifying the potential impacts of meltwater on cotton yields in the Tarim River Basin, Central Asia," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    5. Cook, David & Malinauskaite, Laura & Davíðsdóttir, Brynhildur & Ögmundardóttir, Helga, 2021. "Co-production processes underpinning the ecosystem services of glaciers and adaptive management in the era of climate change," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    6. Ludovica De Gregorio & Giovanni Cuozzo & Riccardo Barella & Francisco Corvalán & Felix Greifeneder & Peter Grosse & Abraham Mejia-Aguilar & Georg Niedrist & Valentina Premier & Paul Schattan & Alessan, 2024. "Two Datasets over South Tyrol and Tyrol Areas to Understand and Characterize Water Resource Dynamics in Mountain Regions," Data, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-19, November.
    7. Qingshan He & Jianping Yang & Qiudong Zhao & Hongju Chen & Yanxia Wang & Hui Wang & Xin Wang, 2025. "Assessment of Water Resource Sustainability and Glacier Runoff Impact on the Northern and Southern Slopes of the Tianshan Mountains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-25, May.
    8. Keyvan Malek & Patrick Reed & Jennifer Adam & Tina Karimi & Michael Brady, 2020. "Water rights shape crop yield and revenue volatility tradeoffs for adaptation in snow dependent systems," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-10, December.
    9. Muhammad Shafeeque & Yi Luo & Arfan Arshad & Sher Muhammad & Muhammad Ashraf & Quoc Bao Pham, 2023. "Assessment of climate change impacts on glacio-hydrological processes and their variations within critical zone," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 115(3), pages 2721-2748, February.
    10. R. R. McCrary & L. O. Mearns & M. R. Abel & S. Biner & M. S. Bukovsky, 2022. "Projections of North American snow from NA-CORDEX and their uncertainties, with a focus on model resolution," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 170(3), pages 1-25, February.
    11. Linghao Meng & Jusen Asuka, 2022. "Impacts of Energy Transition on Life Cycle Carbon Emission and Water Consumption in Japan’s Electric Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-14, April.
    12. Kaustubh Anil Salvi & Mukesh Kumar, 2024. "Imprint of urbanization on snow precipitation over the continental USA," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    13. Jeffrey O’Hara & Konstantine Georgakakos, 2008. "Quantifying the Urban Water Supply Impacts of Climate Change," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 22(10), pages 1477-1497, October.
    14. Barnard, David M. & Green, Timothy R. & Mankin, Kyle R. & DeJonge, Kendall C. & Rhoades, Charles C. & Kampf, Stephanie K. & Giovando, Jeremy & Wilkins, Mike J. & Mahood, Adam L. & Sears, Megan G. & Co, 2023. "Wildfire and climate change amplify knowledge gaps linking mountain source-water systems and agricultural water supply in the western United States," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 286(C).
    15. Bo Su & Cunde Xiao & Deliang Chen & Dahe Qin & Yongjian Ding, 2019. "Cryosphere Services and Human Well-Being," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(16), pages 1-23, August.
    16. Ehsan Qasemipour & Farhad Tarahomi & Markus Pahlow & Seyed Saeed Malek Sadati & Ali Abbasi, 2020. "Assessment of Virtual Water Flows in Iran Using a Multi-Regional Input-Output Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-18, September.
    17. Guangyao Deng & Liujuan Wang & Yanan Song, 2015. "Effect of Variation of Water-Use Efficiency on Structure of Virtual Water Trade - Analysis Based on Input–Output Model," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 29(8), pages 2947-2965, June.
    18. Xiaqing Feng & Guangxin Zhang & Xiongrui Yin, 2011. "Hydrological Responses to Climate Change in Nenjiang River Basin, Northeastern China," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 25(2), pages 677-689, January.
    19. Jing Pan & Haoran Yang & Zihao Wang & Bo Peng & Shaoning Li, 2025. "Optimizing Sustainable Tourism: A Multi-Objective Framework for Juneau and Beyond," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-19, August.
    20. Donati Michele & Wilkinson Adam & Veneziani Mario & Antonioli Federico & Arfini Filippo & Bodini Antonio & Amilien Virginie & Csillag Peter & Ferrer-Pérez Hugo & Gkatsikos Alexandros & Gauvrit Lisa & , 2021. "Economic Spill-Over of Food Quality Schemes on Their Territory," Journal of Agricultural & Food Industrial Organization, De Gruyter, vol. 19(2), pages 95-111, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:14:p:7589-:d:589935. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.