Changes in Water Resources Systems: Methodologies to Maintain Water Security and Ensure Integrated Management (Proceedings of Symposium HS3006 at IUGG2007, Perugia, July 2007).  IAHS Publ. 315, 2007, 199-205


 

The hydrological impact zone in the lower reaches of the Yellow River: a new concept for water resources issues

 

MAKOTO TANIGUCHI1, JIANYAO CHEN2 & YOSHIHIRO FUKUSHIMA1

1 Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto 602-0878, Japan

makoto@chikyu.ac.jp

2 School of Geographical Science and Planning, Zhongshan (Sun Yat-sen) University, Guangzhou 510275, China

 

Abstract The lower reaches of the Yellow River have been affected by water shortages since the 1990s. We suggest that water balance and resources in the lower reaches should be considered from the standpoint of water diversion. In this paper, we define a new concept of an “impact zone” to replace that of “basin” for discussion of water resources issues. The objective of this study was to identify the spatial and temporal change in water use in the lower reaches over the last 50 years, and to evaluate the impact zone of the Yellow River.

 

Key words  impact zone; lower reach; water diversion; water use; Yellow River