Abstract
To quantify and analyze the human demand for water resources and the available supply of water resource systems, this study combined emergy analysis and spatial autocorrelation analysis to establish a quantification and analysis system for water ecological footprint (WEF). First, the emergy theory of ecological economics and WEF were combined to propose an emergy quantification method for WEF and water ecological carrying capacity (WEC). Based on the spatial autocorrelation method, three-dimensional ecological footprint indicators (footprint size and depth) were introduced to analyze the spatial correlation and spatial aggregation of capital flow occupation and capital stock consumption in the water resource system. Using the Yellow River Basin (YRB) as the study area to verify the applicability of the WEF quantification and analysis system based on the emergy-spatial autocorrelation method, the following results were obtained. (1) From 2003 to 2018, the per capita WEF of the YRB generally showed a slow growth trend. (2) Compared to the upper and lower reaches of the YRB, the middle reaches had a higher WEF, and the WEC of the YRB was generally high in the west and low in the east. (3) Utilization of the water resources capital in the basin was generally unsustainable. It is necessary to take measures to promote rational allocation and efficient utilization of water resources for the coordinated development of society, the economy, and the environment in the YRB. (4) The emergy-spatial autocorrelation method is applied to basin/region water sustainability studies for decision makers.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
The data sets supporting the results of this article were described in the “Data sources and parameter settings” section and are detailed in the Supplementary information.
References
Chen B, Chen GQ (2009) Emergy-based energy and material metabolism of the Yellow River basin. Commun Nonlinear Sci Numer Simul 14(3):923–934. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnsns.2007.05.034
Chen Y-P, Fu B-J, Zhao Y, Wang K-B, Zhao MM, Ma J-F, Wu J-H, Xu C, Liu W-G, Wang H (2020) Sustainable development in the Yellow River Basin: issues and strategies. J Clean Prod 263:121223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.121223
Commission YRC (2022) Overview of the Yellow River. Retrieved from http://www.yrcc.gov.cn/hhyl/hhgk/. Accessed Jan 2022
Du Y-W, Wang Y-C, Li W-S (2022) Emergy ecological footprint method considering uncertainty and its application in evaluating marine ranching resources and environmental carrying capacity. J Clean Prod 336:130363. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.130363
Fan X (2005) Study on the principle of Water Resources Ecological Footprint and application in Jiangsu Province [M.S., HoHai University]. Jiangsu, China. https://kns.cnki.net/KCMS/detail/detail.aspx?dbname=CMFD0506&filename=2005074490.nh
Fang K (2013) Ecological footprint depth and size: new indicators for a 3D model. Acta Ecol Sin 33(1):0267–0274. https://doi.org/10.5846/stxb201111051670
Fang K (2015) Assessing the natural capital use of eleven nations: an application of a revised three-dimensional model of ecological footprint. Acta Ecol Sin 35(11):3766–3777. https://doi.org/10.5846/stxb201308022011
Guo L, Zhu W, Wei J, Wang L (2022) Water demand forecasting and countermeasures across the Yellow River basin: analysis from the perspective of water resources carrying capacity. J Hydrol Reg Stud 42:101148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2022.101148
Hou Y, Zhang K, Zhu Y, Liu W (2021) Spatial and temporal differentiation and influencing factors of environmental governance performance in the Yangtze River Delta, China. Sci Total Environ 801:149699. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149699
Hu M, Yuan J, & Chen L (2021) Water ecological footprint size, depth and its spatial pattern correlation in the “Four-city Area in Middle China”. Ecol Ind 133 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.108387
Huang L, Zhang W, Jiang C, Fan X (2008) Ecological footprint method in water resources assessment. Acta Ecol Sin 28(3):1279–1286
Jia L, Yu G, Zhang D, Wang Y, Xie M, Zhang F, & Zhao Z (2022) Analysis and Prediction of water ecological footprint in Henan province based on improved grey model. Water Power, 48(03), 5–9+47. https://kns.cnki.net/kcms/detail/11.1845.TV.20220104.1840.002.html. Accessed Aug 2022
Lan S, Qin P, Lu H (2002) Emergy analysis of economical-ecosystem. Chemical Industry Press, Beijing, China
Li X, Cheng G, Ge Y, Li H, Han F, Hu X, Tian W, Tian Y, Pan X, Nian Y, Zhang Y, Ran Y, Zheng Y, Gao B, Yang D, Zheng C, Wang X, Liu S, Cai X (2018) Hydrological cycle in the Heihe River basin and its implication for water resource management in Endorheic basins [Article]. J Gerontol Ser A Biol Med Sci 123(2):890–914. https://doi.org/10.1002/2017JD027889
Li H, Zhao F, Li C, Yi Y, Bu J, Wang X, Liu Q, & Shu A (2020) An improved ecological footprint method for water resources utilization assessment in the cities. Water 12(2) https://doi.org/10.3390/w12020503
Li P, Zhang R, & Xu L (2021) Three-dimensional ecological footprint based on ecosystem service value and their drivers: a case study of Urumqi. Ecol Indic 131 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.108117
Lian Y (2014) Study on modified emergy-ecological footprint of Minjiang River Basin and its socioeconomic causes [M.S., Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University]. Fujian, China
Liang D, Lu H, Feng L, Qiu L, & He L (2021) Assessment of the sustainable utilization level of water resources in the Wuhan Metropolitan Area based on a three-dimensional water ecological footprint model. Water 13(24) https://doi.org/10.3390/w13243505
Liu K, Yang L (2021) Characteristics of water resources ecological footprint based on emergy theory. Res Soil Water Conserv 28(3):406–414. https://doi.org/10.13869/j.cnki.rswc.20201109.002
Lu S, Zhang X, Peng H, Skitmore M, Bai X, Zheng Z (2021a) The energy-food-water nexus: water footprint of Henan-Hubei-Hunan in China [Article]. Ren Sustain Energy Rev 135:110417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2020.110417
Lu Y, Xu S, Si B, Shen L (2021b) Study on dynamic evolution characteristics of water resource environmental carrying capacity nine provinces and regions of in the Yellow River Basin. Yellow River 43(11):103–108. https://kns.cnki.net/kcms/detail/41.1128.tv.2021b0607.0929.004.html. Accessed Aug 2022
Lv C, Wu Z (2010) Energy evaluation framework for ecological economic value of water resources. J China Three Gorges Univ (Natural Sciences) 32(1):27–31
McGrane SJ (2016) Impacts of urbanisation on hydrological and water quality dynamics, and urban water management: a review [Review]. Hydrol Sci J-J Des Sci Hydrolog 61(13):2295–2311. https://doi.org/10.1080/02626667.2015.1128084
Mekonnen MM, Hoekstra AY (2016) Four billion people facing severe water scarcity [Article]. Sci Adv 2(2):e1500323. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1500323
Mollalo A, Vahedi B, Rivera KM (2020) GIS-based spatial modeling of COVID-19 incidence rate in the continental United States. Sci Total Environ 728:138884. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138884
Musselman KN, Addor N, Vano JA, Molotch NP (2021) Winter melt trends portend widespread declines in snow water resources [Article]. Nat Clim Change 11(5):418-+. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-021-01014-9
Niccolucci V, Bastianoni S, Tiezzi EBP, Wackernagel M, Marchettini N (2009) How deep is the footprint? A 3D representation. Ecol Model 220(20):2819–2823. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2009.07.018
Niccolucci V, Galli A, Reed A, Neri E, Wackernagel M, Bastianoni S (2011) Towards a 3D national ecological footprint geography. Ecol Model 222(16):2939–2944. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2011.04.020
Odum HT (1996) Enviromental accounting: emergy and enviromental decision making. Wiley, New York, US
Omer A, Elagib NA, Zhuguo M, Saleem F, Mohammed A (2020) Water scarcity in the Yellow River Basin under future climate change and human activities. Sci Total Environ 749:141446. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141446
Peng W, Wang X, Li X, He C (2018) Sustainability evaluation based on the emergy ecological footprint method: a case study of Qingdao, China, from 2004 to 2014. Ecol Ind 85:1249–1261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2017.12.020
Rasul G (2016) Managing the food, water, and energy nexus for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in South Asia [Article]. Environ Dev 18:14–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envdev.2015.12.001
Rees WE (1992) Ecological footprints and appropriated carrying capacity: what urban economics leaves out. Environ Urban 4(2):121–130. https://doi.org/10.1177/095624789200400212
Ren H, Shang Y, & Zhang S (2020) Measuring the spatiotemporal variations of vegetation net primary productivity in Inner Mongolia using spatial autocorrelation. Ecol Indic 112 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.106108
Salman M, Zha D, Wang G (2022) Interplay between urbanization and ecological footprints: differential roles of indigenous and foreign innovations in ASEAN-4. Environ Sci Policy 127:161–180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2021.10.016
Su Y, Gao W, Guan D, Su W (2018) Dynamic assessment and forecast of urban water ecological footprint based on exponential smoothing analysis. J Clean Prod 195:354–364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.05.184
Sun J, Wang X, Shahid S, Yin Y, & Li E (2022) Spatiotemporal changes in water consumption structure of the Yellow River Basin, China. Phys Chem Earth, Parts A/B/C https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2022.103112
Sun C, Zhang Z (2017) Assessment of water ecological footprint size, depth, and spatial pattern in China. Acta Ecol Sin 37(21):7048–7060. https://doi.org/10.5846/stxb201608101640
Taylor RG, Scanlon B, Doell P, Rodell M, van Beek R, Wada Y, Longuevergne L, Leblanc M, Famiglietti JS, Edmunds M, Konikow L, Green TR, Chen J, Taniguchi M, Bierkens MFP, MacDonald A, Fan Y, Maxwell RM, Yechieli Y, . . . Treidel H (2013) Ground water and climate change [Review]. Nat Clim Change 3(4), 322–329 https://doi.org/10.1038/NCLIMATE1744
van Vliet MTH, Wiberg D, Leduc S, Riahi K (2016) Power-generation system vulnerability and adaptation to changes in climate and water resources [Article]. Nat Clim Change 6(4):375-+. https://doi.org/10.1038/NCLIMATE2903
Wackernagel M, Rees W (1996) Our ecological footprint: reducing human impact on the earth. New Society Publishers, Philadelphia
Wan Q, Chen J, Yao Z, & Yuan L (2022) Preferential tax policy and R&D personnel flow for technological innovation efficiency of China’s high-tech industry in an emerging economy. Technol For Soc Change 174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.121228
Wang H, Li Z (2022) Evaluation of water resources utilization in the Yellow River Basin based on emergy water ecological footprint model. Water Resour Protect 38(1):147–152. https://doi.org/10.3880/j.issn.1004-6933.2022.01.01
Wang H, Huang J, Zhou H, Deng C, Fang C (2020) Analysis of sustainable utilization of water resources based on the improved water resources ecological footprint model: a case study of Hubei Province. China. J Environ Manage 262:110331. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110331
Wang J, Shi B, Bai T, Yuan Q (2022) Spatio-temporal patterns of precipitation and its possible driving factors in the Yellow River Basin. J Desert Res (06):1–9. https://kns.cnki.net/kcms/detail/62.1070.p.20220627.1605.006.html. Accessed Aug 2022
Wei J, Lei Y, Yao H, Ge J, Wu S, Liu L (2021) Estimation and influencing factors of agricultural water efficiency in the Yellow River basin, China. J Clean Prod 308:127249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127249
Wu J, & Bai Z (2022) Spatial and temporal changes of the ecological footprint of China’s resource-based cities in the process of urbanization. Resour Policy 75 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2021.102491
Wu F, Yang X, Shen Z, Bian D, & Babuna P (2021) Exploring sustainability and decoupling effects of natural capital utilization in China: evidence from a provincial three-dimensional ecological footprint. J Clean Prod 295 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126486
Yang Q, Liu G, Hao Y, Coscieme L, Zhang J, Jiang N, Casazza M, Giannetti BF (2018) Quantitative analysis of the dynamic changes of ecological security in the provinces of China through emergy-ecological footprint hybrid indicators. J Clean Prod 184:678–695. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.02.271
Yang L, Zhao G, Tian P, Mu X, Tian X, Feng J, Bai Y (2022a) Runoff changes in the major river basins of China and their responses to potential driving forces. J Hydrol 607:127536. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2022.127536
Yang Y, Lu H, Liang D, Chen Y, Tian P, Xia J, Wang H, & Lei X (2022b) Ecological sustainability and its driving factor of urban agglomerations in the Yangtze River Economic Belt based on three-dimensional ecological footprint analysis. J Clean Prod 330 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.129802
Zhang Y, Zhang H (2013) Analysis of water ecological footprint in guangxi based on ecosystem services. Acta Ecol Sin 33(13):4111–4124. https://doi.org/10.5846/stxb201209231344
Zhang Y, Rashid A, Guo S, Jing Y, Zeng Q, Li Y, Adyari B, Yang J, Tang L, Yu CP, Sun Q (2022) Spatial autocorrelation and temporal variation of contaminants of emerging concern in a typical urbanizing river. Water Res 212:118120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2022.118120
Zhang J, Zhang H (2022) Spatio-temporal variation characteristics of precipitation in the Yellow River Basin. China Rural Water Hydropower(03):60–68. https://kns.cnki.net/kcms/detail/42.1419.TV.20210705.1009.004.html. Accessed Aug 2022
Zou T, Chang Y, Chen P, & Liu J (2021) Spatial-temporal variations of ecological vulnerability in Jilin Province (China), 2000 to 2018. Ecol Indic 133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.108429
Zuo Q, Jiang L, Feng Y, Diao Y (2020) Spatiotemporal variation of ecological footprint of water resources in the provinces in the Yellow River Basin. J Irrig Drain 39(10):1–8, 34. https://doi.org/10.13522/j.cnki.ggps.2019479
Funding
This research was supported by the Fourteenth Five-Year Plan of National Key Development (2021YFC3000204), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (52109039), the General Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China (52279028), the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2022TQ0304), and the Key Scientific Research Project Plan of Henan Province (22A570008).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
Huiliang Wang: conceptualization, validation, data curation. Qi Shi: visualization, writing – original draft, writing – review and editing. Hui Li: validation, data curation. Danyang Di: methodology, writing – review and editing. Zhuocheng Li: data curation, software, supervision. Mengmeng Jiang: data curation, software.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethical approval
Not applicable.
Consent to participate
Not applicable.
Consent for publication
The authors confirm that the work described has not been published before and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere. Its publication has been approved by all co-authors, and we agree to publish this article in the journal of Environmental Science and Pollution Research by Springer.
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Responsible Editor: Marcus Schulz
Publisher's note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Supplementary Information
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Wang, H., Shi, Q., Li, H. et al. Spatiotemporal evolution of water ecological footprint based on the emergy-spatial autocorrelation method. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 47844–47860 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-25322-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-25322-z