Optimal water resource allocation considering virtual water trade in the Yellow River Basin
Abstract Water can be redistributed physically and virtually. We explored water allocation optimization to mitigate water stresses by constructing a physical–virtual dual water system and optimizing the 1987 Yellow River water allocation scheme. We calculated the virtual water volume, identified the...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50319-6 |
| _version_ | 1797363437824638976 |
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| author | Hao Wang Tao Ma |
| author_facet | Hao Wang Tao Ma |
| author_sort | Hao Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Water can be redistributed physically and virtually. We explored water allocation optimization to mitigate water stresses by constructing a physical–virtual dual water system and optimizing the 1987 Yellow River water allocation scheme. We calculated the virtual water volume, identified the virtual in-basin, out-of-basin, and export water volumes, and compared the total regional water demand (i.e., combined physical and virtual water volumes) with regional water planetary boundaries to optimize basin water allocation schemes. Virtual water accounted for > 90% of the total regional demands, whereas physical flows did not significantly impact them. Moreover, allocation quotas for Qinghai and Inner Mongolia should be reduced by 0.113 and 1.005 billion m3, respectively, for sustainability. Furthermore, improving the efficiency of water-intensive sectors and limiting virtual water outflows from heavy industry to out-of-basin sectors are vital to water intensification. Increased attention should be directed toward physical–virtual water demands than the current focus on supply-oriented water allocation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:21:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5026472c2ed24172aa35ba895e1f0ec5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:21:22Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-5026472c2ed24172aa35ba895e1f0ec52024-01-07T12:19:25ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-01-0114111610.1038/s41598-023-50319-6Optimal water resource allocation considering virtual water trade in the Yellow River BasinHao Wang0Tao Ma1School of Economics and Management, Harbin Institute of TechnologySchool of Economics and Management, Harbin Institute of TechnologyAbstract Water can be redistributed physically and virtually. We explored water allocation optimization to mitigate water stresses by constructing a physical–virtual dual water system and optimizing the 1987 Yellow River water allocation scheme. We calculated the virtual water volume, identified the virtual in-basin, out-of-basin, and export water volumes, and compared the total regional water demand (i.e., combined physical and virtual water volumes) with regional water planetary boundaries to optimize basin water allocation schemes. Virtual water accounted for > 90% of the total regional demands, whereas physical flows did not significantly impact them. Moreover, allocation quotas for Qinghai and Inner Mongolia should be reduced by 0.113 and 1.005 billion m3, respectively, for sustainability. Furthermore, improving the efficiency of water-intensive sectors and limiting virtual water outflows from heavy industry to out-of-basin sectors are vital to water intensification. Increased attention should be directed toward physical–virtual water demands than the current focus on supply-oriented water allocation.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50319-6 |
| spellingShingle | Hao Wang Tao Ma Optimal water resource allocation considering virtual water trade in the Yellow River Basin Scientific Reports |
| title | Optimal water resource allocation considering virtual water trade in the Yellow River Basin |
| title_full | Optimal water resource allocation considering virtual water trade in the Yellow River Basin |
| title_fullStr | Optimal water resource allocation considering virtual water trade in the Yellow River Basin |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimal water resource allocation considering virtual water trade in the Yellow River Basin |
| title_short | Optimal water resource allocation considering virtual water trade in the Yellow River Basin |
| title_sort | optimal water resource allocation considering virtual water trade in the yellow river basin |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50319-6 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT haowang optimalwaterresourceallocationconsideringvirtualwatertradeintheyellowriverbasin AT taoma optimalwaterresourceallocationconsideringvirtualwatertradeintheyellowriverbasin |