Incorporating Temporal and Spatial Variations of Groundwater into the Construction of a Water-Based Ecological Network: A Case Study in Denko County

Abstract

It is of great practical significance to construct a water-based ecological network in arid and semi-arid areas. The spatial distribution of water resources is one of the most important factors in determining the ecological stability of such areas. In this study, groundwater level trends were analyzed with a model called Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD). The temporal and spatial evolution of groundwater depth data from 1990 to 2016 were analyzed. The surface water bodies were analyzed using a point pattern analysis method. Based on this, a water-based ecological network was constructed with a minimum cumulative resistance surface model. The study indicated that the trend lines for the groundwater tables of 17 wells could be divided into five types in Denko County. The landscape types that changed from a desert landscape to an oasis landscape had a positive impact on groundwater. Precipitation trend was related to the spatial distribution of the groundwater depth, and the spatial pattern of the water nodes was characterized by a small-scale highly aggregated distribution and a large-scale uniform distribution in Denko County. These results suggest that for the stability of arid and semi-arid ecological environments, the appropriate human intervention (such as construction of an artificial oasis) is of great significance. Based on the analysis of groundwater and surface water bodies, a water-based ecological network in Denko County, which consisted of 391 ecological sources and 7360 ecological corridors, was constructed in 2016. The water-based ecological network constructed in this study was more sustainable and stable, and also suitable for arid and semi-arid areas, which is of great practical significance and application value.

Constructing the Ecological Security Pattern for Sponge City: A Case Study in Zhengzhou, China

“…The rivers in the city not only provides water for the river landscape, but also has other functions, such as the source of urban water supply and discharging drainage [59]. The existing individual river, lake, and other sponge nodes form the water-based ecological network with multiple water source protections and with hydrodynamic characteristics [60], which will help maximize the capacity of water storage and drainage of sponge bodies and improve the urban aquatic ecosystem service function. The plan proposed herein recommends a citywide network of connected open spaces, from regional parks to greenways and canals, which could improve overall floodwater retention and groundwater recharge.…”

Retrieval of Total Phosphorus Concentration in the Surface Water of Miyun Reservoir Based on Remote Sensing Data and Machine Learning Algorithms

“…Water resource serves as the basis for human survival [1]. There has been serious water shortage in a number of regions in northern and eastern China due to the increasing demand for water [2,3]. The deterioration of water quality caused by water pollution has further exacerbated the water shortage [4,5].…”