The impacts of drought on water availability
spatial and temporal analysis in the Belt and Road region (2001–2020)
Jing Lu (Chinese Academy of Sciences)
Li Jia (Chinese Academy of Sciences)
Massimo Menenti (Chinese Academy of Sciences, TU Delft - Optical and Laser Remote Sensing)
Chaolei Zheng (Chinese Academy of Sciences)
Guangcheng Hu (Chinese Academy of Sciences)
Dabin Ji (Chinese Academy of Sciences)
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Abstract
Climate change, population growth, and economic development exacerbate water scarcity. This study investigates the impact of drought on water availability in the Belt and Road region using high-resolution remote sensing data from 2001 to 2020. The results revealed an average water availability (precipitation minus evapotranspiration) of 249 mm/year and a declining trend in the Belt and Road region. Approximately 13% of the Belt and Road region faces water deficits (evapotranspiration exceeds precipitation), primarily in arid and semi-arid regions with high drought frequency. The area in the water deficit is expanding, and the intensity of the water deficit is increasing. The annual trend of water availability is strongly related to the frequency of droughts, i.e. water availability decreases with increased drought frequency. Drought exacerbates seasonal water stress in approximately one-third of the Belt and Road region, mainly in Europe and northern Asia, where drought frequently occurs during seasons with low water availability. The more severe the drought, the larger the negative anomaly in water availability. The critical role of evapotranspiration in seasonal water availability variability is also highlighted. This research underscores the importance of understanding drought-induced changes in water availability, which is crucial for sustainable water resource management.
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