干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

In the past 30 years, water has ceased to flow in the 357 km lower reaches of the Tarim River. To understand possible ecological responses brought about by the water conveyances to the lower reaches of the River, which is a rare worldwide case of ecosystem recovery and rehabilitation in a deteriorated river basin, a total of 9 groundwater-monitoring sections and 18 vegetation sample plots were established along the river channel of the water conveyances. Here we used monitoring data from eco-environmental baseline investigations of the river hydraulics, groundwater's dynamics and vegetation ecology to analyze water transportation, transformation and consumption along the river course and in the vertical profile of the river course. Results of our analysis would provide theoretical and practical foundation for creating and perfecting the evaluation system for supplementary water delivery, ecological recovery and rehabilitation of the damaged eco-environmental systems in arid areas. They also provide an important technical support for the comprehensive improvement of the Tarim Basin.