A study of the temporal and spatial evolutionary characteristics of water ecological footprint based on the emergy-spatial autocorrelation method

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. The WEC was much lower than the WEF , and the water ecological deficit status remained unchanged. (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) Except for Sichuan and Qinghai, the provinces (regions) in the YRB relied on water resource capital stock for social and economic development, and the sustainable development of the region was threatened. (4) 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.