Spatial and temporal evolution of water quality in the Yangtze River Basin from 2003 to 2024
CHEN Rui-kai1, KANG Jin2, ZHAO Yan-xin3, GUO Yan-qi1, XU Xiao-lin1, WANG Yong-gui1
1. Hubei Key Laboratory of Regional Ecology and Environmental Change, School of Geography and Information Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China; 2. Hubei Academy of Eco-Environmental Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; 3. Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning, Beijing 100012, China
Abstract：The spatiotemporal evolution of water quality in the Yangtze River Basin since the impoundment of the Three Gorges Reservoir is critical for formulating comprehensive basin management strategies. Using stepwise multiple linear regression analysis, key water quality indicators influencing the basin from 2003 to 2024 were identified as total phosphorus (TP), permanganate index (CODMn), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), lead (Pb), and dissolved oxygen (DO). Evaluations via the single-factor method and the WQImin index demonstrated that the average water quality across the entire Yangtze River Basin has reached an excellent level. However, secondary basins—including the Wu River Basin, Min-Tuo River Basin, and Taihu Lake water system—exhibited relatively severe pollution, with TP and NH3-N being the most prominent contaminants. Significant spatial heterogeneity in water quality was observed. Linear regression and seasonal Kendall tests indicated a statistically significant upward trend in the overall water quality of the Yangtze River Basin. All secondary basins, except the Han River Basin, demonstrated significant improvements. Following the Three Gorges Reservoir impoundment, TP concentrations in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River (specifically the Jialing River Basin, Wu River Basin, and the mainstream section from Yibin to Yichang) initially increased and subsequently declined. Similarly, NH3-N concentrations in the middle reaches (e.g., Dongting Lake and Poyang Lake water systems) and the Wu River Basin located in the upper Yangtze River exhibited comparable trends of initial rise followed by reduction. Conducting research on the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of water quality across the entire Yangtze River Basin, incorporating secondary tributaries through multi-scale, long-term time series, and multi-indicator analyses, provides critical scientific support for precise pollution mitigation strategies in the region. Such an integrated approach enables a comprehensive understanding of water quality dynamics, identifies pollution hotspots, and informs spatially differentiated management actions, thereby enhancing the efficacy of basin-wide environmental governance.
陈瑞凯, 康瑾, 赵琰鑫, 郭琰琪, 徐晓林, 王永桂. 2003~2024年长江流域水质时空演变特征[J]. 中国环境科学, 2025, 45(4): 2171-2182.
CHEN Rui-kai, KANG Jin, ZHAO Yan-xin, GUO Yan-qi, XU Xiao-lin, WANG Yong-gui. Spatial and temporal evolution of water quality in the Yangtze River Basin from 2003 to 2024. CHINA ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCECE, 2025, 45(4): 2171-2182.
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