Interzone Water Consumption from Four Source Streams to Mainstream of Tarim River, Xinjiang, in 2002

The Tarim River Basin is surrounded by mountains on three sides and is a closed-basin with no outlet to the sea. From the confluence of its three main contributing tributaries, the Tarim River mainstream extends 1321 km to Taitema Lake. The three tributary river systems that contribute flows to the Tarim River (Aksu, Hotan and Yarkant) join just above the Aler gauging station where the Tarim River begins.In addition the Kaidu-Konque River Basin, which is hydrologically separate from the Tarim River, contributes water to the Tarim River by means of a man-made transfer channel. There are numerous other rivers coming down from the mountains that disappear into the desert. A number of rivers fed by snowmelt and glacier melt begin in the mountains and drain into the basin. In 2002, annual virgin flow of about 273.9 10~(8)m~(3)from four mountains basins of Aksu, Hotan, Yarkant and Kaidu-Konque Rivers drain into the Tarim basin, more46.9 10~(8)m~(3 )than average annual streamflow, excessive more 20.7% . The Aksu River and Konque-Kaidu Rivers from Tianshan Mountains have a large runoff rising comparing with average annual runoff, and keep normal runoff in Yarkant River from the Karakorum and Hotan River from the West Kunlun Mountains. Most of this water is consumptively used before reaching the confluence, total consumptive water of four source streams sum up 219.1 10~(8)m~(3), occupy up 80% of annual virgin flow from mountains basin. Actual annual consumptive water were measured to be 65.90 10~(8)m~(3)for Aksu, 60% of annual virgin flow; 61.92 10~(8)m~(3)for Yarkant,no water drain into the mainstream of Tarim River; 36.45×10~(8)m~(3)for Hotan, 80.9% of annual virgin flow; 54.76×10~(8)m~(3)for the Kaidui-Kongque, 95.9% of annual virgin flow.