Analysis on Runoff Volumes,Water Quality and Water Consumption of the Tarim River in Recent 50 Years

The total annual natural runoff volume of the three headstreams of the Tarim River upstream from Aral Hydrological Station was increased from 1. 78 × 1010 m3 to 2. 08 × 1010 m3 and increased by 2. 96 × 109 m3 in recent 53 years; the annual water consumption of the three headstreams was increased from 1. 29 × 1010 m3 to 1. 71 × 1010 m3 and increased by 4. 26 × 109 m3; the annual inflow of the Tarim River from the headstreams was reduced from 5. 00 × 109 m3 to 3. 80 × 109 m3 and reduced by 1. 20 × 109 m3. As a result of this,the ecology and environment of the Tarim River Basin were degenerated. Historically,the maximum water consumption occurred in the middle reaches of the Tarim River,and the average annual water consumption was 2. 48 × 109 m3. The analyzed results reveal that the riverbed in the middle and lower sections of the upper reaches has been filled up since the 1960s,the total filled-up thickness is 130 cm,with an average annual filled-up thickness of 3. 6 cm. The upper reaches of the ma-instream has become a river section with the maximum water consumption since 2001,and the proportion of water consumption in the annual runoff volume at Aral Hydrological Station is increased from 50% to 80%. Thus,the runoff volume to the lower reaches is reduced,and the ecology and environment are degenerated. Stream water of the Tarim River is mainly polluted by drained water from the desalinization of soil by leaching in the upper reaches.