Ecological Network Analysis on Global Virtual Water Trade

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• 作者：Zhifeng Yang ; Xufeng Mao ; Xu Zhao ; Bin Chen
• 刊名：Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T)
• 出版年：2012
• 出版时间：February 7, 2012
• 年：2012
• 卷：46
• 期：3
• 页码：1796-1803
• 全文大小：363K
• 年卷期：v.46,no.3(February 7, 2012)
• ISSN：1520-5851

文摘

Global water interdependencies are likely to increase with growing virtual water trade. To address the issues of the indirect effects of water trade through the global economic circulation, we use ecological network analysis (ENA) to shed insight into the complicated system interactions. A global model of virtual water flow among agriculture and livestock production trade in 1995鈥?999 is also built as the basis for network analysis. Control analysis is used to identify the quantitative control or dependency relations. The utility analysis provides more indicators for describing the mutual relationship between two regions/countries by imitating the interactions in the ecosystem and distinguishes the beneficiary and the contributor of virtual water trade system. Results show control and utility relations can well depict the mutual relation in trade system, and direct observable relations differ from integral ones with indirect interactions considered. This paper offers a new way to depict the interrelations between trade components and can serve as a meaningful start as we continue to use ENA in providing more valuable implications for freshwater study on a global scale.