An Analysis of a Water Use Decoupling Index and Its Spatial Migration Characteristics Based on Extracting Trend Components: A Case Study of the Poyang Lake Basin

Abstract

Water resources and their utilization perform a critical role in sustainable development. A full comprehension of the decoupling relationship between water consumption and economic development is a prerequisite for sustainable water resource management. This thesis developed a decoupling index analysis model based on Hodrick–Prescott filtering; analyzed the spatial aggregation characteristics of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), water consumption, and the decoupling index by the Global and Local Moran’s Index; and calculated the spatial gravity migration characteristics of GDP, water consumption, and the decoupling index. A case study in the Poyang Lake basin was selected to analyze the relationship between water and the economy. The results indicated that decoupling status was steadier after extracting trend components. The decoupling index exhibited spatial outlier characteristics. The spatial gravity center migration directions of GDP and water consumption were opposite. Furthermore, the Poyang Lake basin was in a weak decoupling status, and its water use pattern was sustainable to a certain extent.