在相关研究的基础上,对区域"水—土—能—碳"耦合系统及其要素关系进行解析;分析其耦合作用机制、主要研究视角和影响因素;并提出了未来的研究趋向。1区域"水—土—能—碳"耦合作用系统不仅体现了地表系统四大圈层的作用,更以水循环、土地利用、能量流通、碳循环的形式构成了区域"自然—经济—社会"的核心内容,该系统不仅反映了区域不同资源类型的匹配关系和开发利用效率,也体现了人类社会对环境的影响程度;2该系统可以分为三个相互联系、相互作用的子系统:水系统、土地系统和能源系统。它们之间通过不同途径相互联系、互为资源,共同构成了区域社会经济发展的资源基础,而区域碳排放强度则主要取决于水、土、能等要素之间相互需求的类型、产业活动方式和能源类型与结构等;3区域"水—土—能—碳"耦合作用机制可以从微观角度、产业活动、土地利用等不同视角来分析;4区域"水—土—能—碳"耦合作用系统主要受自然、经济、社会和压力等因素的影响。其中经济因素,特别是经济发展水平、生产效率和技术水平是系统结构、功能和效率的决定性要素;5未来应重点从区域"水—土—能—碳"耦合系统模拟、其与气候变化和粮食安全的关系、资源耦合开发的碳排放效率及其综合评估与调控研究等方面开展研究。
Water, land, energy and carbon are key elements of earth's surface system.Researches on regional water-land-energy-carbon system(WLEC system) will not only help to reveal the impact mechanism of resource coupling exploitation on carbon emissions, but also has great significance to explore low- carbon development mode based on water, land and energy saving. Based on the literature review, this paper analyzed the element relationship of regional WLEC system, discussed the coupling interaction mechanism, research perspectives and impact factors of regional WLEC system, and put forward the future research points in this field. The main conclusions are as follows:(1) Regional WLEC system reflects the interactions among different spheres of earth's surface system. Through water cycle, land use, energy flow and carbon cycle, WLEC system becomes the core of regional natural-economic-social system.It not only reflects the matching relationship and exploitation efficiency of regional resources,but also embodies the impact extent of human activities on environment.(2) Regional WLEC system can be divided into three subsystems: water system, land system and energy system.They interacted with each other and together formed the resource base for the regional socioeconomic development. Regional carbon emission intensity is mainly determined by the need relationship among three subsystems, industrial activities and energy structure.(3) Regional WLEC system can be studied from different perspectives such as microscopic view, industrial activities and land use.(4) Regional WLEC system is influenced by natural, economic, social and pressure factors, in which economic factor, especially economic development level,production efficiency and technology, is the determinant factor of the function and efficiency of regional WLEC system.(5) In the future, modeling of regional WLEC system, relationship between WLEC system and climate change and food security, carbon emission efficiency of resource coupling exp