跨界含水层是指其组成部分位于不同国家的含水层。妥善管理并合理利用跨界含水层,对水资源可持续利用,以及国家之间的睦邻关系具有重要意义。本文论述了跨界含水层世界研究概况,标定了亚洲跨界含水层,并完成了亚洲跨界含水层图。对涉及中国的两个实例——黑龙江—阿穆尔河中游盆地和澜沧江—湄公河流域跨界含水层进行了典型研究,提出了跨界含水层评估指标体系,并实践于澜沧江—湄公河流域4个跨界含水层。

Transboundary Aquifer (TBA) is an aquifer system that exists in more than one state. As an important component of the groundwater system, proper management and rational utilization in TBAs are significantly important for promoting sustainable development and good-neighbor relationships. The TBAs will not simply implicate by the country's political boundary as it follows the natural boundary lines. A brief count of the research on TBAs in the world is presented. Within the framework of the UNESCO's International Hydrological Program (IHP-VI & VII) activities for the International Shared Aquifer Resource Management (ISARM), the both preliminary and detail inventories on TBA in Asia has accomplished. Those TBAs are classified into two types, that is, regional grade and local grade. A draft of Asian TBAs map has advanced; the updated map provides the situation of the regional TBAs identifying as the actual shape. Two case studies have been conducted. Those are the TBAs in the middle Heilongjiang-Amur River and Lancang-Mekong River Basin. The UNESCO leading expert group has attempted with DPSIR framework for driving forces, pressures, state impact, and responses to classifications of TBAs. A TBA comprehensive evaluation indicators system is put forward. The potential benefits achieved in the case of TBAs depend on three sets of variables, namely, TBAs intrinsic value and functions, socio-economic, and legal indicators. With the legal and institutional indicators, the aquifers could be classified as inconsistent, less harmonious, harmonious, and more harmonious. Those are applied to the four TBAs in the Lancang-Mekong Basin. Countries with the TBAs should strengthen their cooperation for coordinative and joint management of groundwater resources in order to achieve sustainable utilization.