The water resource vulnerability of the Pearl River Delta metropolises under the changing environment is multidimensional

changeable and uncertain

with the impact of multiple interference resulted from climate change and intensive human activities. This paper develops an index of water resource vulnerability evaluation of the Pearl River Delta metropolises based on VSD model including exposure

sensitivity and adaptive capacity. An integrated assessment is conducted on the water resource vulnerability of the Pearl River Delta metropolises in 1985-2015. The results show that (1) The water resource vulnerability increased in Shenzhen

Dongguan and Zhongshan

stabilized in Guangzhou

Foshan and Zhuhai

and decreased in Zhaoqing

Huizhou and Jiangmen. (2) The time trends of sensitivities and adaptive capacities are similar for all cities

but the time trends of exposures vary from each other. On average

the water resource per capita in cities with rising vulnerabilities is 19% of water stress state

under big stress of socioeconomic development. The water resource per capita in cities with steady vulnerabilities is 42% of water stress state

under medium stress of socioeconomic development. The water resource per capita in cities with decreasing vulnerabilities is 1.8 times water stress state

under the lowest stress of socioeconomic development.