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Determination of groundwater recharge mechanisms using stable isotopes in small watersheds of the Loess Plateau, China

Détermination des mécanismes de recharge des eaux souterraines par l’utilisation des isotopes stables dans des petits bassins versants de Plateau des Loess, Chine

Determinación de los mecanismos de recarga del agua subterránea utilizando isótopos estables en pequeñas cuencas de Loess Plateau, China

基于稳定同位素分析黄土高原小流域地下水的补给机制

Determinação dos mecanismos de recarga das águas subterrâneas usando isótopos estáveis em pequenas bacias hidrográficas do Planalto de Loess, China

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Abstract

Water sustainability is a major challenge on the Loess Plateau of China, since the drying of soil and loss of surface water is threatening regional water security. Fundamental to effective water management is an understanding of groundwater recharge mechanisms. Based on a time series of stable isotopes data for precipitation, surface water and groundwater, the groundwater recharge ratios and water transmission times were quantitatively identified for the studied region. The results showed that groundwater discharge to surface water was a common phenomenon during the dry and wet seasons. However, groundwater could also be recharged by precipitation and surface water during specific months when experiencing large precipitation events. Over shorter time scales (<1 year), groundwater was mainly recharged by surface water, while the groundwater recharge ratio from rainfall during the wet season was higher than that from melting snow during the dry season. Over longer time scales (>1 year), precipitation was the primary recharge source of groundwater in small watersheds due to the general flow direction of groundwater to surface water. Groundwater recharge by precipitation mostly occurred through a combination of piston flow and preferential flow, where preferential flow was the primary recharge mechanism for groundwater replenished by precipitation in this region. Surface water could quickly recharge groundwater by lateral flow through fractures in the aquifer and vertical piston flow. These findings could, therefore, be used to provide a reference for the utilization and protection of groundwater resources in the small watersheds of the loess hilly regions of the Loess Plateau.

Résumé

La durabilité de la ressource en eau est un défi majeur sur le Plateau des Loess en Chine depuis que l’assèchement des sols et la perte d’eau de surface mettent en péril la sécurisation en eau de la région. La compréhension des mécanismes de recharge est fondamentale pour une gestion efficace de la ressource en eau. Basée sur une chronique de données d’isotopes stables des précipitations, des eaux de surface et des eaux souterraines, la part de recharge des aquifères et le temps de transfert de l’eau ont été quantifiés dans la région d’étude. Les résultats montrent que la décharge des eaux souterraines vers les eaux de surface est un processus commun en saisons sèche et humide. Cependant, les eaux souterraines peuvent se recharger par les pluies et les eaux de surface au cours de mois spécifiques caractérisés subissant d’importants épisodes pluvieux. Sur une courte période de temps (< 1 année), les eaux souterraines sont principalement chargées par les eaux de surface et la part des pluies rechargeant l’aquifère durant la saison sèche est plus élevée que celle de la saison de fonte des neiges en saison sèche. Sur une longue période (>1 année), les pluies représentent la plus importante part de la recharge dans les petits bassins versants du fait de la direction principale d’écoulements d’eau souterraine en direction des cours d’eau. La recharge des aquifères par les pluies se fait principalement au travers d’une combinaison d’écoulements dits pistons et d’écoulements préférentiels; les écoulements préférentiels constituent le mécanisme majoritaire de recharge des aquifères par les précipitations dans cette région. Les eaux de surface peuvent recharger rapidement les aquifères par écoulements latéraux au travers de fractures et écoulements verticaux de type piston. Ces résultats pourraient donc être utilisés en tant que référence pour l’exploitation et la protection des ressources en eaux souterraines dans les petits bassins versants de la région montagneuses du Plateau des Loess.

Resumen

La sustentabilidad del agua es un gran desafío en el Loess Plateau de China, ya que la sequía en el suelo y la pérdida de agua superficial están amenazando la seguridad del agua en la región. Para una gestión eficiente del agua es fundamental comprender los mecanismos de recarga del agua subterránea. Sobre la base de una serie cronológica de datos de isótopos estables sobre precipitaciones, aguas superficiales y aguas subterráneas, se identificaron cuantitativamente los coeficientes de recarga del agua subterránea y los tiempos de transferencia del agua en la región estudiada. Los resultados mostraron que la descarga del agua subterránea a la superficial era un fenómeno común durante las estaciones seca y húmeda. Sin embargo, el agua subterránea también podía recargarse con las precipitaciones y el agua de superficie durante meses específicos cuando se producían grandes precipitaciones. En escalas de tiempo más cortas (<1 año), el agua subterránea se recargó principalmente por el agua de superficie, mientras que la tasa de recarga del agua subterránea por las precipitaciones durante la estación húmeda fue mayor que la del deshielo de la nieve durante la estación seca. En escalas de tiempo más largas (>1 año), la precipitación fue la principal fuente de recarga del agua subterránea en las pequeñas cuencas debido a la dirección general del flujo con respecto al agua de superficie. La recarga del agua subterránea por la precipitación se producía principalmente mediante una combinación de flujo de pistón y flujo preferencial, donde el flujo preferencial era el principal mecanismo de recarga en el caso del agua subterránea alimentada por la precipitación en esta región. El agua de superficie podía recargar rápidamente el agua subterránea mediante el flujo lateral a través de las fracturas del acuífero y el flujo vertical de pistón. Por lo tanto, estas conclusiones podrían utilizarse como referencia para la utilización y protección de los recursos de aguas subterráneas en las pequeñas cuencas hidrográficas de las regiones montañosas del Loess Plateau.

摘要

由于土壤干化和地表水的流失正在威胁着中国黄土高原的区域水安全, 水资源的可持续利用成为该地区面临的一个主要挑战。而水资源有效管理的一个重要基础就是了解地下水补给机制。本研究基于降水、地表水、地下水的稳定同位素时间序列数据, 定量解析了研究区地下水的补给比例和传输时间。结果表明地下水排泄补给地表水是该地区旱季和雨季一个普遍的水文现象。但是, 在经历大降水事件的月份, 仍然存在降水和地表水补给地下水的可能。在短时间尺度(<1 year), 地下水主要受地表水补给, 并且雨季降雨对地下水的补给比例要高于旱季融雪对地下水的补给。在长时间尺度(>1 year), 由于地下水补给地表水的普遍存在, 降水成为地下水的主要补给源。降水主要通过活塞流和优先流复合的方式补给地下水, 并且优先流补给是该地区降水补给地下水的主要形式。地表水主要以通过岩层裂隙的侧向流和垂向的活塞流补给地下水。本研究能够为中国黄土高原丘陵沟壑区小流域地下水资源的可持续利用和保护提供参考。

Resumo

A sustentabilidade hídrica é um grande desafio no Planalto de Loess, na China, uma vez que as perdas de água no solo e nos rios estão ameaçando a segurança hídrica dessa região. Para uma gestão eficaz da água, é fundamental a compreensão dos mecanismos de recarga das águas subterrâneas. Baseado em uma série de dados de isótopos estáveis para precipitação, água superficial e subterrânea, foram identificados quantitativamente para a região estudada as taxas de recarga da água subterrânea e os períodos de transmissão de água. Os resultados mostraram que a descarga de águas subterrâneas em águas superficiais foi um fenômeno comum durante as estações seca e chuvosa. No entanto, as águas subterrâneas também podem ser recarregadas pela precipitação e águas superficiais durante meses específicos em que ocorrem grandes eventos de precipitação. Em escalas de tempo mais curtas (<1 ano), as águas subterrâneas foram recarregadas principalmente pelas águas superficiais, enquanto a taxa de recarga das águas subterrâneas da chuva durante a estação chuvosa foi maior do que a do degelo da neve durante a estação seca. Em escalas de tempo mais longas (>1 ano), a precipitação foi a principal fonte de recarga da água subterrânea em pequenas bacias hidrográficas devido à direção geral do fluxo das águas subterrâneas para as águas superficiais. A recarga das águas subterrâneas por precipitação ocorreu principalmente por meio de uma combinação de fluxo de pistão hidrogeológico e fluxo preferencial, sendo o fluxo preferencial o mecanismo primário de recarga para águas subterrâneas por precipitação nesta região. A água superficial pode recarregar rapidamente as águas subterrâneas por fluxo lateral através de fraturas no aquífero e fluxo de pistão hidrogeológico vertical. Esses resultados podem ser usados como referência para planejar o uso bem como a proteção dos recursos hídricos subterrâneos nas pequenas bacias hidrográficas das regiões montanhosas do Planalto de Loess.

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Funding

This work was partially funded by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (41771311), the International (Regional) Cooperation and Exchange Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41561144011), and the Fundamental Research Business Expenses of Central Public Welfare Research Institutions of the Yangtze River Academy of Sciences (CKSF2019179/TB).

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  1. State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China

    Jianye Ma, Zhanbin Li, Bo Ma & Chenguang Liu

  2. Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute of Changjiang Water Resources Commission, Wuhan, 430000, China

    Baoyang Sun

  3. Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Water Conservancy and Hydropower Investigation and Design Institute, Nanning, 530000, China

    Junbo Xiao

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  1. Jianye Ma
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Ma, J., Li, Z., Ma, B. et al. Determination of groundwater recharge mechanisms using stable isotopes in small watersheds of the Loess Plateau, China. Hydrogeol J 29, 765–781 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-020-02253-4

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