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Geochemical and isotopic evidence of shallow groundwater salinization in a reclaimed coastal zone: the Yellow River Delta, China

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Abstract

This paper aims to improve the current knowledge of groundwater salinization processes of a young coastal aquifer in the Yellow River Delta (YRD) and to assess the impact of both the transfer of irrigation water from the Yellow River and seawater intrusion, using a combination of hydrochemical–isotopic measurements. The major ion/Cl− ratios generally closely follow the mixing line between freshwater end-member (the Yellow River) and saline water end-members (salt groundwater or seawater), indicating the importance of mixing under natural and anthropogenic influences. The examination of stable isotope in groundwater (ranging from −9.0 to −3.5 ‰ for δ18O and from −73 to −29 ‰ for δD, respectively) and chloride concentrations (~2 to 629 meq/L) confirms that the saline end-member is associated with saltwater rather than present seawater, and most groundwater samples are plotted on mixing lines between the Yellow River and saltwater. The similar range in stable isotopes (δ18O and δD) and Cl− compositions between saltwater and confined aquifer supports the hypothesis that upward seepage of confined saline water intruded the shallow aquifer. Moreover, the deviations in some cases from mixing line imply water–rock interaction is also important in dominant control on groundwater chemistry, such as cation exchange, SO4 2− reduction, and NaCl solution. The brackish water was characterized by slight excess of Na+ and deficit of Ca2+ compared to non-reactive mixing line. This indicates that the coastal aquifer is generally freshening with respect to extensive irrigation network, as well as the transfer from the Yellow River for ecological recharge into wetland.

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Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41271047 and 41201514), National “Twelfth Five-Year” Plan for Science and Technology Support (Grant No. 2012BAD05B020404) and the 100 Talents Program of The Chinese Academy of Sciences and. We thank Zhang Fang, Cai Wenjing, Wu Xiangdong, and Hu Jianfeng for assistance with field sampling. We thank Dr. Sun Zhenzhong for help with ion concentration and stable isotope determinations.

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    1. Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China

      Qiang Liu, Fadong Li & Jing Li

    2. Sichuan Province Environmental Monitoring Station, Chengdu, 610091, China

      Qiang Liu & Bin Luo

    3. State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China

      Chong Huang

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    1. Qiang Liu
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    Correspondence to Fadong Li.

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    Qiang Liu and Jing Li contributed equally to this work.

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    Liu, Q., Li, F., Li, J. et al. Geochemical and isotopic evidence of shallow groundwater salinization in a reclaimed coastal zone: the Yellow River Delta, China. Environ Earth Sci 75, 1107 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5918-5

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