Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Major ion chemistry in the headwater region of the Yellow River: impact of land covers

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Research on the ionic chemistry of rivers and weathering types provides the basis for elucidating the dynamics of river chemistry and exploring carbon cycling in river systems. There is a lack of water chemistry study in the river systems in the Tibet Plateau, especially in the streams/rivers flowing from and through glaciers and permafrost. Samples in the rivers flowing through different land covers (lakes, glaciers, permafrost, grasslands, peatlands) were collected in different months (April, June, August and October) in 2016, covering various hydrological regimes. The temporal and spatial dynamic variations of major ions and the underlying causes were explored. The results revealed that in the headwater region Ca2+ and HCO3− were the dominant ions, derived primarily from the dissolution of carbonatites and evaporates. However, the concentrations of ions from different land covers were vastly different.The high concentrations of Na+ and K+ in the lakes sample were mainly affected by evaporation and precipitation. The acid deposition caused by atmospheric pollutants resulted in high concentration of SO42− in glacial and permafrost streams. K+ concentration was high in the grassland region with frequent agricultural activities such as the planting and fertilization of highland barleys that applied nitrogen and potassium fertilizers. Although Total Dissolved Load (TDS) was higher for the lakes and streams/rivers from glaciers and permafrost, and its average (287.28 ± 40 mg/L) over the headwater region was lower than that in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River because of low temperature. The current study provided the basis of and reference for the overall water chemistry characteristics and carbon cycling processes of the entire Yellow River.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The datasets used or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

References

  • Balagizi CM, Darchambeau F, Bouillon S et al (2015) River geochemistry, chemical weathering, and atmospheric CO2, consumption rates in the Virunga Volcanic Province (East Africa)[J]. Geochem Geophys Geosyst 16(8):2637–2660

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barth JAC, Cronin AA, Dunlop J et al (2003) Influence of carbonates on the riverine carbon cycle in an anthropogenically dominated catchment basin: evidence from major elements and stable carbon isotopes in the Lagan River (N. Ireland)[J]. Chem Geol 200(3):203–216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biggs TW, Dunne T, Ferreira Domingues T et al (2002) Relative influence of natural watershed properties and human disturbance on stream solute concentrations in the southwestern Brazilian Amazon basin[J]. Water Resour Res 38(8):288–288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cao WG, Yang HF, Liu CL et al (2018) Hydrogeochemical characteristics and evolution of the aquifer systems of Gonghe Basin, Northern China[J]. Geosci Frontiers 9(3):907–916

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen J, Wang F, Meybeck, et al. (2005) Spatial and temporal analysis of water chemistry records (1958–2000) in the Huanghe (Yellow River) basin[J]. Global Biogeochem Cycles 19(3).

  • Cortes JE, Muñoz LF, Gonzalez CA, Niño JE, Polo A, Suspes A, Si Achoque SC (2016) Hydrogeochemistry of the formation waters in the San Franciscofield, UMV basin, Colombia—a multivariate statistical approach. J Hydrol 539:113–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dai D, Zhang Y, Han XJ et al (2015) Impact of sewage discharge in Taihu Basin on the water chemistry of Lake Taihu[J]. Acta Scient Circumst 35(10):3121–3130

    Google Scholar 

  • Degens ET (1989) Perspectives on biogeochemistry[M]. Perspectives on biogeochemistry. Springer

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Degens ET, Weibin G, Kempe S (1982) Transport of Carbon and Minerals in Major World Rivers Pt.2. A Workshop Arranged by Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment Humburg University.

  • Gaillardet J, Dupré B, Louvat P, Allègre CJ (1999) Global silicate weathering and CO2, consumption rates deduced from the chemistry of large rivers[J]. Chem Geol 159(1–4):3–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Galy A, France-Lanord C (1999) Weathering processes in the Ganges-Brahmaputra basin and the riverine alkalinity budget[J]. Chem Geol 159(1–4):31–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gibbs RJ (1970) Mechanisms controlling world water chemistry[J]. Science 170(3962):1088–1090

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guang-Yin H, Zhi-Bao D, Jun-Feng L, et al. (2012) Driving forces of land use and land cover change (LUCC) in the Zoige Wetland, Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau[J]. Sci Cold Arid Regions.

  • Han YM, Shen ZX et al (2009) Seasonal variations of water-slouch inorganic ions in atmospheric participlesover Xi’an[J]. Environ Chem 28(2):261–266

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu M, Stallard RF, Edmond JM (1982) Major ion chemistry of some large Chinese rivers[J]. Nature 298(5874):550–553

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hunt CW, Salisbury JE, Vandemark D (2011) Contribution of non-carbonate anions to river alkalinity and overestimation of pCO2[J]. Biogeosci Discus 8(8):5159–5177

    Google Scholar 

  • Iqbal J, Nazzal Y, Howari F, Xavier C (2018) Hydrochemical processes determining the groundwater quality for irrigation use in an arid environment: the case of Liwa aquifer, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates[J]. Groundw Sustain Dev 7:212–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobson AD, Blum JD (2003) Relationship between mechanical erosion and atmospheric CO2 consumption in the New Zealand Southern Alps[J]. Geology 31(10):865–868

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jarvie HP, Neal C, Leach DV et al (1997) Major ion concentrations and the inorganic carbon chemistry of the Humber rivers[J]. Sci Total Environ 194–195:285–302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jing Z, Wei WH, Min GL et al (1990) Drainage basin weathering and major element transport of two large Chinese rivers (Huanghe and Changjiang)[J]. J Geophys Res Oceans 95(C8):13277–13288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li S, Zhang Q (2009) Geochemistry of the upper Han River basin, China: 2: seasonal variations in major ion compositions and contribution of precipitation chemistry to the dissolved load[J]. J Hazard Mater 170(2–3):605–611

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li ZJ, Song LL et al (2017) The characteristics changes of pH and EC of atmospheric precipitation and analysis on the source of acid rain in the source area of the Yangtze River from 2010 to 2015[J]. Atmos Environ 156:61–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liang W, Zhang L, Cai WJ et al (2016) Consumption of atmospheric CO2 via chemical weathering in the Yellow River basin: the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the main contributor to the high dissolved inorganic carbon in the Yellow River[J]. Chem Geol 430:34–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meybeck M (1976) Total minerals dissolved transport by world major rivers/transport en sels dissous des plus grands fleuves mondiaux[M]. Internat Assoc Scient Hydrol Bull 21(2):265–284

    Google Scholar 

  • Meybeck M et al (2003) Global occurrence of major elements in rivers[J]. Treatise Geochem 5(1):207–223

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moon S, Huh Y, Qin J et al (2007) Chemical weathering in the Hong (Red) River basin: rates of silicate weathering and their controlling factors[J]. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 71(6):1411–1430

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ran L, Lu XX, Richey JE et al (2015) Long-term spatial and temporal variation of CO2 partial pressure in the Yellow River, China[J]. Biogeosci 12(4):921–932

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reeburgh WS (1996) Global environment: water, air, and geochemical cycles (BR)[J]. Int J Environ Stud 70(1):155–156

    Google Scholar 

  • Shuling J et al (2013) Hydrological characteristics and chemical weathering carbon sink effect in Sancha River Basin[J]. Geogr Res 32(6):1025–1032

    Google Scholar 

  • Smalley IJ (2006) Liu Tungsheng 1988: Loess in China (second edition). Beijing: China Ocean Press, Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 224 pp[J]. Progress in Phys Geograp 30(5):673–676.

  • Stumm W, Morgan JJ (1981) Aquatic chemistry: an introduction emphasizing chemical equilibria in natural waters[J]. Ecol Model 19(3):227–230

    Google Scholar 

  • Su XS, Wu XF, Lin XY (2006) Characteristics of the main chemical components and the variation of delta (13)C along the Yellow River [J]. People’s Yellow River 28(5):29–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun W, Cheng B, Rong LI (2009) Multitime scale correlations between runoff and regional climate variations in the headwater region of the Yellow River[J]. Acta Geogr Sin 64(1):117–127

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun H, Han J, Li D et al (2011) Chemical weathering inferred from riverine water chemistry in the lower Xijiang basin, South China[J]. Sci Total Environ 408(20):4749–4760

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tan H, Zhou H, Rao W et al (2012) Geochemical constraints on seasonal recharge of water and major dissolved solutes in the Huangshui River, China[J]. Chin J Geochem 31(2):155–164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tian MY, Yang XK et al (2019) Impact of land cover types on riverine CO2 outgassing in the Yellow River source region[J]. Water 11(11):2243

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu L, Huh Y, Qin J et al (2005) Chemical weathering in the Upper Huang He (Yellow River) draining the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau[J]. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 69(22):5279–5294

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu W, Yang J, Xu S et al (2008) Geochemistry of the headwaters of the Yangtze River, Tongtian He and Jinsha Jiang: silicate weathering and CO2 consumption[J]. Appl Geochem 23(12):3712–3727

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xing Z et al (2016) The influence from the shrinking cryosphere and strengthening evapotranspiration on hydrologic process in a cold basin, Qilian Mountains[J]. Globandplanetary Chang 144:119–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang S, Li C (1999) Element composition and geological background of sediments from the Yangtze River and the Yellow River[J]. Mar Geol Q Geol 19(2):19–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang J, Huang WW, Létolle R et al (1995) Major element chemistry of the Huanghe (Yellow River), China - weathering processes and chemical fluxes[J]. J Hydrol 168(1–4):173–203

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang SR, Lu XX, Higgitt DL et al (2007) Water chemistry of the Zhujiang (Pearl River): natural processes and anthropogenic influences[J]. J Geophys Res Earth Surf 112(F1):F01011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu YL, Chen J, Chen GC (2011) Runoff variation and its impacting factors in the headwaters of the Yangtze River in recent 32 years. J Yangtze River Sci Res Inst 28(6):1–4

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant nos 91547110 and 51869014), National Key Research and Development Program of China (grant no. 2016YFC0500508), Major Science and Technology Projects of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (grant nos. 2020ZD0009 and ZDZX2018054), Key Scientific and Technological Project of Inner Mongolia (grant no. 2019GG019), and Open Project Program of the Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Ecology and Resources Use of the Mongolian Plateau (grant no. KF2020006).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of River and Lake Ecology, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China

    Su Yuanrong, Tian Mingyang, Hu Haizhu, Zhang Zhuangzhuang & Lu Xixi

  2. School of Geographical Sciences of Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China

    Yu Ruihong & Yang Xiankun

  3. Department of Geography, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

    Ran Lishan

  4. Department of Geography, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

    Lu Xixi

Authors
  1. Su Yuanrong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yu Ruihong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tian Mingyang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yang Xiankun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ran Lishan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Hu Haizhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Zhang Zhuangzhuang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Lu Xixi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Yu Ruihong or Lu Xixi.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

We declare that we do not have any commercial or associative interest that represents a conflict of interest in connection with the work submitted.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 524 KB)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yuanrong, S., Ruihong, Y., Mingyang, T. et al. Major ion chemistry in the headwater region of the Yellow River: impact of land covers. Environ Earth Sci 80, 398 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-021-09692-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-021-09692-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation