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Estimating groundwater recharge in a cold desert environment in northern China using chloride

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Abstract

Understanding sources and rates of recharge to the Badain Jaran Desert in northern China is important for assessing sustainability of the area’s oasis lake ecosystem and its water resources in general. For this purpose, direct recharge was investigated with the chloride mass balance method for 18 unsaturated zone profiles (6–16 m depth). Spatial variability is low across the area (range in mean Cl in profiles: 62–164 mg/L Cl), largely attributable to the uniformity of sandy unsaturated zone conditions. No strong correlations between environmental factors of profile locations and recharge rates were found, though a weak relationship between recharge and vegetation density was suggested. The study area’s complex dune morphology appears to have no measurable impact on recharge variability. Mean estimated diffuse recharge is 1.4 mm/year (1.0–3.6 mm/year for 95% confidence level), approximately 1.7% of mean annual precipitation. Temporal fluctuations in recharge due to climate variability are apparent and there is good correspondence in temporal trends over a time span of 200–300 years. Water balance considerations indicate that direct recharge is insufficient to support the numerous perennial lakes in the study area, suggesting that diffuse recharge presently plays a minor role in the overall water balance of the desert’s shallow Quaternary aquifer.

Résumé

Comprendre les origines et les taux de la recharge du désert de Badain Jaran dans le Nord de la Chine est important pour estimer la durabilité des écosystèmes de la zone, écosystème de lacs et d’oasis, et ses ressources en eau en générale. Pour cela, la recharge directe a été étudiée via la méthode de la balance des chlorures sur 18 profils de la zone non-saturée (6–16 m de profondeur). La variabilité spatiale est faible sur la zone d’étude (Le Cl moyen par profil variant de 62–164 mg/L), variabilité largement attribuée à l’uniformité de l’environnement sableux de la zone non-saturée. Des corrélations fortes entre les facteurs environnementaux localisés autour des profils et les taux de recharge n’ont pas été trouvés, tandis qu’une relation faible entre la densité de la recharge et la végétation est suggérée. La morphologie dunaire complexe semble avoir un faible impact sur la variabilité de la recharge. La recharge diffuse moyenne est de 1.4 mm/a (1.0–3.6 mm/a avec un intervalle de confiance de 95%), soit approximativement 1.7% de la précipitation moyenne annuelle. Les fluctuations temporaires de la recharge, dues à la variabilité climatique sont apparentes et il existe une bonne tendance temporaire sur une période de 200–300 ans. Les considérations sur la balance en eau indiquent que la recharge directe est insuffisante pour supporter les nombreux lacs permanents de la zone d’étude, suggérant que la recharge diffuse actuelle joue un rôle mineur dans la balance en eau globale de l’aquifère phréatique Quaternaire.

Resumen

Comprender las fuentes y tasas de recarga en el Desierto de Badain Jaran, en el norte de China, es importante para la sostenibilidad del ecosistema del oasis lacustre y sus recursos de agua en general. Con este propósito, la recarga directa fue investigada con el método del balance de masa de cloruro en 18 perfiles en zona no-saturada (6–16 m de profundidad). La variabilidad espacial es baja a través del área (intervalo de Cl promedio en los perfiles: 62–164 mg/L Cl), mayormente atribuible a la uniformidad de condiciones arenosas en la zona no-saturada. No se encontraron correlaciones fuertes entre los factores ambientales en los sitios de los perfiles y las tasas de recarga, aunque los resultados sugieren una relación débil entre recarga y densidad de vegetación. La compleja morfología de duna en el área de estudio parece no tener impacto medible sobre la variabilidad de recarga. La recarga difusa promedio estimada es 1.4 mm/año (1.0–3.6 mm/año para el 95% de nivel de confianza), aproximadamente el 1.7% de la precipitación media anual. Las fluctuaciones temporales en la recarga debidas a variabilidad del clima son aparentes y hay una buena correspondencia en patrones temporales en un periodo de 200–300 años. Consideraciones del balance hídrico indican que la recarga directa es insuficiente para explicar los numerosos lagos perennes en el área de estudio, sugiriendo que la recarga difusa juega actualmente un papel menor en el balance hídrico total del acuífero Cuaternario somero del desierto.

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Acknowledgements

The research is supported by the National Science Foundation of China (No. 40671029), the Dudley Stamp grants programme of the Royal Society, and a postgraduate research grant from the British Society for Geomorphology. This work also forms part of a wider UK-China collaboration and we acknowledge the support of the Royal Society through its link scheme (PEK/0992/306). The authors would like to thank H. Tianming, L. Xianghu and D. Zhenyu for field and laboratory support, and P. Renard, S. Yonghong, I. Cartwright and an anonymous reviewer for helpful comments on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Oxford Centre for Water Research, Oxford University, Oxford, OX1 3QY, UK

    John B. Gates & W. M. Edmunds

  2. Center for Arid Environment and Palaeoclimate Research, Key Laboratory of Western China’s Environmental System, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Jinzhu Ma

  3. Bureau of Economic Geology, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin, University Station, Box X, Austin, TX, 78713-8924, USA

    Bridget R. Scanlon

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  1. John B. Gates
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Correspondence to John B. Gates.

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Gates, J.B., Edmunds, W.M., Ma, J. et al. Estimating groundwater recharge in a cold desert environment in northern China using chloride. Hydrogeol J 16, 893–910 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-007-0264-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-007-0264-z

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