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Mechanism of groundwater recharge in the middle-latitude desert of eastern Hunshandake, China: diffuse or focused recharge?

Mécanisme de recharge des eaux souterraines dans le désert de moyenne latitude de l’est d’Hunshandake, Chine: infiltration diffuse ou concentrée?

Mecanismo de recarga del agua subterránea en el desierto de latitudes medias del este de Hunshandake, China: ¿recarga difusa o concentrada?

中纬度中国浑善达克沙地东部地下水的补给机制:扩散补给还是集中补给?

Mecanismos de recarga subterrânea no deserto de média latitude de Hunshandake oriental, China: recarga difusa ou pontual?

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Abstract

Although water is scarce in most deserts of the world, the middle-latitude desert of Hunshandake, China, has abundant water resources, mainly groundwater. In this study, isotopic and hydrochemical compositions were investigated to understand the recharge of groundwater in this desert. The groundwaters are fresh and depleted in δ2H and δ18O, compared with modern precipitation, but have high values of tritium (5–25 TU), indicating that these groundwaters are likely less than 70 years old but not of meteoric origin. Clear differences were observed between the north and south parts of the desert. Groundwater in the northern part is characterized by lower landform elevation, lower ion concentrations, higher tritium contents, higher deuterium excess, and more depleted values of δ2H and δ18O than that in the southern part. This indicates a discrepancy between the topographic hydraulic gradient and the isotopic and hydrochemical gradients of groundwater in the desert. It also implies different water sources between the two areas. Combined analysis was further performed on natural waters from the Dali Basin and surrounding mountains. It indicated that groundwater in the north is mainly sourced from the Daxin’Anling Mountains, by leaking of the Xilamulan River water through a thick faulted aquifer. Groundwater in the south has two sources, the Yinshan Mountains and Daxing’Anlin Mountains. Therefore, modern focused recharge is more significant for groundwater recharge in the desert than the mechanisms of diffuse recharge. A conceptual model of groundwater recharge is proposed: the MTVG (mountain water – tectonic fault hydrology – unconfined vadose zone – groundwater) mechanism.

Résumé

Bien que l’eau soit rare dans la majorité des déserts du monde, le désert de moyenne latitude d’Hunshandake, Chine, montre d’abondantes ressources en eau, principalement des eaux souterraines. Dans cette étude, la composition isotopique et hydrochimique des eaux souterraines a été étudiée afin de comprendre les processus de recharge dans le désert. Les eaux souterraines sont douces et appauvries en δ2H et δ18O par rapport aux précipitations actuelles, mais montrent des valeurs élevées en tritium (5–25 UT), indiquant vraisemblablement des eaux de moins de 70 ans d’origine autre que météorique. Des différences marquées ont été observées entre les parties nord et sud du désert. Comparée à la partie sud, les eaux souterraines de la partie nord sont caractérisées par des concentrations ioniques moins élevées, des teneurs plus élevées en tritium, un excès en deutérium plus marqué, des valeurs plus appauvries en δ2H et δ18O, et une altitude moins élevée en surface. Cela indique une différence entre le gradient hydraulique topographique et les gradients isotopique et chimique des eaux souterraines du désert. Cela implique également des eaux d’origine différente entre les deux secteurs. En complément, une analyse a été conduite sur les eaux naturelles du Bassin de Dali et les montagnes environnantes. Celle-ci indique que les eaux souterraines du nord sont essentiellement alimentées par les montagnes de Daxin’Anling, par infiltration des eaux de la rivière Xilamulan au travers d’un aquifère épais et faillé. L’eau souterraine du secteur sud a deux provenances: les montagnes de Yinshan et les montagnes de Daxing’Anlin. De fait, dans ce désert, la recharge actuelle par infiltration concentrée est prépondérante par rapport à l’infiltration diffuse. Un modèle conceptuel de recharge de l’aquifère est proposé: le mécanisme MTVG (eau de montagne – hydrogéologie de faille tectonique – zone vadose libre – eau souterraine).

Resumen

Aunque el agua es escasa en la mayoría de los desiertos del mundo, el desierto de Hunshandake, China, de latitudes medias, tiene abundantes recursos hídricos, principalmente subterráneos. En este estudio, se investigaron las composiciones isotópicas e hidroquímicas para comprender la recarga de agua subterránea en este desierto. Las aguas subterráneas son recientes y empobrecidas en δ2H y δ18O, en comparación con la precipitación actual, pero tienen valores altos de tritio (5–25 TU), lo que indica que estas aguas subterráneas probablemente tengan menos de 70 años pero que no sean de origen meteórico. Se observaron diferencias claras entre las partes norte y sur del desierto. El agua subterránea en la parte norte se caracteriza por menores elevaciones en el relieve, menores concentraciones de iones, mayores contenidos de tritio, mayor exceso de deuterio y valores más empobrecidos de δ2H y δ18O en la parte sur. Esto indica una discrepancia entre el gradiente hidráulico topográfico y los gradientes isotópicos e hidroquímicos del agua subterránea en el desierto. También implica diferentes fuentes de agua entre las dos áreas. El análisis combinado se realizó en aguas naturales de la cuenca de Dalí y las montañas circundantes. Ello Indicó que el agua subterránea en el norte proviene principalmente de las montañas Daxin’Anling, por filtración de agua del río Xilamulan a través de un acuífero fracturados de gran espesor. El agua subterránea en el sur tiene dos fuentes, las montañas Yinshan y las montañas Daxing’Anlin. Por lo tanto, la recarga concentrada actual es más significativa para la recarga de agua subterránea en el desierto que los mecanismos de recarga difusa. Se propone un modelo conceptual de recarga de aguas subterráneas: el mecanismo MTVG (agua de montaña – hidrología de fallas tectónicas – zona vadosa no confinada – aguas subterráneas).

摘要

尽管全球的大部分荒漠地区都缺水,但中纬度的中国浑善达克沙地却具有较为丰富的水资源,主要是地下水。本研究调查了该沙漠地下水的同位素和水化学组成,以期了解该沙漠地下水的补给。研究结果显示,这里的地下水都是淡水,但其δ2H 和 δ18O 值都比现代降水还亏损,而水的氚含量却很高(5–25 TU),表明这些地下水的年龄不到70年且不是大气成因。该沙漠北部和南部地下水有明显的差异。与沙漠南部相比,沙漠北部地形海拔较低,地下水的离子浓度较低、氚含量较高、氘盈余更高以及δ2H 和 δ18O值更亏损。表明该沙漠的地形水力梯度与地下水的同位素和水化学梯度不一致。这意味着该沙漠南北两个地区之间的地下水存在着不同的水源。本研究进一步综合分析了来自沙漠北部的达里盆地及其周围山脉的天然水体。结果表明,沙漠北部的地下水可能主要源自大兴安岭山脉,该山区水通过深厚的西拉木伦断层系补给了沙漠北部地下水;沙漠南部的地下水有两个来源,阴山山脉和大兴安岭山脉。总体来说,该沙漠的地下水补给主要受控于现代集中式补给机制,而不是扩散补给机制。本文提出了一个沙漠地下水补给机制的概念模型:MTVG模型(即山区水—构造断层水文—非承压包气带—地下水补给机制)。

Resumo

Apesar da escassez de água na maioria dos desertos do mundo, o deserto de média latitude de Hunshandake, na China, possui recursos hídricos em abundância, principalmente subterrâneos. Neste estudo, foram investigadas composições isotópicas e hidroquímicas para compreender a recarga subterrânea nesse deserto. As águas subterrâneas são recentes e pobres em δ2H e δ18O, comparadas com as precipitações recentes, mas possuem valores elevados de trítio (5–25 TU), indicando que essas águas são, mais provavelmente, de idade inferior a 70 anos e de origem não meteórica. Diferenças claras foram observadas entre as partes norte e sul do deserto. As águas subterrâneas na parte norte é caracterizada pela menor elevação topográfica, baixa concentração de íons, maior teor de trítio, maior excesso de deutério e valores inferiores de δ2H e δ18O que as da parte sul. Isso indica a discrepância entre o gradiente hidráulico topográfico e os gradientes isotópicos e hidroquímicos das águas subterrâneas no deserto. Isso também implica em diferentes fontes de água entre as duas áreas. Uma análise combinada foi realizada posteriormente nas águas naturais da Bacia de Dali e nas montanhas aos arredores. Isso indicou que a água subterrânea no norte é, principalmente, originada das Montanhas de Daxin’Anling, através da decarga do Rio Xilamulan em um espesso aquífero em um falhamento. As águas subterrâneas no sul tem duas fontes: as Montanhas de Yinshan e as Montanhas de Daxing’Anlin. Desta forma, a recarga concentrada recente é mais significante para recarga subterrânea no deserto do que os mecanismos difusos de recarga. Um modelo conceitual de recarga é proposto: o MTVG (água da montanha – hidrologia de falha tectônica – zona vadosa não confinada – água subterrânea).

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Acknowledgements

We thank the China Meteorological Data Sharing Service system for providing the weather data. Sincere thanks are also extended to Professor Xiaoping Yang and other colleagues, e.g. Deguo Zhang, Ziting Liu, and Hongwei Li, for their generous help in the research work.

Funding

This study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41602196), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFA0601900), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41771014).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of geography Science, TaiYuan Normal University, Jinzhong, 030619, China

    Xiaozong Ren, Min Liu, Yingzhen Zhang & Zhiming He

  2. Key Laboratory of Cenozoic Geology and Environment, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China

    Xiaozong Ren & Patrick Rioual

  3. Key Laboratory of Water Cycle and Related Land Surface Processes, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China

    Bingqi Zhu

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  1. Xiaozong Ren
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  2. Bingqi Zhu
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  3. Min Liu
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Correspondence to Bingqi Zhu.

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Ren, X., Zhu, B., Liu, M. et al. Mechanism of groundwater recharge in the middle-latitude desert of eastern Hunshandake, China: diffuse or focused recharge?. Hydrogeol J 27, 761–783 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-018-1880-5

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