Abstract
Measurements of chemical composition and environmental isotopes were conducted to investigate the main geochemical processes controlling the salinization of shallow groundwater adjacent to an inland salt lake in the Yuncheng Basin. Hydrogeochemical and isotopic studies were carried out by collecting thirty shallow groundwater, two rainfalls, and one salt lake water samples from the study area. About 80 % of the shallow groundwater samples had total dissolved solids more than 500 mg/L, implying significant water-quality deterioration in the study area. Shallow groundwater showed a clear increased salinity along regional flow paths toward the center of the basin where a salt lake is located. Results of environmental isotopes, ionic ratio, and saturation indices’ calculation indicated that the major geochemical processes responsible for groundwater salinization included dissolution of evaporites (halite, gypsum, and mirabilite), cation exchange, and evapotranspiration. Groundwater salinization as a result of salt lake intrusion from the salt lake was limited to the northern shore of the lake.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ahmed MA, Samie SGA, Badawy HA (2013) Factors controlling mechanisms of groundwater salinization and hydrogeochemical processes in the Quaternary aquifer of the Eastern Nile Delta, Egypt. Environ Earth Sci 68(2):369–394
Appelo CAJ, Greinaert W (1991) Processes accompanying the intrusion of salt lake. In: Breuck WD (ed) Hydrogeology of salt lake intrusion-a selection of SWIM papers. Heise, Hannover
Appelo CAJ, Postma D (1993) Geochemistry, groundwater and pollution. Balkema, Rotterdam
Appelo CAJ, Postma D (2005) Geochemistry, groundwater and pollution, 2nd edn. Balkema, Rotterdam
Barker AP, Newton RJ, Bottrell SH (1998) Processes affecting groundwater chemistry in a zone of saline intrusion into an urban aquifer. Appl Geochem 13(6):735–749
Barlow PM, Reichard EG (2010) Saltwater intrusion in coastal regions of North America. Hydrogeol J 18(1):247–260
Carol E, Kruse E, Mas-Pla J (2009) Hydrochemical and isotopical evidence of groundwater salinization processes on the coastal plain of Samborombon Bay Argentina. J Hydrol 365(3):335–345
Chen CX, Lin M, Zhu WW et al (1993) Groundwater salinization in Yuncheng City predicated by a quasi three dimensional numerical simulation. Earth Sci 18(1):48–59
Craig H (1961) Standards for reporting concentrations of deuterium and oxygen-18 in natural waters. Science 133(3467):1833–1834
Cruz JV, Silva MO (2000) Groundwater salinization in Pico Island (Azores, Portugal): origin and mechanisms. Environ Geol 39(10):1181–1189
Currell MJ, Cartwright I, Bradley DC, Han DM (2010) Recharge history and controls on groundwater quality in the Yuncheng Basin, north China. J Hydrol 385(1):216–229
Datta PS, Tyagi SK (1996) Major ion chemistry of groundwater in Delhi area: chemical weathering processes and groundwater regime. J Geol Soc India 47(2):179–188
Deutsch WJ (1997) Groundwater geochemistry: fundamentals and application of contamination. CRC, Boca Raton
Freeze RA, Cherry JA (1979) Groundwater. Prentice-Hall Inc., New Jersey
Gao XB, Wang YX, Li YL (2007) Enrichment of fluoride in groundwater under the impact of saline water intrusion at the salt lake area of Yuncheng Basin, northern China. Environ Geol 53(4):795–803
Geraghty JJ, Miller DW (1973) Water atlas of the United States. Water Information Center, Washington, United States
Ghabayen S, Mckee M, Kemblowski M (2006) Ionic and isotopic ratios for identification of salinity sources and missing data in the Gaza aquifer. J Hydrol 318(1):360–373
Gibson JJ, Edwards TWD, Bursey GG (1993) Estimating evaporation using stable isotopes quantitative results and sensitivity analysis for two catchments in northern Canada. Nord Hydrol 24(2):79–94
Guo HM, Wang YX (2005) Geochemical characteristics of shallow groundwater in Datong Basin, northwestern China. J Geochem Explor 87(3):109–120
Han Y, Yan SL, Ma HT, Zhang HM, Wu JZ, Wang YX, Liang X, Xu HL, Ma T, Tang ZH (2006) Groundwater resources and environmental issues assessment in the six major basins of Shanxi province. Geological Publishing House, Beijing (in Chinese)
Heaton THE (1986) Isotopic studies of nitrogen pollution in the hydrosphere and atmosphere: a review. Chem Geol 59(1):87–109
Houghton JT, Meira Filho LG, Callander N et al (1996) Climate change 1995, the science of climate change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Huang XX, Dong SG, Tang ZH et al (2007) Groundwater numerical simulation and prediction of Yuncheng Basin. Resour Environ Eng 21(4):402–406
IAEA (1993) Reference and inter-comparison materials for stable isotopes of light elements. In: Proceeding of a consultants meeting held in Vienna, 1–3 1993, IAEA, Vienna, TECDOC-825: 165
Jalali M (2007) Hydrochemical identification of groundwater resources and their changes under the impacts of human activity in the Chah basin in western Iran. Environ Monit Assess 130(1):347–364
Khair AM, Li CC, Hu QH et al (2014) Fluoride and arsenic hydrogeochemistry of groundwater at Yuncheng Basin, Northern China. Geochem Int 52(10):868–881
Li CC, Gao XB, Wang YX (2015) Hydrogeochemistry of high-fluoride groundwater at Yuncheng Basin, northern China. Sci Total Environ 2015(508):155–165
McMillion LG (1965) Hydrologic aspects of disposal of oil-field brines in Texas. Groundwater 3(4):36–42
Miller MR (1981) Saline seep development and control in the North American Great Plains-Hydrogeological aspects. Agric Water Manage 4(1):115–141
Parkhurst DL, Appelo CAJ (1999) User’s guide to PHREEQC (version 2): a computer program for speciation, batch-reaction, one dimensional transport, and inverse geochemical calculations. US Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report, pp 99–4259
Rouchy JM, Caruso A (2006) The Messinian salinity crisis in the Mediterranean basin: a reassessment of the data and an integrated scenario. Sed Geol 188(15):35–67
Sami K (1992) Recharge mechanisms and geochemical processes in a semi-arid sedimentary basin, Eastern Cape, South Africa. J Hydrol 139(1):27–48
Tanji KK (1990) Nature and extent of agricultural salinity. In: Agricultural salinity assessment and management, American Society of Civil Engineers, New York
Tellam JH (1995) Hydrochemistry of the saline groundwaters of the lower Mersey Basin Permo-Triassic sandstone aquifer, UK. J Hydrol 165(1):45–84
Trabelsi R, Zairi M, Ben Dhia H (2007) Groundwater salinization of the Sfax superficial aquifer, Tunisia. Hydrogeol J 15(7):1341–1355
Wallender WW, Tanji KK (1996) Agricultural salinity assessment and management. American Society of Civil Engineers, USA
Wang YX, Shvartsev SL, Su CL (2009) Genesis of arsenic/fluoride-enriched soda water: a case study at Datong, Northern China. Appl Geochem 24(4):641–649
Wang YX, Gao XB, Li CC (2013) Genesis of high F groundwater in Yuncheng Basin, Shanxi Province, northern China (Research project report in Chinese)
Yang Y, Lu LL (2005) On Yuncheng city’s present situation and exiting problems of water resources and its countermeasure. Shanxi Hydrotech 3:38–40
Yuan HT (2003) Development and utilization of saline groundwater in Yuncheng City, China. Water Resour 14:21–22
Yuncheng Regional Water Bureau and Shanxi province Geological Survey (1982) Hydrological and Geological maps and explanations for the Yuncheng region 1:100000. Special Report (in Chinese)
Acknowledgments
The research work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41120124003 and No. 41372251), the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2012AA062602), China Geological Survey (No. 1212011220949), and the International Postdoctoral Exchange Fellowship Program by the Office of China Postdoctoral Council.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Li, C., Liu, T., Xu, S. et al. Groundwater salinization in shallow aquifers adjacent to a low-altitude inland salt lake: a case study at Yuncheng Basin, northern China. Environ Earth Sci 75, 370 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5260-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5260-y