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Groundwater discharge to the Changjiang River, China, during the drought season of 2006: effects of the extreme drought and the impoundment of the Three Gorges Dam

Décharge de nappe dans la rivière Changjiang, Chine, durant la sécheresse de 2006: incidence de la sécheresse extrème et de la mise en charge du Barrage des Trois Gorges

Descarga de agua subterránea al río Changjiang, China, durante la estación seca de 2006: efectos de la sequía extrema y de la retención del dique Three Gorges

中国长江2006年旱季的地下水排泄量: 极端干旱和三峡大坝的影响

Descarga de águas subterrâneas para o rio Changjiang, China, durante a estação seca de 2006: efeitos da seca extrema e do fecho da barragem das Três Gargantas

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Abstract

Groundwater can play an important role in the compensation of runoff reduction due to extreme climate events such as droughts, as well as in response to anthropogenic actions such as the construction of a dam. The increase in 226Ra specific activity and the runoff from September to December in 2006 is used to estimate the total discharge of groundwater along the mid-lower reaches of the Changjiang River. The total groundwater discharge was found to account for 31% of the increased discharge between Yichang and Datong. The groundwater discharge to lakes (i.e. Dongting Lake) constituted the major contribution of groundwater discharge to the mid-lower reaches of the Changjiang River. More importantly, the second impounding operation of the Three Gorges Dam from 20 September to 27 October 2006 induced a water level decrease in surrounding lakes and rivers, which led to an additional groundwater discharge of 63.3 × 108 m3, accounting for 85% of the total groundwater discharge in the same period. Taken together, these observations indicate that groundwater discharge along the mid-lower reaches plays an important role in maintaining stream flow in the drought season, especially in extreme drought years or in response to human activities.

Résumé

La nappe peut jouer un rôle important dans le soutien du débit lors d’évènements tels sécheresses extrèmes ou construction d’un barrage. L’augmentation de l’activité 226Ra et le débit total de septembre à décembre 2006 sont utilisés pour évaluer l’apport de la nappe au bief moyen de la rivière Changjiang. On a établi que l’apport de la nappe représente 31% du déficit hydraulique entre Yichang et Datong. Le débit de la nappe dans les lacs (i.e. lac Dongting) a représenté l’apport majeur dans le bief moyen de la rivière Changjiang. Plus important, la seconde mise en charge du Barrage des Trois Gorges du 20 septembre au 27 octobre 2006 a abaissé le niveau des rivières et lacs voisins, entraînant une augmentation de 85% de l’apport total de la nappe durant cette même période. Considérées simultanément, ces observations montrent que l’apport de la nappe au bief moyen joue un rôle important dans le soutien du débit, particulièrement les années de sécheresse extrème ou en réponse aux activités humaines.

Resumen

Las aguas subterráneas pueden jugar un rol importante en la compensación de la reducción del escurrimiento superficial debido a eventos climáticos extremos tales como sequías, así como en la respuesta a las acciones antrópicas tales como la construcción de un dique. Se usaron el incremento en la actividad específica de 226Ra y el escurrimiento superficial desde septiembre a diciembre en 2006 para estimar la descarga total del agua subterránea a lo largo del sector medio - bajo del río Changjiang. Se encontró que la descarga total de agua subterránea daba cuenta del 31% del incremento de la descarga entre Yichang y Datong. Las descarga del agua subterránea a los lagos (por ejemplo el lago Dongting) constituyó la mayor contribución de la descarga de las aguas subterráneas en el sector medio - bajo del río Changjiang. Lo que es más importante, la segunda operación de retención del dique Three Gorges desde el 20 de septiembre al 27 de octubre de 2006 indujo una disminución en el nivel del agua en los lagos y ríos circundantes, que condujeron a una descarga adicional de agua subterránea de 63.3 × 108 m3, lo que daba cuenta de un 85% de la descarga total de agua subterránea en el mismo periodo. Tomados en conjunto, estas observaciones indican que la descarga de las aguas subterráneas a lo largo del sector medio - bajo juegan un rol importante en el mantenimiento del flujo de la corriente en la estación seca, especialmente en años de extremas sequías o en respuesta a las actividades humanas.

摘要

地下水能够在补偿极端气候事件 (如干旱) 或人类活动 (如水坝建造) 所导致的径流减少中起到重要作用。应用226Ra比活度的增大和2006年9月至12月的长江径流量, 估算了长江中下游地下水的总排泄量。发现宜昌和大通间地下水的总排泄量增加了31%。地下水向湖 (如洞庭湖) 排泄量是长江中下游地下水排泄量的主要部分。更重要的是, 从2006年9月20日至10月27日的三峡大坝二期蓄水工程引起了周边湖河的水位下降, 造成63.3 × 108 m3的额外地下水排泄量, 占同期地下水总排泄量的85%。总之, 这些观测表明, 长江中下游地下水排泄量对于维持旱季, 特别是极端干旱年份或人类活动影响下的河川径流量具有重要作用。

Resumo

As águas subterrâneas podem desempenhar um papel importante na compensação da redução do escoamento devida a eventos climáticos extremos tais como secas, assim como em resposta às acções antropogénicas, tais como a construção de uma barragem. O aumento na actividade específica do 226Ra e o escoamento superficial entre Setembro e Dezembro de 2006 é utilizado para estimar a descarga total das águas subterrâneas ao longo dos cursos de água médios-inferiores do rio Changjiang. Obteve-se que a descarga total de águas subterrâneas é responsável por 31% do aumento de caudal entre Yichang e Datong. A descarga de águas subterrâneas para os lagos (i.e. lago Dongting) constituiu a maior contribuição da descarga de águas subterrâneas para os cursos médio-inferiores do rio Changjiang. Mais importante, a segunda operação de fecho da barragem das Três Gargantas, desde 20 de Setembro até 27 de Outubro de 2006, induziu uma descida do nível de água nos lagos e rios vizinhos, o que conduziu a uma descarga de águas subterrâneas adicional de 63.3 × 108 m3, responsável por 85% da descarga total de águas subterrâneas no mesmo período. Consideradas em conjunto, estas observações indicam que a descarga de águas subterrâneas ao longo dos cursos médios-inferiores desempenha um importante papel na manutenção do escoamento do rio na estação seca, especialmente em anos de seca extrema ou como resposta às actividades humanas.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Funds for Creative Research Groups of China (No. 40721004), National Science Key Foundation in China (50939003) and the Science and Technology Committee of Shanghai (06PJ14035, 07DJ14003). We also highly appreciate the two editors and two anonymous reviewers who provided valuable comments that helped to greatly improve the manuscript.

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  1. State Key Laboratory of Estuarine & Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 3663 North Zhongshan Rd., Shanghai, 200062, China

    Zhi-jun Dai, Jin-zhou Du, Jiu-fa Li, Ji-yu Chen & Xiao-ling Zhang

  2. Hohai University, 1 Xikang Rd., Nanjing, 210098, China

    Ao Chu

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  1. Zhi-jun Dai
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Correspondence to Zhi-jun Dai.

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Dai, Zj., Du, Jz., Chu, A. et al. Groundwater discharge to the Changjiang River, China, during the drought season of 2006: effects of the extreme drought and the impoundment of the Three Gorges Dam. Hydrogeol J 18, 359–369 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-009-0538-8

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