Abstract
The groundwater system in the Dongting Lake Plain, central-south China, was investigated from the perspective of tectonics. As a typical tectonic basin, the Dongting Lake Basin has a complex basement topography shaped by a series of tectonic events since the Cretaceous, which presents a vast depression basin with four extensive uplifts scattered in the plain. The barrier effects of the tectonic uplifts on the groundwater system were inferred based on the basement topographic map and Darcy’s law. They were also validated with the spatial analysis results associated with groundwater chemistry and the flow field. Tectonic uplift can reduce the thickness of the aquifer and, as a result, the flow direction of groundwater may change accordingly. In addition, a stagnant area can easily be formed where the extension area of uplift is large. Seven subsystems are distinguished considering the effects of the tectonic uplifts and major surface-water bodies on groundwater systems. This work is expected to deepen the understanding of the groundwater system of the Dongting Lake Plain on the macro scale and provide a new perspective for the analysis of groundwater systems in other similar plains with complex basement topography.
Résumé
Le système hydrogéologique de la Plaine du Lac Dongting, en Chine centrale méridionale, a été étudié du point de vue de la tectonique. En tant que bassin tectonique typique, le bassin du lac Dongting présente une topographie de socle complexe façonnée par une série d’événements tectoniques depuis le Crétacé, qui présente un vaste bassin de dépression avec quatre soulèvements étendus dispersés dans la plaine. Les effets de barrière des soulèvements tectoniques sur le système hydrogéologique ont été déduits sur la base de la carte topographique du sous-sol et de la loi de Darcy. Ils ont également été validés avec les résultats de l’analyse spatiale associés à la chimie des eaux souterraines et au champ d’écoulement. Le soulèvement tectonique peut réduire l’épaisseur de l’aquifère et, par conséquent, la direction de l’écoulement des eaux souterraines peut changer. En outre, une zone stagnante peut facilement se former lorsque la zone d’extension du soulèvement est importante. Sept sous-systèmes sont distingués en considérant les effets des soulèvements tectoniques et des principales masses d’eau de surface sur les systèmes d’eau souterraine. Ce travail devrait permettre d’approfondir la compréhension du système hydrogéologiques de la plaine du lac Dongting à l’échelle régionale et fournir une nouvelle approche pour l’analyse des systèmes hydrogéologiques dans d’autres plaines similaires avec une topographie complexe du sous-sol.
Resumen
El sistema de aguas subterráneas de la llanura del lago Dongting, en el centro-sur de China, se investigó desde la perspectiva de la tectónica. Como cuenca tectónica típica, la cuenca del lago Dongting tiene una compleja topografía del subsuelo formada por una serie de eventos tectónicos desde el Cretácico, que muestra una extensa cuenca de depresión con cuatro importantes levantamientos dispersos en la llanura. Los efectos de barrera de los ascensos tectónicos sobre el sistema de aguas subterráneas se dedujeron a partir del mapa topográfico del subsuelo y de la ley de Darcy. También se validaron con los resultados del análisis espacial asociados a la química de las aguas subterráneas y al campo de flujo. El levantamiento tectónico puede reducir el espesor del acuífero y, como resultado, la dirección del flujo de agua subterránea puede cambiar en consecuencia. Además, puede formarse fácilmente una zona de estancamiento cuando la zona de extensión del levantamiento es extensa. Se distinguen siete subsistemas teniendo en cuenta los efectos de los levantamientos tectónicos y las principales masas de agua superficiales en los sistemas de aguas subterráneas. Se pretende que este trabajo profundice en la comprensión del sistema de aguas subterráneas de la llanura del lago Dongting a gran escala y proporcione una nueva perspectiva para el análisis de los sistemas de aguas subterráneas en otras llanuras similares con una topografía compleja en el subsuelo.
摘要
从构造地质的角度对中国中南部洞庭湖平原地下水系统进行了研究。洞庭湖盆地是典型的构造盆地, 自白垩纪以来已经历一系列构造事件, 最终形成了复杂的基底地形, 因此表现为平原上有4个大面积隆起分布的大坳陷盆地。根据基底地形图和达西定律推断出构造隆起对地下水系统的阻隔作用。它们还通过与地下水化学和流场相关的空间分析结果进行了验证。构造隆起降低了含水层厚度, 因此地下水的流动方向可能会发生相应的变化。此外, 在隆起延伸范围广的地方, 容易形成滞流区。考虑到构造隆起和主要地表水体对地下水系统的影响, 划定了七个子系统。该工作有望从宏观上加深对洞庭湖平原地下水系统的认识, 为其他类似具有复杂基底地形的平原的地下水系统分析提供新的参考。
Resumo
O sistema de águas subterrâneas na Planície do Lago Dongting, centro-sul da China, foi investigada por uma perspectiva tectônica. Como uma típica bacia tectônica, a Bacia Lago Dongting contém um complexo embasamento topográfico modelado por uma série de eventos tectônicos desde o Cretáceo, o qual apresenta uma ampla bacia depressiva com quatro aclives distribuídos pela planície. O efeito barreira dos aclives tectônicos sobre o sistema de águas subterrâneas foi inferido baseado no mapa do embasamento topográfico e na Lei de Darcy. Os mesmos foram também validados com resultados de uma análise espacial associada com a química das águas subterrâneas e no seu campo de fluxo. Aclives tectônicos podem reduzir a espessura do aquífero e, como resultado, a direção de fluxo da água subterrânea pode se alterar de acordo. Além disso, uma área estagnada pode ser facilmente formada onde as áreas de extensões dos aclives são largas. Sete subsistemas foram distinguidos considerando os efeitos dos aclives tectônicos e a superfície principal dos corpos d’aguas do sistema de águas subterrâneas. Neste trabalho espera-se aprofundar o entendimento do sistema de águas subterrâneas da Planície do Lago Dongting na escala macro e providenciar uma nova perspectiva para análises de sistemas de águas subterrâneas em outras planícies similares com um complexo embasamento topográfico.
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Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank Zhengzui Li, Weihou Yu and Jiang Xiao for their assistance in the field. We are thankful for the data associated with 1,258 groundwater samples provided by the Hunan Geological Survey Institute, which were used to identify the groundwater system.
Funding
This work was supported both by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41602264) and the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province, China (Grant No. 2020JJ5572).
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Wei, R., Tang, S., Ouyang, Q. et al. Study on the groundwater system of the Dongting Lake Plain, central-south China: a tectonic perspective. Hydrogeol J 30, 707–721 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-021-02436-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-021-02436-7