Abstract
It is important to have both a qualitative and quantitative understanding of the hydraulic exchange between groundwater and surface water to support the development of effective management plans for sustainable use of water resources. Groundwater is a major source of surface-water recharge and plays an important role in maintaining the integrity of ecosystems, especially within wetlands in semi-arid regions. The Ordos Desert Plateau of Inner Mongolia (China) is a vulnerable ecosystem that suffers from an extreme lack of water. The hydraulic exchange between groundwater and lake water in Dakebo Lake (the largest of hundreds of lakes on the Ordos Desert Plateau) was evaluated using multiple environmental methods. Continuous monitoring of the groundwater and lake-water levels indicated that the lake was recharged vertically by groundwater. Application of hydrodynamic and temperature tracing methods to the western side of the lake indicated that the rate of groundwater discharge to the lake was about 2 × 10−6 to 3 × 10−6 m/s in spring, summer, and autumn, but that there was no recharge in winter because the hypolentic zone (HZ) was frozen. Mixing ratios of groundwater and lake water in the HZ, estimated from the 18O and 2H ratios, showed that there were spatial variations in the hydrodynamic exchange between groundwater and lake water within the HZ.
Résumé
Il est important d’avoir à la fois une compréhension qualitative et quantitative des échanges hydrauliques entre les eaux souterraines et les eaux de surface pour soutenir l’élaboration de plans de gestion efficaces pour une utilisation durable des ressources en eau. L’eau souterraine constitue une source majeure de recharge des eaux de surface et joue un rôle important dans le maintien de l’intégrité des écosystèmes, en particulier dans les zones humides dans les régions semi-arides. Le Plateau du Désert de l’Ordos en Mongolie intérieure (Chine) est un écosystème vulnérable qui souffre d’un manque important d’eau. L’échange hydraulique entre l’eau souterraine et l’eau du lac Dakebo (le plus grand des centaines de lacs sur le plateau du Désert de l’Ordos) a été évaluée en utilisant des méthodes environnementales multiples. La surveillance continue des niveaux d’eau souterraine et du lac a indiqué que le lac était rechargé verticalement par les eaux souterraines. L’application de méthodes hydrodynamiques et de traçage par la température sur la rive occidentale du lac indique que le taux d’apport des eaux souterraines au lac était d’environ 2 × 10−6 à 3 × 10−6 m/s au printemps, été, et à l’automne, mais qu’il n’y avait pas de recharge en hiver du fait que la zone hypolentique (HZ) est gelée. Les rapports de mélange des eaux souterraines et de l’eau du lac dans la HZ, estimée à partir des rapports isotopiques de l’oxygène 18O et du Deutérium 2H, montrent qu’il y a des variations spatiales de l’échange hydrodynamique entre les eaux souterraines et l’eau du lac au sein de la HZ.
Resumen
Para apoyar el desarrollo de planes eficaces de gestión para el uso sostenible de los recursos hídricos es importante tener un conocimiento cualitativo y cuantitativo del intercambio hidráulico entre agua subterránea y agua superficial. El agua subterránea es la principal fuente de recarga del agua superficial y juega un papel significativo en el mantenimiento de la integridad de los ecosistemas, especialmente de los humedales en las regiones semiáridas. El Ordos Desert Plateau de Inner Mongolia (China) es un ecosistema vulnerable que sufre de una extrema falta de agua. El intercambio hidráulico entre el agua subterránea y el agua del lago en el Lago Dakebo (el más grande de cientos de lagos en el Ordos Desert Plateau) se evaluó utilizando métodos ambientales múltiples. El monitoreo continuo del agua subterránea y de los niveles de agua del lago indica que el lago es recargado verticalmente por el agua subterránea. La aplicación de métodos hidrodinámicos y trazadores de temperatura para el lado occidental del lago indica que la velocidad de descarga del agua subterránea hasta el lago era de aproximadamente 2 × 10−6 a 3 × 10−6 m/s en primavera, verano y otoño, pero no existía ninguna recarga en invierno debido a que la zona hipoléntica (HZ) estaba congelada. Las proporciones de mezcla del agua subterránea y el agua en el lago HZ, estimada a partir de las relaciones de 18O y 2H, mostraron que no hubo variaciones espaciales en el intercambio hidrodinámico entre el agua subterránea y el agua del lago dentro de la HZ.
摘要
定性和定量了解地下水和地表水之间的水力交换对支持水资源可持续利用的有效管理计划非常重要。地下水是地表水补给的主要水源,在维持生态系统完整性发挥着重要作用,特别是半干旱地区湿地内。(中国)内蒙古鄂尔多斯沙漠高原是一个脆弱的生态系统,极度缺水。采用多重环境方法评估了Dakebo湖(鄂尔多斯沙漠高原上几百个湖泊中最大的一个)地下水和湖水之间水力交换。地下水位和湖水水位的连续监测表明,湖由地下水垂直补给。湖西边的水动力和温度示踪方法的应用表明,春季、夏季和秋季地下水排泄到湖的水量大约为2 × 10−6 to 3 × 10−6 m/s,但由于冬季潜流带封冻,故没有补给。从18O和 2H比例估算得出的潜流带地下水和湖水的混合比例显示,潜流带的地下水和湖水之间的水动力交换有着空间上的变化。
Resumo
É importante ter uma compreensão qualitativa e quantitativa da troca hidráulica entre águas subterrâneas e águas superficiais para apoiar o desenvolvimento de planos de manejo eficazes para o uso sustentável dos recursos hídricos. A água subterrânea é a maior fonte de recarga da água superficial e desempenha um papel importante na manutenção da integridade dos ecossistemas, especialmente dentro de zonas úmidas em regiões semiáridas. O planalto desértico de Ordos, na Mongólia Interior (China), é um ecossistema vulnerável que sofre com a extrema falta de água. A troca hidráulica entre as águas subterrâneas e as águas lênticas do lago Dakebo (o maior dentre centenas de lagos no planalto desértico de Ordos) foi avaliada usando vários métodos ambientais. O monitoramento contínuo dos níveis de água subterrânea e das águas do lago mostrou que o lago é recarregado verticalmente pela água subterrânea. Aplicação de métodos hidrodinâmicos e de rastreamento de temperatura, na porção ocidental do lago, indicaram que a taxa de descarga de água subterrânea para o lago foi de 2 × 10−6 a 3 × 10−6 m/s na primavera, verão e outono, não havendo recarga no inverno, pois a zona hipolêntica (ZH) estava congelada. A proporção de mistura de águas subterrâneas e de água do lago na ZH, calculada a partir dos índices de 18O e 2H, mostrou que houveram variações espaciais na troca hidrodinâmica entre as águas subterrâneas e as água do lago dentro da ZH.
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Acknowledgements
This work was funded by the National Natural Science Fund Project “Research in biogeochemical behavior of sulfur within desert plateau hypolentic zone” (Grant No. 41073054). The authors would like to thank the editor, associate editor, Perry de Louw and the anonymous reviewers for their thoughtful and constructive comments, which helped improve the manuscript.
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Su, X., Cui, G., Du, S. et al. Using multiple environmental methods to estimate groundwater discharge into an arid lake (Dakebo Lake, Inner Mongolia, China). Hydrogeol J 24, 1707–1722 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-016-1439-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-016-1439-2