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Characteristics of chemistry and stable isotopes in groundwater of Chaobai and Yongding River basin, North China Plain
Author(s) -
Aji K.,
Tang C.,
Song X.,
Kondoh A.,
Sakura Y.,
Yu J.,
Kaneko S.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
hydrological processes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.222
H-Index - 161
eISSN - 1099-1085
pISSN - 0885-6087
DOI - 10.1002/hyp.6640
Subject(s) - groundwater , groundwater recharge , geology , hydrology (agriculture) , alluvial plain , surface water , alluvial fan , groundwater flow , structural basin , stable isotope ratio , alluvium , environmental isotopes , aquifer , geomorphology , environmental science , paleontology , physics , geotechnical engineering , quantum mechanics , environmental engineering
Abstract To identify the groundwater flow system in the North China Plain, the chemical and stable isotopes of the groundwater and surface water were analysed along the Chaobai River and Yongding River basin. According to the field survey, the study area in the North China Plain was classified hydrogeologically into three parts: mountain, piedmont alluvial fan and lowland areas. The change of electrical conductance and pH values coincided with groundwater flow from mountain to lowland areas. The following groundwater types are recognized: CaHCO 3 and CaMgHCO 3 in mountain areas, CaMgHCO 3 and NaKHCO 3 in piedmont alluvial fan areas, and HCO 3 Na in lowland areas. The stable isotope distribution of groundwater in the study area also has a good corresponding relation with other chemical characteristics. Stable isotope signatures reveal a major recharge from precipitation and surface water in the mountain areas. Chemical and stable isotope analysis data suggest that mountain and piedmont alluvial fan areas were the major recharge zones and the lowland areas belong to the main discharge zone. Precipitation and surface water were the major sources for groundwater in the North China Plain. Stable isotopic enrichment of groundwater near the dam area in front of the piedmont alluvial fan areas shows that the dam water infiltrated to the ground after evaporation. As a result, from the stable isotope analysis, isotope value of groundwater tends to deplete from sea level (horizontal ground surface) to both top of the mountain and the bottom of the lowland areas in symmetrically. This suggests that groundwater in the study area is controlled by the altitude effect. Shallow groundwater in the study area belongs to the local flow system and deep groundwater part of the regional flow system. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.