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Hydrological and isotopic characterization of river water, groundwater, and groundwater recharge in the Heihe River basin, northwestern China
Author(s) -
Yang Qiu,
Xiao Honglang,
Zhao Liangju,
Yang Yonggang,
Li Caizhi,
Zhao Liang,
Yin Li
Publication year - 2010
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.7896
Subject(s) - groundwater recharge , groundwater , hydrology (agriculture) , meteoric water , geology , depression focused recharge , environmental isotopes , aquifer , groundwater flow , surface water , dolomite , δ18o , environmental science , stable isotope ratio , geochemistry , physics , geotechnical engineering , quantum mechanics , environmental engineering
We used hydrochemistry and environmental isotope data (δ 18 O, δD, tritium, and 14 C) to investigate the characteristics of river water, groundwater, and groundwater recharge in China's Heihe River basin. The river water and groundwater could be characterized as Ca 2+ Mg 2+ HCO 3 − SO 4 2− and Na + Mg 2+ SO 4 2− Cl − types, respectively. Hydrogeochemical modelling using PHREEQC software revealed that the main hydrogeochemical processes are dissolution (except for gypsum and anhydrite) along groundwater flow paths from the upper to middle Heihe reaches. Towards the lower reaches, dolomite and calcite tend to precipitate. The isotopic data for most of the river water and groundwater lie on the global meteoric water line (GMWL) or between the GMWL and the meteoric water line in northwestern China, indicating weak evaporation. No direct relationship existed between recharge and discharge of groundwater in the middle and lower reaches based on the isotope ratios, d ‐excess, and 14 C values. On the basis of tritium in precipitation and by adopting an exponential piston‐flow model, we evaluated the mean residence time of shallow groundwater with high tritium activities, which was around 50 years (a). Furthermore, based on the several popular models, it is calculated that the deep groundwaters in piedmont alluvial fan zone of the middle reaches and in southern part of the lower reaches are modern water, whereas the deep groundwaters in the edge of the middle reaches and around Juyan Lake in the lower reaches of Heihe river basin are old water. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.