Impact of Preboreal to Subatlantic shifts in climate on groundwater resources on the Arabian Peninsula

A large-scale numerical flow and transport model was developed for the central-eastern arid part of the Arabian Peninsula. The model was applied to a region with freshwater resources dating back to more humid periods of the past, which are faced with overexploitation today. Model inflow was based on infiltration around wadi beds and groundwater recharge. Inflow was balanced by natural outflows, such as evaporation from sabkhas, spring discharge, and discharge to the sea. Two models were developed: (1) a short-term present-day model to estimate effective model parameters, and (2) a long-term model to study the development of the groundwater resources during the Mid- and Late Holocene and the natural response of the groundwater system to changes in climate. Hydraulic model parameters (hydraulic conductivity and specific storage) were assigned with respect to geological structures. Hydraulic parameters were estimated with an inverse PEST model by calibrating against observed depression cones cause by groundwater abstraction. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that estimated model parameters were associated with a high uncertainty at a certain distance from agricultural areas when calibration data were lacking. A long-term model starting 10,000 years BP was calibrated by spring discharge and palaeo-groundwater levels and validated using measured ¹⁴C groundwater ages. The long-model predicted that groundwater levels adapted in response to changes in precipitation. During the Mid-Holocene, which was characterized by an intensification of the monsoon season, groundwater levels increased by 10 m on the mainland within the shallow aquifers and adapted quickly to higher recharge rates. The deeper aquifers were less affected by changes in climate. Along the present-day coastline, the groundwater level rose by about 25 m due to the declined sea level in the Mid-Holocene. During this period, surface run-off was possible as groundwater levels temporarily reached the ground surface. The natural groundwater budget reacted sensitively to changes in climate. Between 10 and 3 ka, groundwater storage occurred. During the Late Holocene, at 3 ka, natural depletion of the groundwater system began, which still prevails today.     

中国北方第四系地下水同位素分层及其指示意义

中国北方第四系地下水中的D, 18O, 3H和14C含量存在明显的分层现象, 这种现象与末次冰期以来的古气候变化有着较好的对应性, 反映了全新世和末次冰期气候条件的差别以及地下水不同的形成机制.深层地下水为晚更新世末次冰期时期形成, 其δ(D) 和δ(18O) 值与全新世补给形成的浅层地下水相比, 分别贫4× 10-3~ 16× 10-3和1× 10-3~ 2× 10-3, 说明末次冰期时期年均气温较低.古地下水中D和18O的大陆梯度与全新世以来地下水中的梯度基本相同, 说明在过去30000a来尽管气温发生变化, 但中国北方大陆的大气循环模式没有发生实质性的改变.地下水同位素分层现象反映了3种不同的补给机制及参与现代水循环程度.这些信息对大陆尺度上的水循环研究和地下水的可持续开发利用有着重要的意义.      

Hydrogeology and sustainable future groundwater abstraction from the Agua Verde aquifer in the Atacama Desert,northern Chile

The hyper-arid conditions prevailing in Agua Verde aquifer in northern Chile make this system the most important water source for nearby towns and mining industries. Due to the growing demand for water in this region, recharge is investigated along with the impact of intense pumping activity in this aquifer. A conceptual model of the hydrogeological system is developed and implemented into a two-dimensional groundwater-flow numerical model. To assess the impact of climate change and groundwater extraction, several scenarios are simulated considering variations in both aquifer recharge and withdrawals. The estimated average groundwater lateral recharge from Precordillera (pre-mountain range) is about 4,482 m³/day. The scenarios that consider an increase of water withdrawal show a non-sustainable groundwater consumption leading to an over-exploitation of the resource, because the outflows surpasses inflows, causing storage depletion. The greater the depletion, the larger the impact of recharge reduction caused by the considered future climate change. This result indicates that the combined effects of such factors may have a severe impact on groundwater availability as found in other groundwater-dependent regions located in arid environments. Furthermore, the scenarios that consider a reduction of the extraction flow rate show that it may be possible to partially alleviate the damage already caused to the aquifer by the continuous extractions since 1974, and it can partially counteract climate change impacts on future groundwater availability caused by a decrease in precipitation (and so in recharge), if the desalination plant in Taltal increases its capacity.     

淄博孝妇河源区地下水资源的开发利用研究

在分析淄博市孝妇河流域源头的南神头－窑广地下水富水区水文地质条件的基础上，应用数值模拟方法建立了该区的地下水流模型，并根据当地的资源需求建立了地下水动态预测模型，研究了可能通过该区出流边界补给下游地区地下水的侧向排泄量。应用系统工程学和运筹学理论，以“开采费用最小”为目标函数，以研究区的需水量及开采井的供水作为约束条件，建立了该区的地下水最优控制模型。通过优化地下水开采布局对出流边界的流量进行了研究，既为富水区的地下水资源利用确定开采方案，又科学地评价地富水区北部边界对下游地区的地下水侧向补给量。     

Isotopic Stratification and Its Implications in Groundwater of Northern China

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Hydrological and hydrogeological characteristics of Wadi el Mujib catchment area,Jordan

Hydrological and hydrogeological data in the area have been verified to evaluate the availability and the potentiality of the water resources for the proposed damsites in the Wadi el Mujib catchment area, which is considered a semiarid to arid region. The quantity of the surface waters is very small compared with the surface area of the basin, however, due to the shortage of precipitation in the country and the necessity to attain socioeconomic objectives, the investigation of these waters has become more vital. The most reliable exploitation can be essentially achieved by constructing small storage dams on the suitable sites in order to benefit from the flood waters coming from the main wadis. For the above purpose, the hydrogeological and hydrological study of Wadi el Mujib catchment area was carried out, where the Wadi Mujib dam site will be constructed. The hydrogeological investigation of the groundwater was performed by constructing a groundwater contour map of the Amman-Wadi Es Sir aquifer (B2/A7) so as to verify the groundwater flow system and to determine the potentiality of the aquifer from the hydraulic parameters obtained from the pumping test analysis. The hydrological feasibility study of the dam was carried out by evaluating the water balance for a long-term period (1970 to 1990) in order to obtain reliable data that can be used to estimate the recharge to B2/A7 aquifer. In addition, a frequency analysis was performed to estimate the flood design of the reservoir area as well as the spillway at the proposed dam site.     

地下水对气候变化的敏感性研究进展

地下水是人类生活、生产、生态用水的重要水源。地下水含水层的补给及其开发利用是水资源可持续开发利用与管理的重要组成部分。浅层地下水的补给主要受制于气候变异与变化。气候变化影响研究从地表水扩展至地下水不仅有利于正确地评估可利用的淡水资源,而且对于改进气候模型,更完整的描写水文循环有重要的科学意义。自21世纪以来,欧美等国开始研究不同时空尺度的地下水补给的定量估算方法,并在气候变化对水资源影响的研究中,考虑了气候变化与人类活动对地下水补给的影响。目前在我国,无论对地下水观测资料的诊断分析,或对地下水补给模型的研制都尚属空白或起步阶段。本文对当前国际上研究地下水补给以及地下水对气候变化敏感性的研究现状予以综述,目的是为了推动我国关于气候变化对水资源影响的深入研究。     

Groundwater characteristics and climate and ecological evolution in the Badain Jaran Desert in the southwest Mongolian Plateau

The Badain Jaran Desert is the third largest desert in China, covering an area of 50000 km². It lies in Northwest China, where the arid and rainless natural environment has a great impact on the climate, environment, and human living conditions. Based on the results of 1∶250000 regional hydrogeological surveys and previous researches, this study systematically investigates the circulation characteristics and resource properties of the groundwater as well as the evolution of the climate and ecological environment since the Quaternary in the Badain Jaran Desert by means of geophysical exploration, hydrogeological drilling, hydrogeochemistry, and isotopic tracing. The results are as follows. (1) The groundwater in the Badain Jaran Desert is mainly recharged through the infiltration of local precipitation and has poor renewability. The groundwater recharge in the desert was calculated to be 1.8684×10⁸ m³/a using the water balance method. (2) The Badain Jaran Desert has experienced four humid stages since the Quaternary, namely MIS 13-15, MIS 5, MIS 3, and the Early–Middle Holocene, but the climate in the desert has shown a trend towards aridity overall. The average annual temperature in the Badain Jaran Desert has significantly increased in the past 50 years. In detail, it has increased by about 2.5°C, with a higher rate in the south than in the north. Meanwhile, the precipitation amount has shown high spatial variability and the climate has shown a warming-drying trend in the past 50 years. (3) The lakes in the hinterland of the Badain Jaran Desert continuously shrank during 1973–2015. However, the vegetation communities maintained a highly natural distribution during 2000–2016, with the vegetation cover has increased overall. Accordingly, the Badain Jaran Desert did not show any notable expansion in that period. This study deepens the understanding of groundwater circulation and the climate and ecological evolution in the Badain Jaran Desert. It will provide a scientific basis for the rational exploitation of the groundwater resources and the ecological protection and restoration in the Badain Jaran Desert.© 2021 China Geology Editorial Office.     

人工回灌条件下多组分溶质的反应迁移模拟

人工回灌技术在我国水资源管理中占据重要地位,但是其实施对地下水环境质量也造成了较大的影响。如何保障人工回灌条件下地下水环境质量的安全稳定性,已成为人工回灌技术发展的瓶颈。以上海市某人工回灌试验场为例,结合试验场的地质、水文地质勘探结果,以TOUGHREACT为数值模拟平台,模拟预测人工回灌条件下地下水中多组分溶质的迁移转化过程。模拟结果表明：地下水化学成分主要受混合作用、阳离子交换吸附作用及含水层矿物相溶解-沉淀作用等影响;含水介质中石英、白云石、钾长石、钠长石及蒙脱石发生溶解,方解石发生沉淀,伊利石与高岭石则先溶解后沉淀,但各矿物相反应量极其微弱;按不同压力方案回灌,水位恢复速率随压力增大而加快,但地下水中化学成分变化趋势几乎不受压力影响。     

Impact of climate change on groundwater recharge in a small catchment in the Black Forest, Germany

Temporal and spatial changes of the hydrological cycle are the consequences of climate variations. In addition to changes in surface runoff with possible floods and droughts, climate variations may affect groundwater through alteration of groundwater recharge with consequences for future water management. This study investigates the impact of climate change, according to the Special Report on Emission Scenarios (SRES) A1B, A2 and B1, on groundwater recharge in the catchment area of a fissured aquifer in the Black Forest, Germany, which has sparse groundwater data. The study uses a water-balance model considering a conceptual approach for groundwater-surface water exchange. River discharge data are used for model calibration and validation. The results show temporal and spatial changes in groundwater recharge. Groundwater recharge is progressively reduced for summer during the twenty-first century. The annual sum of groundwater recharge is affected negatively for scenarios A1B and A2. On average, groundwater recharge during the twenty-first century is reduced mainly for the lower parts of the valley and increased for the upper parts of the valley and the crests. The reduced storage of water as snow during winter due to projected higher air temperatures causes an important relative increase in rainfall and, therefore, higher groundwater recharge and river discharge.     

A catchment water balance model for estimating groundwater recharge in arid and semiarid regions of south-east Iran

This paper presents a new model of the rainfall-runoff-groundwater flow processes applicable to semiarid and arid catchments in south-east Iran. The main purpose of the model is to assess the groundwater recharge to aquifers in these catchments. The model takes into account main recharge mechanisms in the region, including subsurface flow in the valley alluvium in mountainous areas and recharge from the bed of ephemeral rivers. It deals with the effects of spatial variation in the hydrological processes by dividing the catchment into regions of broad hydrologic similarity named as highland, intermediate and aquifer areas. The model is based on the concept of routing precipitation within and through the catchment. The model has been applied to the Zahedan catchment and the results indicate that the groundwater level estimated by the recharge model generally is in agreement with the behaviour of groundwater levels in observation wells. The sensitivity analysis indicates that when the rainfall in the aquifer area is used to replace the values recorded in the intermediate area and the highland area, the recharge estimates are reduced by 42-87%. This result supports the division of the catchment into different zones of hydrological similarity to account for spatial variability of hydrological processes. Electronic Publication     

宁夏海原盆地地下水水化学特征及其演化规律

结合宁夏海原盆地已有的地质、水文地质资料,基于水化学、同位素数据分析了研究区的水文地球化学特征。总体上当地的地下水化学场从补给区到径流区到排泄区具有明显的分带性,符合干旱区盆地的水质演化规律;地球化学模拟表明当地水岩相互作用从补给区的以溶滤-混合作用为主逐渐演变成排泄区的以溶滤-蒸发为主。水中的溶解性总固体含量升高主要由岩盐和石膏的溶解引起,第三系岩性及径流条件对地下水水质有很大的影响。同位素特征表明西华山-南华山断裂控制着当地地下水的补给,地下水开采对深层地下水水质的影响尚不明显;在有些地区,由于地下水开采加速了地下水径流,水质有变好的趋势。      

Chloride and the environmental isotopes as the indicators of the groundwater recharge in the Gobi Desert,northwest China

The long term recharge in Gobi Desert from Hexi Corridor to Inner Mongolia Plateau was estimated to be 1 mm year⁻¹ by using the chloride mass balance method from one unsaturated zone profile, which shows that no effective modern recharge is taking place. A good rainfall database from Zhangye provides definition of the stable isotopic composition of modern rainfall. The signature of groundwater from the late Pleistocene differs markedly from that of the Holocene, shown clearly by the compositions of −10.5‰ δ¹⁸O as compared with values of −7‰ at the present day. It is apparent that the groundwaters in the Minqin Basin, Ejina Basin and feeding the lake system of the Badain Jaran are part of a regional flow network related to a wetter past climate as source of recharge. The recharge source in the past and to a limited extent in the more arid conditions of the present day included the foothills of the mountains of the Tibetan Plateau. The tritium age determinations accurate to the year are impossible and of no meaning to groundwater studies. A tritium value in the groundwater means multiple recharge ages in this region.     

新疆乌鲁木齐河流域北部平原区水文地球化学

乌鲁木齐河流域是西北干旱地区内流盆地的典型代表,也是水文地质研究的重点区域。本次研究利用以往工作的资料,并在流域下游北部平原区采集地下水和地表水样品21组,用无机离子作为示踪剂,结合环境同位素的分析,提出乌鲁木齐河流域平原区的地表水普遍溶解有蒸发盐,与晚全新世(近4000年)以来我国西北地区气候不断变得干旱有关;并将北部平原区的地下水划分为三层不同水体:现代水(埋深21~65 m)是乌鲁木齐河河水经蒸发后入渗补给的,而下面二层水为晚全新世初期(埋深179~259 m)和晚更新世末次冰期(埋深~353 m)补给的水都是原地的降水入渗。     

Dupuit模型的改进——具入渗补给

Dupuit（1863年）提出的模型是“圆岛状含水层稳定井流模型”,这个模型只有侧向湖海边界条件,而不涉及上边界降水入渗补给条件。因此,Dupuit模型只能在旱季用于地下水井流试验求取含水系统的参数,而不能够用于预测。文章发展Dupuit潜水井流模型,考虑地面均匀稳定入渗补给（蒸发排泄示为其负值）作用。以质量守衡原理为基础,假定渗流服从Darcy定律并满足Dupuit徦定,建立极坐标下的地下水流微分方程,再依边界条件建立相应的流量方程和水位方程。这些方程为具地面入渗补给条件下井流试验求取水文地质参数以及预测相应条件下地下水抽水的效果,提供了基础条件。讨论了引入Dupuit假定对本问题解析研究可以降维（略去z变量）带来好处的同时,在地下水分水岭附近及抽水井附近可能出现偏离Dupuit假定,建议在抽水试验求取含水层参数时,观测孔的部署要尽量回避这些区段。     

A new groundwater radiocarbon correction approach accounting for palaeoclimate conditions during recharge and hydrochemical evolution: The Ledo-Paniselian Aquifer,Belgium

The particular objective of the present work is the development of a new radiocarbon correction approach accounting for palaeoclimate conditions at recharge and hydrochemical evolution. Relevant climate conditions at recharge are atmospheric pCO₂ and infiltration temperatures, influencing C isotope concentrations in recharge waters. The new method is applied to the Ledo-Paniselian Aquifer in Belgium. This is a typical freshening aquifer where recharge takes place through the semi-confining cover of the Bartonian Clay. Besides cation exchange which is the major influencing process for the evolution of groundwater chemistry (particularly in the Bartonian Clay), also mixing with the original porewater solution (fossil seawater) occurs in the aquifer. Recharge temperatures were based on noble gas measurements. Potential infiltration water compositions, for a range of possible pCO₂, temperature and calcite dissolution system conditions, were calculated by means of PHREEQC. Then the sampled groundwaters were modelled starting from these infiltration waters, using the computer code NETPATH and considering a wide range of geochemical processes. Fitting models were selected on the basis of correspondence of calculated δ¹³C with measured δ¹³C. The ¹⁴C modelling resulted in residence times ranging from Holocene to Pleistocene (few hundred years to over 40 ka) and yielded consistent results within the uncertainty estimation. Comparison was made with the δ¹³C and Fontes and Garnier correction models, that do not take climate conditions at recharge into account. To date these are considered as the most representative process-oriented existing models, yet differences in calculated residence times of mostly several thousands of years (up to 19 ka) are revealed with the newly calculated ages being mostly (though not always) younger. Not accounting for climate conditions at recharge (pCO₂ and temperature) is thus producing substantial error on deduced residence times. The derived ¹⁴C model ages are correlated with He concentrations measured in the groundwater of the aquifer. The obtained residence times show a gap between about 14 and 21 ka indicating possible permafrost conditions which inhibited any groundwater recharge.     

Isotope hydrogeochemical models for assessing the hydrological processes in a part of the largest continental flood basalts province of India

Continental Flood Basalts (CFB) occupy one fourth of the world’s land area. Hence, it is important to discern the hydrological processes in this complex hydrogeological setup for the sustainable water resources development. A model assisted isotope, geochemical, geospatial and geophysical study was conducted to understand the monsoonal characteristics, recharge processes, renewability and geochemical evolution in one of the largest continental flood basalt provinces of India. HYSPLIT modelling and stable isotopes were used to assess the monsoonal characteristics. Rayleigh distillation model were used to understand the climatic conditions at the time of groundwater recharge. Lumped parameter models (LPM) were employed to quantify the mean transit time (MTT) of groundwater. Statistical and geochemical models were adopted to understand the geochemical evolution along the groundwater flow path. A geophysical model was used to understand the geometry of the aquifer. The back trajectory analysis confirms the isotopic finding that precipitation in this region is caused by orographic uplifting of air masses originating from the Arabian Sea. Stable isotopic data of groundwater showed its meteoric origin and two recharge processes were discerned; (i) quick and direct recharge by precipitation through fractured and weathered basalt, (ii) low infiltration through the clayey black cotton soil and subjected to evaporation prior to the recharge. Tritium data showed that the groundwater is a renewable source and have shorter transit times (from present day to <30 years). The hydrogeochemical study indicated multiple sources/processes such as: the minerals dissolution, silicate weathering, ion exchange, anthropogenic influences etc. control the chemistry of the groundwater. Based on the geo-electrical resistivity survey, the potential zones (weathered and fractured) were delineated for the groundwater development. Thus, the study highlights the usefulness of model assisted isotopic hydrogeochemical techniques for understanding the recharge and geochemical processes in a basaltic aquifer system.     

Characterization of the groundwater flow system in the hillside and coastal aquifers of the Mersin-Tarsus region (Turkey)

In the region between Mersin and Tarsus cities, located along the Mediterranean Sea coast in southern Turkey, the demand for groundwater has increased dramatically as the available surface water supplies have already been developed. Fundamental information is required to characterize the existing groundwater system in this area in order to establish a sustainable groundwater-use policy. For this purpose, hydrochemical and environmental isotopic data were collected and integrated with available geological and hydrogeological information to develop a conceptual model of the system. Results, backed up mainly by depleted stable isotope composition and infinitesimal tritium content, suggest that most of the groundwater along the coastal zone is supplied by the neighboring mountain belt while local precipitation has also contributes to aquifer recharge. The validation of the conceptual perspective by a steady-state numerical groundwater flow model reveals that about 90% of the recharge to the aquifer system is supplied by the deep flow of karstic groundwater fed from the Taurus Mountains. Monitoring of changes in the recharge regime of the mountain sector seems to be critical in establishing future groundwater use policies.     

A 70-year groundwater recharge record from sandy loess in northwestern China and its climatic implications

The processes and rates of groundwater recharge in arid and semiarid environments are highly related to local climate parameters, particularly precipitation. The chloride profile of an unsaturated zone in an arid and semiarid region can be used to infer the recharge history and past changes in climate, by extension. In this study, a 17-m chloride profile was collected from the sandy loess in the northwestern Chinese Loess Plateau, which also lies in the transition zone between desert and loess. A 71-year groundwater recharge history was reconstructed using the chloride mass balance method with an annual Cl^? input of 0.84 g/m²/year. The reconstructed history revealed a long-term decline in recharge with multiple shorter-term oscillations. Five recharge stages between 1938–1946, 1947–1955, 1956–1975, 1976–2000, and 2001–2008 AD were identified, where the lowest average recharge value was 25.1 mm/a in 1976–2000 AD and the highest was 71.7 mm/a in 1947–1955 AD. Climate conditions during these five periods were also inferred based on the reconstructed recharge rates with the knowledge that high recharge corresponds to more humid climates. The climate over the past 71 years generally became drier in the study area, despite some fluctuations. The reconstructed recharge rates, calculated from 1/Cl^? in the profile, exhibited the same variability as annual precipitation measured in the region, both in long- and short-term oscillations over the period from 1955 to 2008. The chloride concentration variations in the profile, indicating changes in recharge flux, also well correlated with annual precipitation anomalies in the region to the east of 100°E in China for the whole study period. These comparisons verified that it is feasible to study not only groundwater recharge, but also past climate change using a chloride profile from the sandy loess area. The results suggested that unsaturated zones of sandy loess may be valuable archives for reconstructing recharge history and regional paleoclimate changes in the region.     

Development of a hydrogeological conceptual wetland model in the data-scarce north-eastern region of Kilombero Valley,Tanzania

Understanding groundwater/surface-water interactions in wetlands is crucial because wetlands provide not only a high potential for agricultural production, but also sensitive and valuable ecosystems. This is especially true for the Kilombero floodplain wetland in Tanzania, which represents a data-scarce region in terms of hydrological and hydrogeological data. A comprehensive approach combining hydrogeological with tracer-based assessments was conducted, in order to develop a conceptual hydrogeological wetland model of the area around the city of Ifakara in the north-eastern region of Kilombero catchment. Within the study site, a heterogeneous porous aquifer, with a range of hydraulic conductivities, is underlain by a fractured-rock aquifer. Groundwater chemistry is mainly influenced by silicate weathering and depends on groundwater residence times related to the hydraulic conductivities of the porous aquifer. Groundwater flows from the hillside to the river during most of the year. While floodwater close to the river is mainly derived from overbank flow of the river, floodwater at a greater distance from the river mainly originates from precipitation and groundwater discharge. Evaporation effects in floodwater increase with increasing distance from the river. In general, the contribution of flood and stream water to groundwater recharge is negligible. In terms of an intensification of agricultural activities in the wetland, several conclusions can be drawn from the conceptual model. Results of this study are valuable as a base for further research related to groundwater/surface-water interactions and the conceptual model can be used in the future to set up numerical flow and transport models.