An assessment of the carrying capacity of groundwater resources in North China Plain region–Analysis of potential for development

Over-exploitation of groundwater in North China Plain (NCP) has resulted in a series of eco-environment problems. Sustainable use of groundwater resources in NCP, in particular management of groundwater resource carrying capacity (GRCC), faces an unprecedented challenge. Here we define GRCC, and a new assessment method is tentatively proposed and applied to evaluate GRCC based on the whole NCP, city administrative units and county administrative units. Our study divided the NCP into three zones, i.e. non-overexploited non-overloaded zone (NNZ), overexploited but non-overloaded zone (ONZ), and overexploited overloaded zone (OOZ). Results confirmed 27.6% of counties belonged to NNZ. However, 58.9% of counties and NCP as a whole belonged to ONZ, and 13.5% of counties belonged to OOZ. Spatially, NNZs were mainly distributed in Beijing, parts of eastern coastal cities and Henan Province. OOZs were mostly distributed in middle-eastern part of Cangzhou, parts of Dezhou, Tianjin and Binzhou, and the remaining areas belonged to ONZs. We suggest two approaches for enhancing GRCC, i) increasing the amount of available groundwater and ii) improving the water use efficiency. An increase of 11.0 billion cubic meters to the available groundwater levels combined with water use efficiency improvements up to 479 CNY per cubic meter of the world mean, the gross domestic product (GDP) sustained by groundwater in the NCP could reach 11.1 trillion CNY and maintain a 20 years of GDP development assuming the current rate of growth.     

Long-term groundwater storage changes and land subsidence development in the North China Plain (1971–2015)

The North China Plain (NCP) has been suffering from groundwater storage (GWS) depletion and land subsidence for a long period. This paper collects data on GWS changes and land subsidence from in situ groundwater-level measurements, literature, and satellite observations to provide an overview of the evolution of the aquifer system during 1971–2015 with a focus on the sub-regional variations. It is found that the GWS showed a prolonged declining rate of ?17.8?±?0.1 mm/yr during 1971–2015, with a negative correlation to groundwater abstraction before year ~2000 and a positive correlation after ~2000. Statistical correlations between subsidence rate and the GWS anomaly (GWSA), groundwater abstraction, and annual precipitation show that the land subsidence in three sub-regions (Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei) represents different temporal variations due to varying driver factors. Continuous drought caused intensive GWS depletion (?76.1?±?6.5 mm/yr) and land subsidence in Beijing during 1999–2012. Negative correlations between total groundwater abstraction and land subsidence exhibited after the 1980s indicate that it may be questionable to infer subsidence from regional abstraction data. Instead, the GWSA generally provides a reliable correlation with subsidence. This study highlights the spatio-temporal variabilities of GWS depletion and land subsidence in the NCP under natural and anthropogenic impacts, and the importance of GWS changes for understanding land subsidence development.     

Arsenic pollution of groundwater and its release mechanism in the central part of the Hetao Plain, Inner Mongolia, China

Arsenic pollution of groundwater has become a serious health problem in several regions of the world. Wuyuan County located in the central part of the Hetao Plain, Inner Mongolia, is one of the most severely arsenic polluted areas. Peoples of the county have used groundwater of shallow （12-25 m） tube-well as drinking water. The groundwater is Na-HCO3 and Na-Cl type on the piper plots and aligns with steady Ca ： Mg ratio on cation diagram. The arsenic content in the water is more than 0.2 mg/L and the highest value reaches up to 0.52 mg/L. Drilling data show that Holocene sediments are divided into three zones on the basis of their color appearances; brown, grey and dark gray zones. The strata from 2m to 9-14m under the surface are mainly composed of clay and silt which are impermeable layers. The grey and dark grey zones composed of sand underlie the impermeable bed and the condition of their zones is reductive. At the depth of 30 m near the bottom of drilling, ORP of the groundwater is -300- -400 mV. The dark grey sand changes to yellow in color under the atmosphere. Under reducing environment, the color returns to its original dark grey. The characteristic color is due to amorphous or low-crystalline Fe sulfide coating sand grains. The sediments are of fluvial origin by the Yellow River. The arsenic content in the sediments is rich in fine-grained part and its values are more than 20 mg/kg in clay layer. The highest is 38 mg/kg. X-ray diffraction and macroscopic observation show that the clay layer is made of minerals such as chlorite and illite and contains high quantities of organic matter.     

Assessing the ‘wicked problems’ associated with the quality of groundwater used in irrigation: a case study from the North China Plain

Studies on the quality of groundwater have moved beyond the physical realm of contamination and purification, towards the economic concerns of choice and the management of the problem. With these approaches the complex biophysical processes are assessed from the users’ perspective and the policy outcomes that could be used to resolve the problems of groundwater contamination are evaluated. However, in a set of unrelated studies, it has been found that attempts by governments to resolve the problems of groundwater contamination in agriculture have a poor record of success. This could be because the problem is too extensive and diverse to handle or it could be a case of poor policy selection. Taking an example from the North China Plain to illustrate some of the major issues raised in this study, it is concluded that the problem itself is unresolvable on a large scale. In other words, groundwater contamination can be defined as a ‘wicked problem’, i.e. unresolvable by applying pure science, closely linked with social issues, and for which there are no optimal solutions. In this situation, the best solution is possibly to encourage farmers to live with and handle the problem as they best see fit.     

Hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwater and pore-water and the paleoenvironmental evolution in the past 3.10 Ma in the Xiong’an New Area,North China

The groundwater level has been continuously decreasing due to climate change and long-time overexploitation in the Xiong’an New Area, North China, which caused the enhanced mixing of groundwater in different aquifers and significant changes in regional groundwater chemistry characteristics. In this study, groundwater and sediment pore-water in drilling cores obtained from a 600 m borehole were investigated to evaluate hydrogeochemical processes in shallow and deep aquifers and paleo-environmental evolution in the past ca. 3.10 Ma. Results showed that there was no obvious change overall in chemical composition along the direction of groundwater runoff, but different hydrochemical processes occurred in shallow and deep groundwater in the vertical direction. Shallow groundwater (< 150 m) in the Xiong’an New Area was characterized by high salinity (TDS > 1000 mg/L) and high concentrations of Mn and Fe, while deep groundwater had better water quality with lower salinity. The high TDS values mostly occurred in aquifers with depth < 70 m and >500 m below land surface. Water isotopes showed that aquifer pore-water mostly originated from meteoric water under the influence of evaporation, and aquitard pore-water belonged to Paleo meteoric water. In addition, the evolution of the paleoclimate since 3.10 Ma BP was reconstructed, and four climate periods were determined by the δ¹⁸O profiles of pore-water and sporopollen records from sediments at different depths. It can be inferred that the Quaternary Pleistocene (0.78–2.58 Ma BP) was dominated by the cold and dry climate of the glacial period, with three interglacial intervals of warm and humid climate. What’s more, this study demonstrates the possibilities of the applications of pore-water on the hydrogeochemical study and further supports the finding that pore-water could retain the feature of paleo-sedimentary water.© 2021 China Geology Editorial Office.     

Quantification of the water balance and hydrogeological processes of groundwater–lake interactions in the Pampa Plain, Argentina

This paper gives an account of the assessment and quantification of the water balance and the hydrogeological processes related to lake–groundwater interaction in the Pampa Plain by using hydrogeochemical, isotopic and flow numerical modeling techniques. La Salada is a permanent shallow lake, with an area of 5.8 km², located on the SE of Buenos Aires Province. A total of 29 lake water samples and 15 groundwater samples were collected for both hydrochemical analysis and environmental stable isotope determination. Water table depths were measured in wells closed to the lake. Groundwater samples appear grouped on the Local Meteoric Water Line, suggesting a well-mixed system and that rainfall is the main recharge source to the aquifer. Water evaporation process within La Salada is also corroborated by its isotopic composition. The model that best adjusts to La Salada Lake hydrochemical processes includes evaporation from groundwater, calcite precipitation with CO₂ release and cationic exchange. The annual water balance terms for the lake basin indicates for each hydrological component the following values: 1.16 E⁰⁸ m³ rainfall, 8.15 E⁰⁷ m³ evapotranspiration, 1.90 E⁰⁶ m³ runoff, 1.55 E⁰⁷ m³ groundwater recharge, 6.01 E⁰⁶ m³ groundwater discharge to the lake, 9.54 E⁰⁶ m³ groundwater discharge to the river, 5.00 E⁰⁵ m³ urban extraction and 4.90 E⁰⁶ m³ lake evaporation. Integrated analysis of hydrochemical and isotopic information helped to calibrate the groundwater flow model, to validate the conceptual model and to quantitatively assess the basin water balance.     

Role of Quaternary stratigraphy on arsenic-contaminated groundwater from parts of Middle Ganga Plain,UP–Bihar,India

Late Quaternary stratigraphy and sedimentation in the Middle Ganga Plain (MGP) (Uttar Pradesh–Bihar) have influenced groundwater arsenic contamination. Arsenic contaminated aquifers are pervasive within narrow entrenched channels and flood plains (T₀-Surface) of fine-grained grey to black coloured argillaceous organic rich Holocene sediments (Newer Alluvium). Contaminated aquifers are often located close to distribution of abandoned or existing channels and swamps. The Pleistocene Older Alluvium upland terraces (T₂-Surface) made up of oxidized yellowish brown sediments with calcareous and ferruginous concretions and the aquifers within it are free of arsenic contamination. MGP sediments are mainly derived from the Himalaya with minor inputs from the Peninsular India. The potential source of arsenic in MGP is mainly from the Himalaya. The contaminated aquifers in the Terai belt of Nepal are closely comparable in nature and age to those of the MGP. Arsenic was transported from disseminated sources as adsorbed on dispersed phases of hydrated-iron-oxidea and later on released to groundwater mainly by reductive dissolution of hydrated-iron-oxide and corresponding oxidation of organic matter in aquifer. Strong reducing nature of groundwater is indicated by high concentration of dissolved iron (11.06 mg/l). Even within the arsenic-affected areas, dugwells are found to be arsenic safe due to oxyginated nature.     

P’yŏngyang — ancient and modern —the capital of North Koreangyang — ancient and modern —the capital of North Korea

The capital of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) is both the oldest and the newest settlement in Korea. The basic concepts in its early urban development made it the model for Korean cities of later ages. In the 6th and 7th century AD P’yôngyang was one of the largest cities in Asia, second only to the imperial capital of China, but it later declined. It partly recovered its former position when it became the capital of North Korea after World War II. Its reconstruction since the Korean War has made it one of the most striking examples of socialist city planning.     

Relationships Between the North China Plate and the Tarim Plate

The relationships and boundary between the North China and Tarim plates have been unclear for a long time ; however, the two plates occupy a prominent position in the formation and evolution of the continental lithosphere of China. It is proposed that the Engger Us ophiolitic melange zone discovered recently north of Alaxa is a typical suture between the two plates. The ophiolitic melange zone is composed mainly of a mixture of fragments of ancient oceanic crust and sedimentary rocks of active and passive continental margins. The melange may be divided into tectonic inclusions and matrix. The suture extends northeastwards into the Republic of Mongolia and probably westwards to meet the Altun fault. With the Engger Us ophiolitic melange zone as the boundary the Alaxa area may be divided into two parts: the northern part (AN ) belongs to the Tarim plate, while the southern part (AS) the North China plate. Geological evidence shows that the two plates were amalgamated in the Late Permian or a bit later.     

A New Fauna——Qinghezhen Fauna——from the Northern Margin of the North China Platform

In the Inner Mongolia axis and Jiaoliao anteclise along the northern margin of the North China Platform.it has been found that the strata formerly considered as Archaean and Proterozoic are in fact an ophiolite suitesimilar to the Early Palaeozoic Ondor Sum Group in the Northern Geosyncline region of China. The stratahave been named in northern Liaoning as the Qinghezhen Group. The emphasis of this paper is on the discus-sion of the simall shelly fossils found in the siliceous rocks in the upper part of the Qinghezhen Group. Thisophiolite suite stretches in an E-W direction for about 1000 km along the northern margin of the North ChinaPlatform. in which 15 fossil localities with stable stratigraphic horizons have been discovered. In this paper. 4types. 7 genera (including 5 new ones) and 10 species (including 8 new ones and 1 new subspecies) aredescribed, which are collectively referred to as the Qinghezhen Fauna. The characteristics of these fossils are:shell form simple. the maximum length not exceeding 4 mm. with obvious shell wall and wall ornaments. TheQinghezhen Fauna is comparable in shell structure of some genera and species with the Meishucun Fauna inSouth China, but differs from the latter in having only monotonous fossil groups developed in a distinctly va-ried ecological environment. The two faunas may belong to the same evolutionary stage of the Early Cambrianbut have developed parallelly in different regions. The existence of the Qinghezhen Fauna represents an impor-tant biological event in the Early Cambrian in the Northern Geosyncline region of China. The discovery of theQinghezhen Fauna will bring new knowledge and profound influence to a series of problems on basic geologyand mineral deposit prospecting such as the Cambrian faunas. biogeographical povincialism in China and thegeotectonic features of the northern margin of the North China Platform.     

Characteristics and Formation Mechanism of the Geothermal Field in the North China Downfaulted Basin

The geothermal field is mainly controlled by the regional tectonic framework characterized by alternationsof uplifted and depressed basement. and exhibits a similar zoned distribution of temperatures. In the upliftedarea the geothermal gradient (G) and terrestrial heat flow value(q) of the Cenozoic sedimentary cover are rela-tively high, with G=3.5-5.0℃/100m and q=63-84mW/m~2; whereas in the depressions they are rela-tively low, with G=2.7-3.5℃/100m and q=46-59mW/m~2. In the whole region, G=3.58℃/100m and q=61.5±13.4nW/m~2, indicating a comparatively high geothermal background and the presence of localgeothermal anomalies. A comparison of the results of mathematical simulation of the geothermal field with themeasured values shows a good agrecment between them. The geothermal difference between various tectonicunits is caused chiefly by the lateral and vertical variation of thermal properties of shallow crustal rocks. Thisphenomenon can be regarded as the result of redistribution of relatively uniform heat flows from the deep crustin the surficial part of the crust in the process of their upward conduction.     

Hydrogeochemistry and Water Quality Evaluation along the Flow Path in the Unconfined Aquifer of the Düzce Plain,North-western Turkey

The Düzce Plain has a multi-aquifer system, which consists of a near surface unconfined aquifer, along with first and second deeper confined aquifers. Hydrochemical evolution and water quality are related to infiltration of the precipitation, recharge from the formations surrounding the plain, flow path of groundwater and the relationship between surface and groundwater. The groundwater in the unconfined aquifer flows towards the Efteni Lake and the Büyük Melen River. Surface waters are divided into two main hydrochemical facies in the study area: (a) Ca2+–HCO3?; and (b) Ca2+, Mg2+–HCO3-, SO42-. The groundwater has generally three main hydrochemical facies: (a) Ca2+–HCO3-; (b) Ca2+, Mg2+–HCO3-; and (c) Ca2+, Mg2+–HCO3-, Cl-. The hydrochemical facies a and b dominate within shallow depths in recharge areas under rapid flow conditions, while hydrochemical facies c characterizes shallow and mixed groundwater, which dominate intermediate or discharge areas (near Efteni Lake and Büyük Melen River) during low flow conditions and agricultural contamination. Calcium and bicarbonate ions, total hardness and electrical conductivity of total dissolved solids (EC–TDS) values increase along the groundwater flow path; but these parameters remain within the limits specified by the standards set for industrial and agricultural usages.     

Three-Dimensional P-Wave Velocity Structure of the Crust of North China

Since the Xingtai (邢台) earthquake in 1966,China Earthquake Administration has carried out a survey campaign along more than thirty deep seismic sounding (DSS) profiles altogether about twenty thousand kilometers long in North China to study the velocity structure of the crust and the upper mantle in this region,and has obtained a great number of research findings. However,these researches have not provided a 3D velocity structure model of the crust of North China and cannot provide seismic evidence for the study of the deep tectonic characteristics of the crust of the whole region. Hence,based on the information from the published data of the DSS profiles,we have chosen 14 profiles to obtain a 3D velocity structure model of North China using the vectorization function of the GIS software (Arc/Info) and the Kriging data gridding method. With this velocity structure model,we have drawn the following conclusions: (1) The P-wave velocity of the uppermost crust of North China changes dramatically,exhibiting a complicated velocity structure in plane view. It can be divided into three velocity zones mainly trending towards north-west. In the research area,the lowest-velocity zones lie in the Haihe (海河) plain and Bohai (渤海) Bay. Although the geological structure of the sedimentary overburden in the study area is somewhat inherited by the upper crust,there are still several differences between them. (2) Generally,the P-wave velocity of the crust increases with depth in the study area,but there still exists local velocity reversion. In the east,low-velocity anomalies of the Haihe plain gradually disappear with increasing depth,and the Shanxi (山西) graben in the west is mainly characterized by relatively low velocity anomalies. Bounded by the Taihang (太行) Mountains,the eastern and western parts differ in structural trend of stratum above the crystalline basement. The structural trend of the Huanghuaihai (黄淮海) block in the east is mainly north-east,while that of the Shanxi block and the eastern edge of the Ordos block is mainly north-west. (3) According to the morphological features of Moho,the crust of the study area can be divided into six blocks. In the Shanxi block,Moho apppears like a nearly south-north trending depression belt with a large crustal thickness. In the southern edge of the Inner Mongolia block and the south of the Yanshan (燕山) block,the Moho exhibits a feature of fold belt,trending nearly towards east-west. In the eastern edge of the Ordos block,the structure of Moho is relatively complex,presenting a pattern of fold trending nearly towards north-west with alternating convexes and concaves. Beneath the Huanghuaihai block,the middle and northern parts of the North China rift zone,the Moho is the shallowest in the entire region,with alternating uplifts and depressions in its shape. For the anteclise zone in the west of Shandong (山东) Province,the Moho is discontinuous for the fault depression extending in the north-west direction along Zaozhuang (枣庄) -Qufu (曲阜).     

Role of Quaternary stratigraphy on arsenic-contaminated groundwater from parts of Barak Valley, Assam, North–East India

Groundwater arsenic survey in Cachar and Karimganj districts of Barak Valley, Assam shows that people in these two districts are drinking arsenic-contaminated (max. 350 μg/l) groundwater. 66% of tubewells in these two districts have arsenic concentration above the WHO guideline value of 10 μg/l and 26% tubewells have arsenic above 50 μg/l, the Indian standards for arsenic in drinking water. 90% of installed tubewells in these two districts are shallow depth (14–40 m). Shallow tubewells were installed in Holocene Newer Alluvium aquifers are characterised by grey to black coloured fine grained organic rich argillaceous sediments and are mostly arsenic contamination in groundwater. Plio-Pleistocene Older Alluvium aquifers composed of shale, ferruginous sandstone, mottle clay, pebble and boulder beds, which at higher location or with thin cover of Newer Alluvium sediments are safe in arsenic contamination in groundwater. 91% of tubewell water samples show significantly higher concentrations of iron beyond its permissible limit of 1 mg/l. The iron content in these two districts varies from 0.5 to as much as 48 mg/l. Most of the arsenic contaminated villages of Cachar and Karimganj districts are located in entrenched channels and flood plains of Newer Alluvium sediments in Barak-Surma-Langai Rivers system. However, deeper tubewells (>60 m) in Plio-Pleistocene Older Alluvium aquifers would be a better option for arsenic-safe groundwater. The arsenic in groundwater is getting released from associated Holocene sediments which were likely deposited from the surrounding Tertiary Barail hill range.     

Characteristics and Classification of the Geothermal Gradient in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Plain,China

Mathematical Geosciences - Study of the characteristics and classification of geothermal gradients can effectively guide the exploration and development of geothermal resources. In this paper, we...     

Quaternary Activity of the Monastir and Grombalia Fault Systems in the North‒Eastern Tunisia (Seismotectonic Implication)

The Monastir and Grombalia fault systems consist of three strands that the northern segment corresponds to Hammamet and Grombalia faults. The southern strand represents Monastir Fault also referred to as the Skanes-Khnis Fault. These NW-trends are observed continuously in the major outcropping features of north-eastern Tunisia including both the Cap Bon peninsula and the Sahel domain. Along the Hammamet Fault, the north-eastern strand of Grombalia fault system, left lateral drainage offset of amount 220 m is found in Fawara valley. To the South, the left lateral movement is occurred along the Monastir Fault based on 180 m of Tyrrhenian terrace displacement. Field observations supported by satellite images suggest that the Monastir and Grombalia fault systems appear to slip mostly laterally with components of normal dip slip. Assuming the development of the stream networks during the Riss-Würm interglacial (115000–125000 years) and the age of the Tyrrhenian terrace (121 ± 10 ka), the strike slip rates of the Hammamet and Monastir faults are calculated in the range of 1.5–1.8 mm/yr. There vertical slip rates are estimated to be 0.06 and 0.26 mm/yr, respectively. These data are consistent with the displacement rate in the Pelagian shelf (1–2 mm/yr) but they are below the convergence rate of African-Eurasian plates (8 mm/yr). Our seismotectonics study reveals that a maximum earthquake of Mw = 6.5 could occur every 470 years in the Hammamet fault zone and Mw = 6–every 263 years in the Monastir fault zone.     

Chemical and strontium isotopic characteristics of shallow groundwater in the Ordos Desert Plateau,North China: Implications for the dissolved Sr source and water–rock interactions

In this study, the chemical and Sr isotopic compositions of shallow groundwater and rainwater in the Ordos Desert Plateau, North China, and river water from the nearby Yellow River, are investigated to determine the dissolved Sr source and water–rock interactions, and quantify the relative Sr contribution from each end-member. Three groundwater systems have been identified, namely, GWS-1, GWS-2 and GWS-3 according to the watershed distribution in the Ordos Desert Plateau. Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ are the most dominant cations in GWS-1, while Na⁺ is dominant in GWS-3. In addition, there is more SO₄²⁻ and less Cl⁻ in GWS-1 than in GWS-3. The shallow groundwater in GWS-2 seems to be geochemically between that in GWS-1 and GWS-3. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of the shallow groundwater are high in GWS-1 and GWS-2 and are low in GWS-3. By geochemically comparing the nearby Yellow River, local precipitation and deep groundwater, the shallow groundwater is recharged only by local precipitation. The ionic and isotopic ratios indicate that carbonate dissolution is an important process controlling the chemistry of the shallow groundwater. The intensity of the water–rock interactions varies among the three groundwater systems and even within each groundwater system. Three end-members controlling the groundwater chemistry are isotopically identified: (1) precipitation infiltration, (2) carbonate dissolution and (3) silicate weathering. The relative Sr contributions of the three end-members show that precipitation infiltration and carbonate dissolution are the primary sources of the shallow groundwater Sr in GWS-3 whereas only carbonate dissolution is responsible for the shallow groundwater Sr in GWS-1 and GWS-2. Silicate weathering seems insignificant towards the shallow groundwater's chemistry in the Ordos Desert Plateau. This study is helpful for understanding groundwater chemistry and managing water resources.     

The Characteristics of Fluorine in the Groundwater of North China and the Significance of Fluorite-Water Interaction to Fluorine Transportation

This paper approaches the transportation of fluorine in the groundwater ofepigene Quarternary aquifer by calculation and laboratory studies.The conclusionthat the enrichment and saturation abilities of fluorite are related to the transpor-tation of fluorine in groundwater is reached.They would be conducive to findingthe cause of regional fluorine distribution in the groundwater of North China.