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A multi-method approach to quantify groundwater/surface water-interactions in the semi-arid Hailiutu River basin, northwest China

Une approche pluridisciplinaire pour quantifier les interactions eau superficielle - eau souterraine dans le bassin semi-aride de la rivière Hailiutu, Nord-Ouest de la Chine

Un enfoque multi método para cuantificar las interacciones entre el agua superficial y el agua subterránea en la cuenca semiárida del Río Hailiutu, noroeste de China

多方法定量评价中国西北半干旱地区海流图流域地表水和地下水交互关系

Uma abordagem multi-metodológica para a quantificação das interações da água subterrânea com a água superficial na bacia semiárida do rio Hailiutu, noroeste da China

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Abstract

Identification and quantification of groundwater and surface-water interactions provide important scientific insights for managing groundwater and surface-water conjunctively. This is especially relevant in semi-arid areas where groundwater is often the main source to feed river discharge and to maintain groundwater dependent ecosystems. Multiple field measurements were taken in the semi-arid Bulang sub-catchment, part of the Hailiutu River basin in northwest China, to identify and quantify groundwater and surface-water interactions. Measurements of groundwater levels and stream stages for a 1-year investigation period indicate continuous groundwater discharge to the river. Temperature measurements of stream water, streambed deposits at different depths, and groundwater confirm the upward flow of groundwater to the stream during all seasons. Results of a tracer-based hydrograph separation exercise reveal that, even during heavy rainfall events, groundwater contributes much more to the increased stream discharge than direct surface runoff. Spatially distributed groundwater seepage along the stream was estimated using mass balance equations with electrical conductivity measurements during a constant salt injection experiment. Calculated groundwater seepage rates showed surprisingly large spatial variations for a relatively homogeneous sandy aquifer.

Résumé

L’identification et la quantification des interactions eau souterraine - eau superficielle permettent une bonne compréhension scientifique, importante pour la gestion conjointe des eaux de nappe et de surface. Ceci est particulièrement vrai dans les zones semi-arides ou l’eau souterraine est souvent la principale source d’alimentation de la rivière et le facteur de maintien des écosystèmes dépendants. De multiples mesures de terrain ont été faites dans le Bulang semi-aride, sous bassin versant de la Rivière Hailiutu dans le Nord-Ouest de la Chine, pour identifier et quantifier les interactions eau profonde souterraine - eau superficielle. Les mesures du niveau de la nappe et de la hauteur de cours d’eau durant une période d’investigation de un an indiquent une décharge continue de la nappe dans la rivière. Les mesures des températures des cours d’eau, des sédiments du lit des cours d’eau à différentes profondeurs et de la nappe, confirment le mouvement ascendant de l’eau de l’aquifère vers la rivière durant toutes les saisons. Les résultats d’un essai d’individualisation des écoulements par traçage révèlent que, même durant des évènements pluvieux majeurs, la nappe contribue beaucoup plus à l’augmentation du débit de décharge que l’écoulement superficiel direct. La distribution spatiale des émergences le long du cours d’eau a été déterminée en utilisant les équations de balance massique, grâce à des mesures de la conductivité électrique durant un test d’injection constante d’eau salée. La distribution des émergences calculée montre de larges variations spatiales, surprenantes dans un aquifère sableux relativement homogène.

Resumen

La identificación y cuantificación de las interacciones entre el agua subterránea y el agua superficial proporciona importantes conocimientos científicos para manejar conjuntamente el agua superficial y el agua subterránea. Esto es especialmente relevante en áreas semiáridas donde el agua subterránea es a menudo la fuente principal para alimentar la descarga de los ríos y mantener los ecosistemas dependientes del agua subterránea. Se realizaron múltiples mediciones de campo en la cuenca semiárida de Bulang, parte de la cuenca del río Hailiutu en el noreste de China, para identificar y cuantificar las interacciones entre el agua superficial y el agua subterránea. Las medidas de los niveles de agua subterránea y de los estados de la corriente durante un período de investigación de un año indican una descarga continua de agua subterránea al río. Las medidas de la temperatura del agua de la corriente, de los depósitos en el cauce a diferentes profundidades, y del agua subterránea confirman el flujo ascendente del agua subterránea hacia la corriente durante todas las estaciones. Los resultados del ejercicio de separación de los hidrogramas basado en trazadores reveló que, aún durante eventos de fuertes lluvias, el agua subterránea contribuye mucho más al incremento de la descarga en la corriente que el escurrimiento superficial directo. La distribución espacial de la filtración del agua subterránea a lo largo de la corriente fue estimada usando ecuaciones de balance de masa con medidas de la conductividad eléctrica durante un experimento de inyección constante de sal. La tasa calculada de filtración de agua subterránea mostró variaciones espaciales sorprendentemente grandes para un acuífero arenoso relativamente homogéneo.

摘要

定量分析地表水和地下水的交互作用关系能为科学管理地表水和地下水资源提供依据,在主要由地下水补给地表水、维持依存于地下水的生态系统的半干旱地区尤为重要。本文在中国西北半干旱地区海流图流域的补浪河子流域采用多种方法定量分析地下水和地表水交互作用关系:地下水位和河水水位观测表明地下水持续排泄至河流;分析河水、河床不同深度的温度得出地下水持续排泄至河流;水化学和同位素基流分割结果也显示即使在降雨期间河水也是主要来源于地下水排泄。在溶解法测流试验期间进一步通过测量河水沿程电导率的方法估算了某一河段沿程地下水排泄量的变化,在相对均一的砂岩含水层,地下水沿河流的排泄量也表现出较大的空间分布差异。

Resumo

A identificação e a quantificação das interações entre a água subterrânea e a água superficial fornecem importantes conhecimentos para a gestão conjunta da água subterrânea e da água superficial. Isto é especialmente relevante em áreas semiáridas onde a água subterrânea é com frequência a principal origem para alimentação de caudais fluviais e para a manutenção de ecossistemas dependentes da água subterrânea. Foram efetuadas diversas medidas de campo na sub-bacia semiárida de Bulang, parcela da bacia do rio Hailiutu, no noroeste da China, para identificar e quantificar as interações entre a água subterrânea e a superficial. As medidas de níveis de água subterrânea e de escalas limnimétricas no rio, efetuadas durante um período de investigação de um ano, indicam uma descarga contínua de água subterrânea ao rio. As medidas da temperatura da água do rio, os depósitos fluviais a diferentes profundidades e a água subterrânea confirmam o fluxo ascensional da água subterrânea em direção ao rio durante todas as estações. Os resultados de um exercício de separação de componentes de um hidrograma baseado em traçadores revelam que, mesmo durante eventos fortemente pluviosos, a água subterrânea contribui muito mais para o aumento do caudal de descarga fluvial que o escoamento superficial direto. Foi estimada a drenagem difusa da água subterrânea ao longo do rio utilizando equações de balanço de massa com medidas da condutividade elétrica durante uma experiência de injeção constante de sal. As taxas de drenagem da água subterrânea que foram calculadas mostraram variações espaciais grandes, inesperadas para um aquífero arenoso relativamente homogéneo.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Asia Facility for China project “Partnership for research and education in water and ecosystem interactions”, the Honor Power Foundation (China) and UNESCO-IHE and its donors (Delft, The Netherlands), the Groundwater Circulation and Rational Development in the Ordos Plateau (GCRDOP) project (Project Code: 1212010634204), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant 41002084). Assistance in the field by Xi’an Center of Geological Survey is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), 10083, Beijing, China

    Zhi Yang

  2. UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, PO Box 3015, 2601 DA, Delft, The Netherlands

    Zhi Yang, Yangxiao Zhou, Jochen Wenninger & Stefan Uhlenbrook

  3. Institute of Huai River Water Resources Protection, 233001, Bengbu, China

    Zhi Yang

  4. Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Water Resources Section, Delft University of Technology, PO Box 5048, 2600 GA, Delft, The Netherlands

    Jochen Wenninger & Stefan Uhlenbrook

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  1. Zhi Yang
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Yang, Z., Zhou, Y., Wenninger, J. et al. A multi-method approach to quantify groundwater/surface water-interactions in the semi-arid Hailiutu River basin, northwest China. Hydrogeol J 22, 527–541 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-013-1091-z

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