Groundwater maintains dune landscape

Chen, Jian Sheng; Li, Ling; Wang, Ji Yang; Barry, David Andrew; Sheng, Xin; Gu, Wei; Zhao, Xiao-Ling; Chen, Liang

doi:10.1038/432459a

Cited by 185 publications

(141 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…2a). Therefore, the isotope evidence points to the Qilian Mountains as a main source region for groundwater and lake water in the BJD, as observed previously (Chen et al, 2004). Wu et al (2017) ruled out the Qilian Mountains as a recharge area for groundwater in the BJD based on the large isotopic difference between the GMWL-EL2 intersection and data from water samples mainly collected from the Shiyang River watershed (Li et al, 2016), which is located in the eastern lower area of the Qilian Mountains.…”

Section: Reanalysis On the Origin Of Groundwater In The Bjdsupporting

confidence: 76%

“…We suggest that, due to geological activities, various southwest-northeast deep fault systems exist between the Qilian Mountains and the desert (Chen et al, 2006). Based on the geological conditions and geochemical evidence (helium results), these large deep fault systems are hypothesized to act as a quick passage for the groundwater (Chen et al, 2006(Chen et al, , 2004(Chen et al, , 2012, which explains the detectable tritium in the groundwater.…”

Section: Reanalysis On the Origin Of Groundwater In The Bjdmentioning

confidence: 89%

“…However, this conclusion is not supported by the corrected mean precipitation isotope values, which are weighted by the precipitation rate. Indeed, the available isotopic evidence shows that modern precipitation on the Qilian Mountains is more likely to be the main source of the groundwater and lake water in the BJD, as found by Chen et al (2004). …”

mentioning

confidence: 85%

“…The Badain Jaran Desert (BJD) is characterized by a unique landscape that contains a large number of lakes and the world's largest stationary sand dunes maintained by groundwater (Chen et al, 2004). However, the origin of the groundwater remains uncertain (Dong et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They suggested that the BJD groundwater is derived primarily from modern meteoric water from local areas, including the southeastern adjacent small mountains. Based on isotopic evidence, the authors ruled out other hypotheses on the groundwater source, including fossil groundwater (Gates et al, 2008;Ma and Edmunds, 2006;Wang et al, 2015; and snowmelt from the Qilian Mountains, 500 km (center-to-center distance) southwest of the desert (Chen et al, 2004(Chen et al, , 2006.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comment on “Origin of water in the Badain Jaran Desert, China: new insight from isotopes” by Wu et al. (2017)

Zhan

Chen

et al. 2018

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. Precipitation isotope data were used to determine the origin of groundwater in the Badain Jaran Desert (BJD) in the study of Wu et al. (2017). Both precipitation and its isotope composition vary seasonally, so arithmetic averages of precipitation isotope values poorly represent the isotope composition of meteoric water. Their finding that the BJD groundwater is recharged by modern meteoric water from local areas including the southeastern adjacent mountains was based on arithmetic averaging. However, this conclusion is not supported by the corrected mean precipitation isotope values, which are weighted by the precipitation rate. Indeed, the available isotopic evidence shows that modern precipitation on the Qilian Mountains is more likely to be the main source of the groundwater and lake water in the BJD, as found by Chen et al. (2004).

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Section: Reanalysis On the Origin Of Groundwater In The Bjdsupporting

confidence: 76%

Section: Reanalysis On the Origin Of Groundwater In The Bjdmentioning

confidence: 89%

mentioning

confidence: 85%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comment on “Origin of water in the Badain Jaran Desert, China: new insight from isotopes” by Wu et al. (2017)

Zhan

Chen

et al. 2018

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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Hydrological Cycle in the Heihe River Basin and Its Implication for Water Resource Management in Endorheic Basins

et al. 2018

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Endorheic basins around the world are suffering from water and ecosystem crisis. To pursue sustainable development, quantifying the hydrological cycle is fundamentally important. However, knowledge gaps exist in how climate change and human activities influence the hydrological cycle in endorheic basins. We used an integrated ecohydrological model, in combination with systematic observations, to analyze the hydrological cycle in the Heihe River Basin, a typical endorheic basin in arid region of China. The water budget was closed for different landscapes, river channel sections, and irrigation districts of the basin from 2001 to 2012. The results showed that climate warming, which has led to greater precipitation, snowmelt, glacier melt, and runoff, is a favorable factor in alleviating water scarcity. Human activities, including ecological water diversion, cropland expansion, and groundwater overexploitation, have both positive and negative effects. The natural oasis ecosystem has been restored considerably, but the overuse of water in midstream and the use of environmental flow for agriculture in downstream have exacerbated the water stress, resulting in unfavorable changes in surface‐ground water interactions and raising concerns regarding how to fairly allocate water resources. Our results suggest that the water resource management in the region should be adjusted to adapt to a changing hydrological cycle, cropland area must be reduced, and the abstraction of groundwater must be controlled. To foster long‐term benefits, water conflicts should be handled from a broad socioeconomic perspective. The findings can provide useful information on endorheic basins to policy makers and stakeholders around the world.

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Sand dune stabilization reduces infiltration and soil moisture: a case study from the northern Great Plains

Hugenholtz

Koenig

2013

Ecohydrology

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Throughout the northern Great Plains of North America, there are large tracts of vegetation-stabilized aeolian dune fields; some have transformed from desert-like conditions to grassland only within the last 200 years. Here, we examine how this transformation has affected vadose zone hydrology by comparing infiltration and soil moisture on stabilized and active dunes at a dune field in Saskatchewan, Canada. At one active and one stabilized dune, we measured soil moisture dynamics throughout the 2010 growing season with time-domain reflectometry sensors installed at four depths down to 200 cm below the surface. We also acquired soil samples from two active and two stabilized dunes ten times throughout the 2010 growing season to measure soil moisture dynamics down to 500 cm below the surface. Results indicate that while soil moisture was elevated at 25 cm depth in the stabilized dunes during the 2010 growing season, below that level soil, moisture was significantly lower than the active dunes and also more variable down to 500 cm. A comparison of surface hydraulic conductivity between one active dune and one stabilized dune showed that it was more than one order of magnitude greater at the former, presumably due to the elevated levels of silt, clay, and organics at the surface of the stabilized dune, which reduce the infiltration rate. Overall, we interpret the main difference in soil moisture dynamics to be caused by the presence of transpiring vegetation, as well as changes in soil properties attributed to the establishment of vegetation. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that during dune stabilization, the establishment of vegetation reduces profile soil moisture recharge.

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Groundwater maintains dune landscape

Cited by 185 publications

References 9 publications

Comment on “Origin of water in the Badain Jaran Desert, China: new insight from isotopes” by Wu et al. (2017)

Comment on “Origin of water in the Badain Jaran Desert, China: new insight from isotopes” by Wu et al. (2017)

Hydrological Cycle in the Heihe River Basin and Its Implication for Water Resource Management in Endorheic Basins

Sand dune stabilization reduces infiltration and soil moisture: a case study from the northern Great Plains

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