Articles | Volume 27, issue 21
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-4019-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-27-4019-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
09 Nov 2023
Research article |
| 09 Nov 2023
| 09 Nov 2023
Isotopic variations in surface waters and groundwaters of an extremely arid basin and their responses to climate change
Yu Zhang
School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Hongbing Tan
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Peixin Cong
School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Dongping Shi
School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Wenbo Rao
School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Xiying Zhang
Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, CAS, Xining 810008, China
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From 2015 to 2020, we studied the Shiyang River basin, which has the highest utilization rate of water resources and the most prominent contradiction of water use, as a typical demonstration basin to establish and improve the isotope hydrology observation system, including river source region, oasis region, reservoir channel system region, oasis farmland region, ecological engineering construction region, and salinization process region.
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We have established a stable water isotope monitoring network in the Shiyang River Basin. The monitoring station with six observation systems: river source area, oasis area, reservoir canal system area, oasis farmland area, ecological restoration area and salinized area.The data set includes the stable water isotopes of different water bodies and the meteorological and hydrological data in the Shiyang River Basin. So far, the data have been obtained for five consecutive years.
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Short summary
Rapid climate warming creates barriers for us to investigate water resource states. Using stable and radioactive isotopes, we identified the seasonality and spatiality of the water cycle in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau. Climate warming/humidification accelerates the water cycle in alpine arid basins. Precipitation and meltwater infiltrate along preferential flow paths to facilitate rapid groundwater recharge. Total water resources may show an initially increasing and then decreasing trend.
Rapid climate warming creates barriers for us to investigate water resource states. Using stable...
