Articles | Volume 28, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-719-2024
© Author(s) 2024. 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-28-719-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
16 Feb 2024
Research article |
| 16 Feb 2024
| 16 Feb 2024
Soil water sources and their implications for vegetation restoration in the Three-Rivers Headwater Region during different ablation periods
Zongxing Li
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Observation and Research Station of Eco-Hydrology and National Park by Stable Isotope Tracing in Qilian Mountains/ Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
College of Geography and Environmental Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Juan Gui
Observation and Research Station of Eco-Hydrology and National Park by Stable Isotope Tracing in Qilian Mountains/ Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
Qiao Cui
Observation and Research Station of Eco-Hydrology and National Park by Stable Isotope Tracing in Qilian Mountains/ Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
Jian Xue
Observation and Research Station of Eco-Hydrology and National Park by Stable Isotope Tracing in Qilian Mountains/ Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
Fa Du
Observation and Research Station of Eco-Hydrology and National Park by Stable Isotope Tracing in Qilian Mountains/ Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
Lanping Si
Observation and Research Station of Eco-Hydrology and National Park by Stable Isotope Tracing in Qilian Mountains/ Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
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Cited
17 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Pore evolution and infiltration mechanisms under freezing saline water irrigation: Cross-scale evidence from X-ray CT and stable isotopes J. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.135863
- Resilience-based crop patterns navigate multi-dimensional trade-offs in arid northwestern China K. Xu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.115060
- Quantitative analysis of the contribution of moisture recycling to precipitation in the cold region L. Zongjie et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2024.107729
- Environmental impact of atmospheric inorganic nitrogen wet deposition in the interaction influence area of atmospheric circulation Y. Zhao et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118877
- Effectiveness and driving mechanisms of ecological conservation and restoration in Sichuan Province, China W. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.113238
- Quantifying the water contributions and carbon consequences of permafrost degradation on the Tibetan Plateau T. Lan et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scib.2025.09.029
- The Effect of Glacier Ablation on Vegetation Coverage C. Xu https://doi.org/10.62051/ijnres.v3n3.13
- Dynamic stability and resilience of water conservation in the three-river headwaters region: Trajectory differentiation and causal mechanisms R. Jin et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.115511
- Increased rainfall alters soil moisture dynamics in alpine meadows Z. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.134681
- Impact of permafrost degradation on alpine grasslands in the Three-Rivers Headwater Region Y. Pan & L. Liu https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2025.109631
- Characteristics and sources of soil moisture dynamics in alpine meadows under simulated warming conditions Z. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117595
- Decomposing multisource uncertainties in ecosystem service assessment: A quantitative framework and application to water conservation in the Three-River-Source Region of China H. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2026.125947
- Water budgets in an arid and alpine permafrost basin: Observations from the High Mountain Asia Q. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accre.2024.09.005
- The variation of soil water content and its driving factors in different melting periods in the Three River Headwaters Region: A implication for vegetation restoration Z. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2024.107495
- Infiltration mechanism and source of soil water in alpine meadows based on stable isotope tracing L. Zongjie et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117224
- Effect of growing season length on gross primary productivity increased in the Jinsha River watershed M. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpe/rtae108
- Advancing hydrological understanding in cold regions: development and application of the WEP model for lateral flow estimation in the Great Lakes Depression of Mongolia B. Dorjsuren et al. https://doi.org/10.2166/nh.2025.149
17 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Pore evolution and infiltration mechanisms under freezing saline water irrigation: Cross-scale evidence from X-ray CT and stable isotopes J. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.135863
- Resilience-based crop patterns navigate multi-dimensional trade-offs in arid northwestern China K. Xu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.115060
- Quantitative analysis of the contribution of moisture recycling to precipitation in the cold region L. Zongjie et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2024.107729
- Environmental impact of atmospheric inorganic nitrogen wet deposition in the interaction influence area of atmospheric circulation Y. Zhao et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118877
- Effectiveness and driving mechanisms of ecological conservation and restoration in Sichuan Province, China W. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.113238
- Quantifying the water contributions and carbon consequences of permafrost degradation on the Tibetan Plateau T. Lan et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scib.2025.09.029
- The Effect of Glacier Ablation on Vegetation Coverage C. Xu https://doi.org/10.62051/ijnres.v3n3.13
- Dynamic stability and resilience of water conservation in the three-river headwaters region: Trajectory differentiation and causal mechanisms R. Jin et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.115511
- Increased rainfall alters soil moisture dynamics in alpine meadows Z. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.134681
- Impact of permafrost degradation on alpine grasslands in the Three-Rivers Headwater Region Y. Pan & L. Liu https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2025.109631
- Characteristics and sources of soil moisture dynamics in alpine meadows under simulated warming conditions Z. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117595
- Decomposing multisource uncertainties in ecosystem service assessment: A quantitative framework and application to water conservation in the Three-River-Source Region of China H. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2026.125947
- Water budgets in an arid and alpine permafrost basin: Observations from the High Mountain Asia Q. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accre.2024.09.005
- The variation of soil water content and its driving factors in different melting periods in the Three River Headwaters Region: A implication for vegetation restoration Z. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2024.107495
- Infiltration mechanism and source of soil water in alpine meadows based on stable isotope tracing L. Zongjie et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117224
- Effect of growing season length on gross primary productivity increased in the Jinsha River watershed M. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpe/rtae108
- Advancing hydrological understanding in cold regions: development and application of the WEP model for lateral flow estimation in the Great Lakes Depression of Mongolia B. Dorjsuren et al. https://doi.org/10.2166/nh.2025.149
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 28 Sep 2026
Short summary
Precipitation, ground ice, and snow meltwater accounted for approximately 72 %, 20 %, and 8 % of soil water during the early ablation period. Snow is completely melted in the heavy ablation period and the end of the ablation period, and precipitation contributed about 90 % and 94 % of soil water, respectively. These recharges also vary markedly with altitude and vegetation type.
Precipitation, ground ice, and snow meltwater accounted for approximately 72 %, 20 %, and 8 % of...
