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Geochemical evidence of ions’ sources and influences of meteorological factors on hydrochemistry of glacier snow meltwater in the source region of the Yangtze River

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Abstract

This study discusses the hydrochemical components of glacier snow meltwater using the correlation analysis, factor analysis, enrichment factor, and the Gibbs diagram. Water samples were collected from June to September in 2016 and 2017. The results obtained the monthly changes for anions and cations in Yuzhufeng (YZG) and Jianggudiru Glacier (JGG) were notably, with highest concentration of ions recorded in September. The effect of seasonal variation on the chemical characteristics of glacier snow meltwater was determined by studying the interaction between the glacier snow meltwater and the control source. The change of hydrochemical characteristics and hydrological cycle is positive in cold areas under the climate warming. The hydrochemical characteristics of glacier snow meltwater in study area were mainly contributed by crustal sources such as evaporates and carbonate rocks. Certainly, a small part of human input cannot be ignored. There was a close relationship between temperature and hydrochemical characteristics, and the relationship between meteorological factors and other ions except K+ was not clear. It is concluded that the water chemistry of glacier snow meltwater in the Alpine region is mainly controlled by the temperature factor-led ablation.

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source region of the Yangtze River [a: the distribution of sampling point, stream, cities and towns; b: geological map of the study area (Jiang et al. 2015)]

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Open Foundation of MOE Key Laboratory of Western China’s Environmental System, Lanzhou University and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (lzujbky-2018-kb01), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (lzujbky-2020-kb54), National Nature Science Foundation of China (91547102), National Key R&D Program of China (Grant number: 2017YFC0404305), The Youth Innovation Promotion Association CAS (2013274), Gansu Province Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (1506RJDA282).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Western China’s Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth Environmental Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, China

    Li Zong-Jie, Ma Jin-Zhu, Yu Hai-Chao & Yang Huan

  2. Key Laboratory of Ecohydrology of Inland River Basin/Gansu Qilian Mountains Ecology Research Center, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Li Zong-Jie, Li Zong-Xing & Gui Juan

  3. College of Forestry, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, Gansu, China

    Song Ling-Ling

  4. Jiangxi Province Water Conservancy Planning and Designing Institute, Nanchang, 330029, China

    Yang Huan

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  1. Li Zong-Jie
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  3. Yu Hai-Chao
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Correspondence to Li Zong-Jie or Ma Jin-Zhu.

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Zong-Jie, L., Jin-Zhu, M., Hai-Chao, Y. et al. Geochemical evidence of ions’ sources and influences of meteorological factors on hydrochemistry of glacier snow meltwater in the source region of the Yangtze River. Environ Earth Sci 79, 235 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-020-08993-6

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