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An interpretation of water recharge in karst trough zone as determined by high-resolution tracer experiments in western Hubei, China

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Abstract

To investigate the hydrogeological characteristics of the karst trough zone in China, two groundwater systems (Yuquandong [YQD] and Migongquan [MGQ]) in Sixi Valley, western Hubei, were discussed. Seven groups of tracer experiments were conducted, with consideration of regional topography, geology and hydrogeology. By means of high-resolution continuous monitors, tracer breakthrough curves (BTC) of two systems were obtained and it was found that karst conduits of YQD system were more developed. From their hydrological and hydrochemical performance, two different systems were verified with relatively independent flow paths. Additionally, boundaries of the two systems were confirmed, sub-regions of recharge were delineated, and five conceptual models of groundwater recharge were determined, which are typical of the karst trough zone of China.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the China Geological Survey (grant numbers DD20160304; DD20190824), funds of Key Laboratory of Karst Dynamics, MNR and GZAR (Institute of Karst Geology, CAGS) Guilin (KDL201703), Guangxi Key Science and Technology Innovation Base on Karst Dynamics (KDL& Guangxi202002), Key Laboratory of Karst Ecosystem and Treatment of Rocky Desertification, MNR and IRCK by UNESCO (KDL201903) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan) (CUGL180837, CUG190644). We thank our colleagues for their valuable discussions and advice and data support from Zigui Meteorological Bureau. Also, special appreciation to Prof. Dr. Julia Ellis Burnet for English proofreading of this article and to the anonymous reviewer for reviewing and providing the constructive comments and suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geological Survey, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China

    Wei Liu, Zejun Wang, Qianlong Chen, Ziqi Yan & Hong Zhou

  2. Key Laboratory of Karst Dynamics, MNR and Guangxi, Institute of Karst Geology, CAGS, Guilin, 541004, China

    Wei Liu & Wei Chen

  3. Key Laboratory of Karst Ecosystem and Treatment of Rocky Desertification, Institute of Karst Geology, CAGS, MNR, Guilin, 541004, China

    Wei Liu

  4. School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China

    Tiantian Zhang

  5. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 999077, China

    Zhaofeng Han

  6. School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430078, China

    Wei Chen

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  1. Wei Liu
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  2. Zejun Wang
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  3. Qianlong Chen
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  8. Hong Zhou
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Correspondence to Hong Zhou.

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This article is a part of a Topical Collection in Environmental Earth Sciences on Sustainable Management of Karst Natural Resources, guest edited by Drs. Sasa Malinovic and Zoran Stevanovic.

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Liu, W., Wang, Z., Chen, Q. et al. An interpretation of water recharge in karst trough zone as determined by high-resolution tracer experiments in western Hubei, China. Environ Earth Sci 79, 357 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-020-09056-6

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