Hydraulic Relationship between Hulun Lake and Cretaceous Confined Aquifer Using Hydrochemistry and Isotopic Data

Hengshuai Gao, Wenbao Li (), Sheng Zhang, Yulong Tao and Xin Guo
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Hengshuai Gao: Key Laboratory of Water Resources Utilization and Protection, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China
Wenbao Li: Key Laboratory of Water Resources Utilization and Protection, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China
Sheng Zhang: Key Laboratory of Water Resources Utilization and Protection, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China
Yulong Tao: Key Laboratory of Water Resources Utilization and Protection, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China
Xin Guo: Key Laboratory of Water Resources Utilization and Protection, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 5, 1-14

Abstract: Groundwater is one of the key sources of water recharge in Hulun Lake. In order to trace the location of the confined aquifer of the deep groundwater that recharges the lake, hydrogeochemical characteristic analysis and hydrogen and oxygen stable isotope sampling and analysis were performed on the lake water, phreatic water and multi-layer cretaceous confined water in the same region of the Hulun Lake basin. The hydraulic relationships between the lake and various aquifers were then revealed through the use of hydrogen radioisotopes. The results show that the lake water, phreatic water and confined water are of the HCO 3 −Na type, and the content of stable isotopes (δD, δ 18 O) and radioisotopes (δ 3 H) is in the order of “confined water < phreatic water < lake water”. The main influencing factor of hydrochemical evolution in the phreatic water is the dissolution of feldspar; its age is about 26.66 years, and its renewal rate is nearly 3.75%. The main influencing factor of hydrochemical evolution in the K 1 y 1 , K 1 y 2 and K 1 d 1 Cretaceous confined water is evaporite dissolution (i.e., halite, gypsum); their renewal rate is less than 1%, and the discharge condition deteriorates with the increase in the aquifer roof burial depth. Phreatic water in the Jalainur Depression Zone supplies Hulun Lake under the condition of the existence of permafrost cover. The K 1 d 2 confined water of the Lower Cretaceous–Damoguaihe Formation Coal Group II, with the deepest roof burial depth (441 m), shows significant differences in hydrochemistry, δD, δ 18 O and δ 3 H from the other K 1 y 1 , K 1 y 2 and K 1 d 1 Cretaceous confined waters in the same basin. The renewal rate (nearly 4.32%) of the K 1 d 2 confined water is better than that of the phreatic water, and its hydrochemical characteristics are similar to those of the lake water and phreatic water, indicating that the Cuogang Fault and Xishan Fault, caused by crustal faults, resulted in the hydraulic relationship between the K 1 d 2 confined water, lake water and phreatic water, resulting in drastic interannual changes in the lake water level. This study of lake–groundwater interactions in cold and arid regions can provide a theoretical basis for lakes’ sustainable development.

Keywords: hydrochemistry; isotope tracer; groundwater; hydraulic relationship; Hulun Lake (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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