Groundwater in the Tibet Plateau, western China

被引:61
作者
Ge, S. [1 ]
Wu, Q. B. [2 ]
Lu, N. [3 ]
Jiang, G. L. [2 ]
Ball, L. [1 ]
机构
[1] Univ Colorado, Dept Geol Sci, Boulder, CO 80309 USA
[2] Chinese Acad Sci, State Key Lab Frozen Soil Engn, Cold & Arid Reg Environm & Engn Res Inst, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, Peoples R China
[3] Colorado Sch Mines, Dept Engn, Golden, CO 80401 USA
基金
美国国家科学基金会;
关键词
D O I
10.1029/2008GL034809
中图分类号
P [天文学、地球科学];
学科分类号
07 ;
摘要
The Tibet Plateau in western China embraces a variety of hydrologic processes. Water cycling plays an unequivocal role in buffering or intensifying climate impact on water resources and ecosystems. Although much research has focused on climatic aspects, little is known about the subsurface component of the water cycle, particularly groundwater-flow patterns and recharge and discharge characteristics. This study shows that groundwater flow in the Plateau is driven and sustained by the topographic gradient and recharge at high elevations. Groundwater is recharged at the rate of approximately 100-200 mm/year. Groundwater discharge on the order of 10(-9)-10(-7) m/s occurs in valleys and fault zones, supplying baseflow to rivers and springs. Reliable recharge is critical for sustaining the water cycle and reduced recharge could diminish groundwater replenishment to rivers and springs, adversely impacting the ecosystems on the Plateau.
引用
收藏
页数:5
相关论文
共 29 条
[1]  
BALL L, 2007, GSA ABSTR PROGRAMS, V39, P41
[2]  
BEI J, 2004, J GEOGR SCI, V14, P81
[3]   Faults as conduit-barrier systems to fluid flow in siliciclastic sedimentary aquifers [J].
Bense, V. F. ;
Person, M. A. .
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH, 2006, 42 (05)
[4]  
BIAN CY, 1990, CHINESE REGIONAL HYD
[5]  
BREDEHOEFT JD, 1992, AAPG BULL, V76, P530
[6]  
Caine JS, 1996, GEOLOGY, V24, P1025, DOI 10.1130/0091-7613(1996)024<1025:FZAAPS>2.3.CO
[7]  
2
[8]   Responses of permafrost to climate change and their environmental significance, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau [J].
Cheng, Guodong ;
Wu, Tonghua .
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-EARTH SURFACE, 2007, 112 (F2)
[9]   THE TECTONIC EVOLUTION OF THE TIBETAN PLATEAU [J].
DEWEY, JF ;
SHACKLETON, RM ;
CHANG, CF ;
SUN, YY .
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY A-MATHEMATICAL PHYSICAL AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES, 1988, 327 (1594) :379-413
[10]  
Domenico PA., 1990, PHYS CHEM HYDROGEOLO, P824