Extreme rainfall effects on water table dynamics and surface water-groundwater interactions: Insights from a semiarid alluvial fan in Northern China

IF 5.9 1区地球科学 Q1 ENGINEERING, CIVIL

Journal of Hydrology Pub Date : 2025-03-23 DOI:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.133157

Yidong Wang , Ying Hu , Huixia Wang , Jian Luo , Deyi Hou

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Understanding the hydrological impacts of extreme precipitation events is crucial for sustainable water resource management and building resilience to climate change. Alluvial fans, significant geomorphological features in hydrogeology, are widely distributed globally, especially in arid and semi-arid regions, and often serve as vital sources of groundwater recharge. This study investigates the hydrological and hydrogeological dynamics of an alluvial fan in the North China Plain, focusing on the impact of the most intense rainfall in 140 years, which delivered a total of 381.1 mm of precipitation in a three-day period. Utilizing field monitoring data, isotopic analysis, and GIS-based modeling, we analyzed runoff generation, groundwater table fluctuations, and groundwater recharge. Results show that the extreme rainfall activated ephemeral river channels, substantially influencing surface runoff. We ultimately identified three different groundwater response patterns: quick responses based on rapid infiltration in the proximity to the mountains, delayed responses based on slow infiltration farther from the mountains, and specific confined aquifer responses characterized by a rapid increase, stabilization, decline, and subsequent gradual increase in groundwater level, possibly influenced by pore-water pressure changes. In addition, we identified stratified groundwater recharge processes based on isotope data and water table fluctuations, with shallow aquifers being rapidly recharged from local precipitation and deeper aquifers receiving slower, lateral recharge from mountainous regions. Our study underscores the important roles of topography and geological stratification in shaping hydrological processes. Further, the findings enhance understanding of groundwater recharge process in alluvial fans in response to extreme precipitation events, providing new insights into sustainable water resource management and flood mitigation strategies.

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极端降雨对地下水位动态和地表水-地下水相互作用的影响：来自中国北方半干旱冲积扇的启示

了解极端降水事件的水文影响对于可持续水资源管理和建立应对气候变化的能力至关重要。冲积扇是水文地质学中重要的地貌特征，在全球范围内广泛分布，特别是在干旱和半干旱地区，往往是地下水补给的重要来源。本研究研究了华北平原某冲积扇的水文地质动力学，重点研究了140年来最强烈的一次降雨对该冲积扇水文地质动力学的影响。利用野外监测数据、同位素分析和基于gis的建模，我们分析了径流产生、地下水位波动和地下水补给。结果表明，极端降雨激活了短暂河道，显著影响了地表径流。我们最终确定了三种不同的地下水响应模式：靠近山区快速入渗的快速响应，远离山区缓慢入渗的延迟响应，以及可能受孔隙水压力变化影响的地下水水位快速增加、稳定、下降和随后逐渐增加的特定承压含水层响应。此外，我们根据同位素数据和地下水位波动确定了分层地下水补给过程，浅层含水层从当地降水中快速补给，而较深含水层从山区获得较慢的横向补给。我们的研究强调了地形和地质分层在塑造水文过程中的重要作用。此外，该研究结果增强了对冲积扇响应极端降水事件的地下水补给过程的理解，为可持续水资源管理和洪水缓解策略提供了新的见解。

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来源期刊

Journal of Hydrology 地学-地球科学综合

CiteScore

11.00

自引率

12.50%

发文量

1309

审稿时长

7.5 months

期刊介绍： The Journal of Hydrology publishes original research papers and comprehensive reviews in all the subfields of the hydrological sciences including water based management and policy issues that impact on economics and society. These comprise, but are not limited to the physical, chemical, biogeochemical, stochastic and systems aspects of surface and groundwater hydrology, hydrometeorology and hydrogeology. Relevant topics incorporating the insights and methodologies of disciplines such as climatology, water resource systems, hydraulics, agrohydrology, geomorphology, soil science, instrumentation and remote sensing, civil and environmental engineering are included. Social science perspectives on hydrological problems such as resource and ecological economics, environmental sociology, psychology and behavioural science, management and policy analysis are also invited. Multi-and interdisciplinary analyses of hydrological problems are within scope. The science published in the Journal of Hydrology is relevant to catchment scales rather than exclusively to a local scale or site.