Journal of Hydrology最新文献

{"title":"Ranking River basins for stream temperature research and monitoring in the contiguous United States","authors":"Ramon C. Naranjo ,&nbsp;Zachary C. Johnson ,&nbsp;Lisa V. Lucas ,&nbsp;Nancy T. Baker ,&nbsp;Christopher T. Green","doi":"10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.133163","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.133163","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>There is a need to prioritize research and data collection in river basins by integrating information from environmental, ecological, and socioeconomic datasets to maintain acceptable water quality for human uses and ecosystem health. Multiple anthropogenic and natural stressors are responsible for driving changes in stream temperatures that can alter ecosystems and degrade water quality. These stressors are variable spatially and temporally, which can be challenging for prioritizing monitoring and research. In this study, an evaluation of variables related to stream temperature was performed for 163 candidate basins of the contiguous United States to highlight potential focal areas. Thirty variables were combined in six components: anthropogenic forcing, natural forcing, climate change, ecological sensitivity, socioeconomic sensitivity, and data availability. The components were incorporated into three themes: vulnerability of streams to thermal change, vulnerability of ecosystems, and vulnerability of communities. By evaluating each theme separately, patterns of vulnerability and potential resiliency were identified as well as consistency in ranks within the themes. For example, results of the national scale ranking indicated the Southern California Coastal basin (within California-Nevada region) was the highest-ranking priority in vulnerability of streams to thermal change and vulnerability of ecosystems. The analysis also identified vulnerable basins with gaps in monitoring. For example, the Missouri-Oahe basin (within the Northern High Plains region) was the highest-ranking priority for vulnerable communities with limitations in data availability. The ranking approach provides insight into basins that are resilient and are ideal candidates for monitoring and research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":362,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hydrology","volume":"658 ","pages":"Article 133163"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143739049","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Extreme rainfall effects on water table dynamics and surface water-groundwater interactions: Insights from a semiarid alluvial fan in Northern China","authors":"Yidong Wang ,&nbsp;Ying Hu ,&nbsp;Huixia Wang ,&nbsp;Jian Luo ,&nbsp;Deyi Hou","doi":"10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.133157","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.133157","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>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.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":362,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hydrology","volume":"657 ","pages":"Article 133157"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143716320","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Modeling carbon transfers in subtropical Chinese fir plantations: The role of stemflow and litter leachate","authors":"Haiqin Nong ,&nbsp;Weijun Shen ,&nbsp;Yuhan Huang ,&nbsp;Sidan Lyu ,&nbsp;Mingquan Zhao ,&nbsp;Xianwei Song","doi":"10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.133158","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.133158","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) plays a crucial role in forest ecosystems by facilitating carbon turnover and enabling nutrient transfer. However, the DOC fluxes in stemflow and litter leachate are often overlooked. To address this issue, a series of simulation experiments were conducted in Chinese fir (<em>Cunninghamia lanceolata</em>) plantations with trees aged 5, 8, 11 and 15 years to elucidate the impact of stemflow and litter leachate on carbon flux into the soil. A quantitative relationship was established between DOC fluxes in stemflow and litter leachate, incorporating diameter at breast height (DBH) and rainfall as variables. The average DOC flux in stemflow across the four plantations was 3.82 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹, showing an increasing trend with age from 2.89 ± 1.02 to 4.43 ± 2.11 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹. The cumulative input fluxes of DOC from stemflow and litter leachate in four plantations since planting were 272, 1020, 2021 and 3470 g C m⁻², respectively. The DOC fluxes from stemflow and litter leachate in 15-year-old Chinese fir forest accounted for 0.96 % and 57.79 % of the annual net primary productivity (680.35 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹), highlighting the significant role of DOC fluxes in the carbon cycle of these ecosystems. This simulation approach effectively estimates the fluxes of DOC in stemflow and litter leachate, thereby substantially influencing assessments of carbon budgets in forest ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":362,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hydrology","volume":"658 ","pages":"Article 133158"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143724134","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The mechanisms of hypoxia formation in a major tributary of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China","authors":"Siqian Qiu ,&nbsp;Hui Xu ,&nbsp;Lianghong Long ,&nbsp;Yanxing Han ,&nbsp;Yubo Huang ,&nbsp;Xinxin Ji ,&nbsp;Linxu Song ,&nbsp;Xingxing Zhao ,&nbsp;Zhongyong Yang ,&nbsp;Xinbo Liu ,&nbsp;Andreas Lorke ,&nbsp;Daobin Ji","doi":"10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.133141","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.133141","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hypoxia is a persistent global environmental crisis that has garnered significant attention from both the scientific community and the general public. Recent monitoring in tributaries of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) has identified hypoxic zones, yet the mechanisms underlying hypoxia in these systems remain poorly understood. This study investigates the drivers of hypoxia in the Pengxi River (PXR), a major tributary of the TGR. Field measurements reveal a significant hypoxic zone extending approximately 20 km, with dissolved oxygen concentrations nearing 0 μmol/L. The unique inflow dynamics of the PXR, characterized by warm, slow-moving waters that exacerbate stratification, provide new insights into hypoxia mechanisms in reservoir systems. Further analysis, including the ΔCO₂/ΔO₂ ratio, δ¹³C, and C/N values, indicates that microbial respiration of organic matter—primarily due to algal blooms—is a major contributor to hypoxia in the PXR. The sediment oxygen demand (SOD) was measured at an average of 14.90 ± 4.12 mmol O₂ m⁻² d⁻¹, while the vertical diffusive oxygen flux across the thermocline was 1.59 ± 1.61 mmol O₂ m⁻² d⁻¹, accounting for approximately 10 % of the oxygen consumed by sediments. By quantifying SOD and vertical oxygen flux, this study provides a comprehensive understanding of oxygen dynamics. Furthermore, this study explores potential strategies for mitigating hypoxia through optimizing upstream reservoir management in cascade systems, particularly by adjusting outlet elevations to enhance oxygen supply to the hypolimnion. These strategies offer a scalable approach to alleviating downstream hypoxia. The findings offer insights into hypoxia mechanisms in reservoir systems and provide valuable guidance for management strategies aimed at hypoxia mitigation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":362,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hydrology","volume":"658 ","pages":"Article 133141"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143724144","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The altitude effect of δ18O in precipitation and river water in a Permafrost-Underlain headwater Basin, Northeastern Tibetan Plateau, China","authors":"Xiong Xiao ,&nbsp;Xuhong Zhan ,&nbsp;Yang Wang ,&nbsp;Jinzhao Liu ,&nbsp;Huawu Wu ,&nbsp;Keshao Liu ,&nbsp;Zhengliang Yu ,&nbsp;Zhu Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.133185","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.133185","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The altitude effect of stable isotopes in precipitation and river water is crucial for understanding hydrological cycles and reconstructing paleo-altitudes. In this study, we collected precipitation and river water samples along an altitude transect in the Binggou Basin, Northeastern Tibetan Plateau, and investigated the topographical and meteorological factors influencing δ¹⁸O in precipitation and river water (δ¹⁸O_P and δ¹⁸O_R). Our findings indicate that the δ¹⁸O_P lapse rate is − 0.25 ‰ per 100 m, closely matching the global average of − 0.28 ‰ per 100 m. The δ¹⁸O_R lapse rates, determined through linear fitting considering average, lowest, and highest basin altitudes, were − 0.29 ‰, −0.10 ‰, and 0.04 ‰ per 100 m, respectively. Notably, the linear fitting, multiple linear regressions, and boosted regression trees confirmed that average basin altitude significantly influences the δ¹⁸O_R, supporting the feasibility of paleo-altitude reconstruction in this region. Analyzing δ¹⁸O_R using the sampling site altitude, which is the lowest basin altitude, may result in lower lapse rates. For comparability between studies and the reasonableness of data analysis, we recommend using the average basin altitude for such altitude effect analyses. We observed higher spring δ¹⁸O_R lapse rates compared to summer, with altitude having a lesser impact on the summer δ¹⁸O_R, likely due to the freeze–thaw cycle and seasonal shift in river water sources. Our study highlights that δ¹⁸O_R lapse rates exhibit strong seasonality and variability, influenced by the seasonal runoff generation processes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":362,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hydrology","volume":"658 ","pages":"Article 133185"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143748111","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatial and seasonal variation of groundwater geochemistry in high-grade metamorphic aquifers- implications for CKDu in Sri Lanka","authors":"Charitha Udeshani ,&nbsp;Fu-Jun Yue ,&nbsp;Rohana Chandrajith ,&nbsp;Nadeesha Hemali Koralegedara ,&nbsp;Si-Liang Li","doi":"10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.133154","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.133154","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Two-thirds of the island of Sri Lanka is considered dry land due to limited rainfall. At the same time, these regions are predominantly underlain by high-grade metamorphic rocks with limited water storage capacity. Widespread chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu), which is considered to be influenced by groundwater geochemistry and related factors, is reported in this part of the island. This study, therefore aimed to investigate the geochemical composition and seasonal variations of groundwater in metamorphic aquifers to elucidate possible relationships with the occurrence of CKDu in the dry climatic region. For this study, samples from sixty-six groundwater wells, five surface water sources and one natural spring were analyzed for major anions, cations, trace elements and stable isotopes (δ²H and δ¹⁸O) during pre- and post-monsoon periods. The results showed that the major ions in groundwater mainly derived from the weathering of silicate and carbonate minerals, while seasonal fluctuations significantly influence the geochemical composition. High ionicity in groundwater was found in the pre-monsoon period compared to the post-monsoon. Groundwater isotope compositions confirmed extensive evaporation and possible mixing with surface water during the dry period. Compared to non-CKDu clusters, EC, HCO₃^– and TH were significantly higher in CKDu hotspots, where over 70 % of samples exceeded safe drinking water limits in both sampling seasons. The co-occurrence of significantly high dissolved-Si (mean = 44 mg/L) and F⁻ (mean = 0.90 mg/L) levels in hard water (mean = 340 mg/L) showed the potential risk of their combined effect for CKDu incidence in hotspots. The study showed that groundwater in CKDu hotspots is not suitable for direct consumption due to exceeding geochemical contaminants compared to their standards. Therefore, it is recommended to improve groundwater quality and make it suitable for consumption, possibly through artificial aquifer recharge and water treatment methods. This study highlights the potential groundwater-related risk factors for CKDu in the dry zone, demonstrating that groundwater geochemistry is significantly influenced by seasonal fluctuations and underlying geological characteristics in the region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":362,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hydrology","volume":"657 ","pages":"Article 133154"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143696959","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhancing SWAT’s snow module for multivariate Elevation-dependent snow and streamflow data assimilation","authors":"Mehrad Bayat,&nbsp;Barat Mojaradi,&nbsp;Hosein Alizadeh","doi":"10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.133153","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.133153","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The orographic effect is an influential process that controls the spatial distribution of precipitation in mid-high altitude areas. The Satellite-based snow cover fraction (SCF) product from MODIS is valuable data to understand and model such processes. The SCF simulation in the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model has some limitations that restrict the use of satellite-based SCF data. Firstly, the model provides discontinuous simulation (in time) of SCF. In other words, SWAT only simulates the SCF during snowmelt periods and does not provide any estimation of SCF for days in which snow accumulation occurs. Secondly, there is a mismatch between the spatial scale of snow parameters and snow processes in the model. In other words, SWAT considers snow parameters at the coarse (basin or subbasin) scale while simulates snow processes at the fine (Hydrologic Response Unite) scale. Due to these limitations, little effort has been made to use remotely sensed data (specifically SCF) for state and/or parameter estimation of the model. These limitations mostly restrict the model states and parameters estimation at the HRU scale and when the orographic effect is considered by the model. We address these restrictions by modifying the model’s snow processes. We propose a new methodology for multivariate assimilation of MODIS SCF and in-situ streamflow observation into the model when the model considers the orographic effects. Accordingly, we design different univariate and multivariate SCF and streamflow data assimilation (DA) scenarios to estimate the states and parameters of this model. Moreover, we investigate the impact of considering the Elevation Band (EB) capability of SWAT on both types DA scenarios. Results reveal that the EB-based multivariate DA scenario significantly improves the accuracy and robustness of assimilation results. Similarly, the multivariate assimilation improves the streamflow simulation accuracy compared to univariate streamflow assimilation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":362,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hydrology","volume":"658 ","pages":"Article 133153"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143724138","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dynamic compensation operating rule of parallel reservoirs to enhance sufficient hydrological and reservoir capacity compensation","authors":"Zhentao Tang ,&nbsp;Xiaoya Deng ,&nbsp;Aijun Guo ,&nbsp;Yimin Wang ,&nbsp;Jianxia Chang ,&nbsp;Yibin Liang ,&nbsp;Zhehao Li ,&nbsp;Dingrong Zhai ,&nbsp;Rui Zheng","doi":"10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.133149","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.133149","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the joint operation of parallel reservoir systems, it is possible to effectively coordinate and compensate for water supply among reservoirs by utilizing hydrological characteristics, reservoir regulation capabilities, and geographical differences. However, the rules for joint operations of parallel reservoir systems are complex when the multiple reservoirs supply water to one user with multiple demands (such as the agricultural and ecological demand). The object of this study is proposing a set of compensation operating rules to address the above issues. The set of rules include the reservoir sequential compensation operating rule, the partial compensation operating rule, and the dynamic compensation operating rule. The rules are extracted with a case study of the parallel reservoir system of the Hotan River Basin (HRB), China. The parallel reservoir system of HRB include two large-scale reservoirs and sixteen small-scale reservoirs. The results indicate that all three type rules could realize the hydrological and reservoir capacity compensation of the parallel reservoir system. The reliability of joint water supplies reaches 100%, while the reliability of individual water supplies is 50%, 54%, and 64%, respectively under the above three operation rules. Considering the characteristics of runoff and the reservoir, the reservoir dynamic compensation operating rule allocate the water resources with the joint water demand of each user in each period. And the dynamic compensation operating rule improves the reliability of water supply. This indicates that the rule successfully addresses the water demand for various users, bridging the gap between supply capacity and joint demand. It is suitable for extreme hydrological conditions and widely applicable.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":362,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hydrology","volume":"657 ","pages":"Article 133149"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143682726","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mechanisms of groundwater recovery and land subsidence mitigation in a piedmont plain","authors":"Long Zhao ,&nbsp;Xiao-Wei Jiang ,&nbsp;Yu-Mei Li ,&nbsp;Yong Luo ,&nbsp;Kun-Chao Lei ,&nbsp;Wen-Jie Kou ,&nbsp;Fang Tian ,&nbsp;Miao-Zhuang Tian ,&nbsp;Te Sha ,&nbsp;Shu-Fang Wang ,&nbsp;Wen-Jun Cui","doi":"10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.133165","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.133165","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Groundwater recovery and land subsidence mitigation have been widely observed, but their mechanisms remain poorly known. Here, the northeastern Beijing piedmont plain is used as a natural lab to explore the mechanisms based on data of groundwater level and InSAR. Time series of groundwater level in two decades show groundwater recovery after the operation of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project since 2014. By using an explainable machine learning method, we find pumping restriction has contribution to groundwater recovery in the whole plain, whereas managed aquifer recharge (MAR) has effect in the impact zone with a width of 12 km along the river. Due to the superposition of MAR, groundwater recovery inside the impact zone is generally higher than that outside the impact zone. The higher groundwater recovery inside the impact zone in Aquifer I is a result of direct infiltration of MAR, whereas in Aquifer IV is caused by the loading effect of increased storage in shallow aquifers resulting from MAR. InSAR displacement data reveals obvious land subsidence mitigation since 2018, in the form of reduced subsidence rate or land rebound. The area of land rebound accounts for 3 % during the stage from 2018 to 2020, and increased to 47 % during the stage from 2021 to 2022. The rate of land rebound from 2021 to 2022 has a linear correlation with the proportion of sand layers, and land rebound occurs when the proportion of sand layers exceeds 50 %, which indicates the importance of elastic expansion of sand layers in land rebound.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":362,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hydrology","volume":"658 ","pages":"Article 133165"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143724635","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Groundwater leakage of an endorheic basin with extensive permafrost coverage in the western Mongolian Plateau","authors":"Shun Hu ,&nbsp;Cenhanyi Hu ,&nbsp;Keyu Meng ,&nbsp;Yinghui Long ,&nbsp;Jing Zhang ,&nbsp;Mingxin Wang ,&nbsp;Linglin Zeng ,&nbsp;Zilong Liao","doi":"10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.133175","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.133175","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Groundwater is critical for social development and ecological environment in the Great Lake Depression, a mountainous endorheic basin characterized by permafrost coverage in western Mongolian Plateau. However, its leakage to surrounding regions and the related impacts on water resource stability have never been studied under climate warming. This study attempts to meticulously examine the dynamics of groundwater leakage and its implications for terrestrial water storage (TWS) and groundwater stability from 2002 to 2022. A modified water balance approach by introducing the term of groundwater exchange, different from traditional equation for endorheic basin, was utilized to calculate groundwater leakage. The findings indicate that the average annual groundwater leakage amounts to 111.87 × 10⁸ m³/year, with approximately 89.67 % of this leakage occurring during the warm season from May to October. The study identifies three critical thresholds of the difference between precipitation (P) and evapotranspiration (ET) (P-ET = 17.39 mm, 33.74 mm, and 58.14 mm) necessary for maintaining TWS stability on an annual basis. Under conditions of climate warming, there is a notable increase in groundwater leakage, with an absolute rate of 0.83 mm/year, which is particularly pronounced during the cold season. Based on the average monthly variation of multi-year P-ET, TWS, air temperature, groundwater level and calculated groundwater leakage, it demonstrates that groundwater leakage is significantly influenced by frozen soil conditions, including both permafrost and seasonally frozen soil, which mediate the interactions between groundwater and surface water/soil water. Soil freezing during the cold season from November to April of next year, coupled with sufficient P-ET, plays a crucial role in facilitating groundwater recharge during the warm season. Additionally, according to the basic permafrost and soil properties and calculated changing rate of TWS, the northern edge of Great Lake Depression is identified as potential pathway for increased groundwater leakage. The study concludes that both TWS and groundwater are at considerable risk of decline. This research underscores the significance of groundwater leakage in the broader content of hydrological studies and practical water resource management, while also elucidating the effects of climate warming on groundwater dynamics and water resource stability in cold regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":362,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hydrology","volume":"657 ","pages":"Article 133175"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143696957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}