Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 1412 |
| Journal | Water (Switzerland) |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue number | 10 |
| Publication status | Published - 18 May 2021 |
Abstract
Groundwater is the most unexplored element of the hydrologic cycle on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) due to harsh climate conditions. This study aims at delineating and characterizing the unexplored Zhanongtang–Ganmanong aquifer, situated in the Zhagu subcatchment of the Nam Co catchment, south-central TP. Multiple hydrogeophysical and lithological in situ field and laboratory methods are applied: depth-to-water-table measurements, grain size analysis, hydraulic empirical and field methods to estimate hydraulic conductivity (K), and analysis of electrical resistivity tomography profiles. Integration of these methods revealed the existence of a Quaternary hydrostratigraphic unit that was found to be unconsolidated, laterally heterogeneous and homogeneous over depth. The results revealed consistent K ranges of three K zones, which is in accordance with local lithology. The K ranges are applicable to other locations within the Nam Co catchment with similar lithology as in the study area without further field experiments. Permafrost was found to be absent in the study area ranging from 4730 m a.s.l. to 5200 m a.s.l. altitude. These results provide insight into the hydrogeological conditions of the TP and are useful for conceptual and numerical groundwater flow modeling to predict future changes of water fluxes and water budgets caused by climatic change, especially in remote areas.
Keywords
- Aquifer, Geophysical methods, Grain size analysis, Groundwater exploration, Hydraulic conductivity, Hydrostratigraphy, Tibetan Plateau
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Sciences(all)
- Geography, Planning and Development
- Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
- Biochemistry
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
- Aquatic Science
- Environmental Science(all)
- Water Science and Technology
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In: Water (Switzerland), Vol. 13, No. 10, 1412, 18.05.2021.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Delineation of a quaternary aquifer using integrated hydrogeological and geophysical estimation of hydraulic conductivity on the tibetan plateau, china
AU - Tran, Tuong Vi
AU - Buckel, Johannes
AU - Maurischat, Philipp
AU - Tang, Handuo
AU - Yu, Zhengliang
AU - Hördt, Andreas
AU - Guggenberger, Georg
AU - Zhang, Fan
AU - Schwalb, Antje
AU - Graf, Thomas
N1 - Funding Information: Funding: This research is a contribution to the International Research Training Group “Geo-ecosystems in transition on the Tibetan Plateau (TransTiP), funded by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG grant 317513741/GRK 2309). The publication of this article was funded by the Open Access Fund of the Leibniz Universität Hannover.
PY - 2021/5/18
Y1 - 2021/5/18
N2 - Groundwater is the most unexplored element of the hydrologic cycle on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) due to harsh climate conditions. This study aims at delineating and characterizing the unexplored Zhanongtang–Ganmanong aquifer, situated in the Zhagu subcatchment of the Nam Co catchment, south-central TP. Multiple hydrogeophysical and lithological in situ field and laboratory methods are applied: depth-to-water-table measurements, grain size analysis, hydraulic empirical and field methods to estimate hydraulic conductivity (K), and analysis of electrical resistivity tomography profiles. Integration of these methods revealed the existence of a Quaternary hydrostratigraphic unit that was found to be unconsolidated, laterally heterogeneous and homogeneous over depth. The results revealed consistent K ranges of three K zones, which is in accordance with local lithology. The K ranges are applicable to other locations within the Nam Co catchment with similar lithology as in the study area without further field experiments. Permafrost was found to be absent in the study area ranging from 4730 m a.s.l. to 5200 m a.s.l. altitude. These results provide insight into the hydrogeological conditions of the TP and are useful for conceptual and numerical groundwater flow modeling to predict future changes of water fluxes and water budgets caused by climatic change, especially in remote areas.
AB - Groundwater is the most unexplored element of the hydrologic cycle on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) due to harsh climate conditions. This study aims at delineating and characterizing the unexplored Zhanongtang–Ganmanong aquifer, situated in the Zhagu subcatchment of the Nam Co catchment, south-central TP. Multiple hydrogeophysical and lithological in situ field and laboratory methods are applied: depth-to-water-table measurements, grain size analysis, hydraulic empirical and field methods to estimate hydraulic conductivity (K), and analysis of electrical resistivity tomography profiles. Integration of these methods revealed the existence of a Quaternary hydrostratigraphic unit that was found to be unconsolidated, laterally heterogeneous and homogeneous over depth. The results revealed consistent K ranges of three K zones, which is in accordance with local lithology. The K ranges are applicable to other locations within the Nam Co catchment with similar lithology as in the study area without further field experiments. Permafrost was found to be absent in the study area ranging from 4730 m a.s.l. to 5200 m a.s.l. altitude. These results provide insight into the hydrogeological conditions of the TP and are useful for conceptual and numerical groundwater flow modeling to predict future changes of water fluxes and water budgets caused by climatic change, especially in remote areas.
KW - Aquifer
KW - Geophysical methods
KW - Grain size analysis
KW - Groundwater exploration
KW - Hydraulic conductivity
KW - Hydrostratigraphy
KW - Tibetan Plateau
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85107234374&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/w13101412
DO - 10.3390/w13101412
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85107234374
VL - 13
JO - Water (Switzerland)
JF - Water (Switzerland)
SN - 2073-4441
IS - 10
M1 - 1412
ER -