Groundwater recharge via precipitation in the Badain Jaran Desert,China

Precipitation infiltration serves as a significant source of groundwater in the Badain Jaran Desert.To investigate variations in precipitation infiltration within the desert,this study collected data on moisture content and temperature from the vadose zone through in-situ field monitoring.Utilizing these data,a numerical model is employed to explore the mechanism of groundwater recharge via precipitation.The results are as follows:(1)Moisture content and temperature in the shallow vadose zone exhibit significant seasonal variations,with moisture content diminishing with increasing depth;(2)Groundwater recharge via precipitation infiltration initially increases and then decreases with groundwater level depth(GWD).Peak groundwater recharge via precipitation occurs at a GWD of 0.75 m,decreasing to merely 0.012 cm at GWDs exceeding 2 m;(3)Groundwater is no longer susceptible to phreatic water evaporation when the GWD reaches approximately 3.7 m.Therefore,GWD plays a crucial role in governing groundwater recharge via precipitation in the Badain Jaran Desert.

Geochemical Information Indicating the Water Recharge to Lakes and Immovable Megadunes in the Badain Jaran Desert

Calc-sintersdistributed in the middle of lakes and rhizoconcretions scattered at the slopes of sand dunes were observed during three explorations to the Badain Jaran Desert in the past two years. Wet sands were also found underneath the dry surface sand layers of about 20-50 cm in thickness. The geochemical parameters were measured on minerals and water samples collected from the Badain Jaran Desert and neighboring areas. The results show that the water system in the desert may be recharged from the groundwater originating from the precipitation of the Qilian Mountains and/or the Tibetan Plateau rather than the local rainfalls.

New evidence for the links between the local water cycle and the underground wet sand layer of a mega-dune in the Badain Jaran Desert, China

Scientists and the local government have great concerns about the climate change and water resources in the Badain Jaran Desert of western China. A field study for the local water cycle of a lake-desert system was conducted near the Noertu Lake in the Badain Jaran Desert from 21 June to 26 August 2008. An underground wet sand layer was observed at a depth of 20–50 cm through analysis of datasets collected during the field experiment. Measurements unveiled that the near surface air humidity increased in the nighttime. The sensible and latent heat fluxes were equivalent at a site about 50 m away from the Noertu Lake during the daytime, with mean values of 134.4 and 105.9 W/m2 respectively. The sensible heat flux was dominant at a site about 500 m away from the Noertu Lake, with a mean of 187.7 W/m2, and a mean latent heat flux of only 26.7 W/m2. There were no apparent differences for the land surface energy budget at the two sites during the night time. The latent heat flux was always negative with a mean value of –12.7 W/m2, and the sensible heat flux was either positive or negative with a mean value of 5.10 W/m2. A portion of the local precipitation was evaporated into the air and the top-layer of sand dried quickly after every rainfall event, while another portion seeped deep and was trapped by the underground wet sand layer, and supplied water for surface psammophyte growth. With an increase of air humidity and the occurrence of negative latent heat flux or water vapor condensation around the Noertu Lake during the nighttime, we postulated that the vapor was transported and condensed at the lakeward sand surface, and provided supplemental underground sand pore water. There were links between the local water cycle, underground wet sand layer, psammophyte growth and landscape evolution of the mega-dunes surrounding the lakes in the Badain Jaran Desert of western China.

Geomorphological Evolution Revealed by Aeolian Sedimentary Structure in Badain Jaran Desert on Alxa Plateau, Northwest China

The Badain Jaran Desert,located in the Alxa Plateau,Northwest China,features mega-dunes and a unique dune-lake alternation landscape.This paper presented the aeolian sediment structures of three representative dunes in the Badain Jaran Desert using ground-penetrating radar (GPR).We processed and analyzed the GPR data and investigated the feasibility of using integrated GPR and sedimentological data to reconstruct dunes structure,sedimentary environment and geomorphological evolution.The results show that the internal structures of star dune and transverse dune represent various stages of mega-dune evolution: the main deposition processes of mega-dune are similar to those of transverse dunes but have a more complicated mechanism of sand transport and deposition because of the superimposition of dunes;the upper section of the mega-dune has a structure similar to that of star dune,with vertical aggradations on top.Diffraction hyperbolae in the GPR profile indicates that the presence of ancient dunes characterized by calcareous cementation layers is involved in the maintenance of mega-dunes,and water levels,shown by continuous,sub-horizontal GPR reflections,are supposed to be closely related to mega-dunes and the interdune lakes.Outcrop of wet sand and horizontal stratifications on the GPR image indicate moisture potentials with different levels inside mega-dunes.The multiplex geomorphology in the Badain Jaran Desert is the result of global climatic undulation,the unique geographical location,the geological structural features,etc.

Eddy covariance measurements of water vapor and energy flux over a lake in the Badain Jaran Desert,China

Exploring the surface energy exchange between atmosphere and water bodies is essential to gain a quantitative understanding of regional climate change, especially for the lakes in the desert. In this study, measurements of energy flux and water vapor were performed over a lake in the Badain Jaran Desert, China from March 2012 to March 2013. The studied lake had about a 2-month frozen period （December and January） and a 10-month open-water period （February-November）. Latent heat flux （LE） and sensible heat flux （Hs） acquired using the eddy covariance technique were argued by measurements of long＇wave and shortwave radiation. Both fluxes of longwave and shortwave radiation showed seasonal dynamics and daily fluctuations during the study period. The reflected solar radiation was much higher in winter than in other seasons. LE exhibited diurnal and seasonal variations. On a daily scale, LE was low in the morning and peaked in the afternoon. From spring （April） to winter （January）, the diurnal amplitude of LE decreased slowly. LE was the dominant heat flux throughout the year and consumed most of the energy from the lake. Generally speaking, LE was mostly affected by changes in the ambient wind speed, while Hs was primarily affected by the product of water-air temperature difference and wind speed. The diurnal LE and Hs were negatively correlated in the open-water period. The variations in Hs and LE over the lake were differed from those on the nearby land surface. The mean evaporation rate on the lake was about 4.0 mm/d over the entire year, and the cumulative annual evaporation rate was 1445 mm/a. The cumulative annual evaporation was 10 times larger than the cumulative annual precipitation. Furthermore, the average evaporation rates over the frozen period and open-water period were approximately 0.6 and 5.0 mm/d, respectively. These results can be used to analyze the water balance and quantify the source of lake water in the Badain Jaran Desert.

Lake Area Changes and the main causes in the hinterland of Badain Jaran Desert during 1973–2010,China

Lake area information in the Badain Jaran Desert in 1973, 1990, 2000, and 2010 was obtained by visual interpretation and water index analysis of remote sensing images, based on the spatial and temporal characteristics of lake area changes during 37 years. Results indicated that the nttmber of lakes declined from 94 to 82 and the total surface area was reduced by 3.69 km2 during 1973-2010. The desert lake area reduced by different degrees in different periods, but this occurred most rapidly during 1973-1990. According to the statistics of lake area changes, lake area decreases mainly occurred in the lakes with areas less than 0.2 km2, while the areas of lakes greater than 0.9 km2 only fluctuated. The changes of lake areas were probably due to changes in the quantity of underground water supplies rather than the effects of local climate change or human factors.

The Role of Groundwater in the Salt Lakes in the Badain Jaran Desert,China

The Badain Jaran Desert is the second largest desert in China with tallest sand dunes on the earth.In contrast to the extremely dry climate,there are about 100 lakes spreading regularly over the depressions among high

Radionuclide dating(^(210)Pb,^(137)Cs) of recent inter-dune saline lake sediment cores in the Badain Jaran Desert,Inner Mongolia,Northwest China

Inter-dune lake sediment cores are ideal and unavailable materials for study climate and environmental changes of arid region.The precious dating of lake sediment cores is required for carrying out high resolution climate and environmental changes with these cores.The Badain Jaran inter-dune lake group embedding in the sand sea is the

Wind regimes and associated sand dune types in the hinterland of the Badain Jaran Desert,China

Wind controls the formation and development of sand dunes.Therefore,understanding the wind regimes is necessary in sand dune research.In this study,we combined the wind data from 2017 to 2019 at four meteorological stations(Cherigele and Wuertabulage stations in the lake basins,and Yikeri and Sumujilin stations on the top of sand dunes)in the hinterland of the Badain Jaran Desert in China,with high resolution Google Earth images to analyze the correlation between the wind energy environments and dune morphology.The results of data analysis indicated that both the wind direction and sand drift intensity exhibited notable spatial and temporal variations.The highest level of wind activity was observed in spring.Northwesterly and northeasterly winds were the dominant in the Badain Jaran Desert.At the Cherigele,Wuertabulage,and Yikeri stations,the drift potential(DP)was below 200.00 vector units(VU).The wind energy environments in most areas could be classified as low-energy environments.The resultant drift direction differed at different stations and in different seasons,but the overall direction was mainly the southeast.The resultant drift potential(RDP)/DP ratio was greater than 0.30 in most parts of the study area,suggesting that the wind regimes mainly exhibited unimodal or bimodal characteristics.Differences between the thermodynamic properties and the unique landscape settings of lakes and sand dunes could alter the local circulation and intensify the complexity of the wind regimes.The wind regimes were weaker in the lake basins than on the top of sand dunes.Transverse dunes were the most dominant types of sand dunes in the study area,and the wind regimes at most stations were consistent with sand dune types.Wind was thus the main dynamic factor affecting the formation of sand dunes in the Badain Jaran Desert BJD.The results of this study are important for understanding the relationship between the wind regimes and aeolian landforms of the dune field in the deserts.

Groundwater characteristics and climate and ecological evolution in the Badain Jaran Desert in the southwest Mongolian Plateau

The Badain Jaran Desert is the third largest desert in China,covering an area of 50000 km2.It lies in Northwest China,where the arid and rainless natural environment has a great impact on the climate,environment,and human living conditions.Based on the results of 1∶250000 regional hydrogeological surveys and previous researches,this study systematically investigates the circulation characteristics and resource properties of the groundwater as well as the evolution of the climate and ecological environment since the Quaternary in the Badain Jaran Desert by means of geophysical exploration,hydrogeological drilling,hydrogeochemistry,and isotopic tracing.The results are as follows.(1)The groundwater in the Badain Jaran Desert is mainly recharged through the infiltration of local precipitation and has poor renewability.The groundwater recharge in the desert was calculated to be 1.8684×10^(8)m^(3)/a using the water balance method.(2)The Badain Jaran Desert has experienced four humid stages since the Quaternary,namely MIS 13-15,MIS 5,MIS 3,and the Early‒Middle Holocene,but the climate in the desert has shown a trend towards aridity overall.The average annual temperature in the Badain Jaran Desert has significantly increased in the past 50 years.In detail,it has increased by about 2.5℃,with a higher rate in the south than in the north.Meanwhile,the precipitation amount has shown high spatial variability and the climate has shown a warming-drying trend in the past 50 years.(3)The lakes in the hinterland of the Badain Jaran Desert continuously shrank during 1973‒2015.However,the vegetation communities maintained a highly natural distribution during 2000‒2016,with the vegetation cover has increased overall.Accordingly,the Badain Jaran Desert did not show any notable expansion in that period.This study deepens the understanding of groundwater circulation and the climate and ecological evolution in the Badain Jaran Desert.It will provide a scientific basis for the rational exploitation of the groundwater resources and the ecological protection and restoration in the Badain Jaran Desert.

河西走廊中段荒漠植被组成及土壤养分空间分布特征

荒漠植被是河西走廊绿洲生态安全防护的重要屏障,研究荒漠植被组成及土壤养分分布特征对于荒漠—绿洲过渡带荒漠植被建设及管理有重要意义。本研究基于大量野外调查,并使用传统统计学与地统计学方法,研究了河西走廊中段及巴丹吉林沙漠南缘荒漠植被组成及土壤养分特征,并解析了其与环境因子的相关关系。结果表明:河西走廊中段及巴丹吉林沙漠西南缘荒漠区植物组成单一,多样性较低,且植物种类集中在少数科中,出现频度高的植物均为红砂(Reaumuria songarica)和白刺(Nitraria tangutorum)等典型荒漠植物。草本植物分布与年均降水量有较强相关性,研究区最南端的山丹县草本生物量达到108.01 g·m^(-2),在一定年降水量区间,灌木生物量随降水增加而增加,最高值出现在靠近祁连山北坡的肃州区,为134.03 g·m^(-2);降水量的增加,会显著促进草本植物的生长。研究区表层土壤有机碳、总氮、总磷含量最高,其平均值分别为2.12 g·kg^(−1)、0.25 g·kg^(−1)、0.41 g·kg^(−1),且离散程度较底层土壤更高;水平方向上三种土壤养分变异程度高,空间自相关性弱,最高值出现在张掖绿洲附近,分别达到11.22 g·kg^(−1)、1.30 g·kg^(−1)、0.73 g·kg^(−1)。主成分分析显示,造成研究区生境差异的首要因素是土壤属性,其次是降水,但不同环境因子之间也会互相影响,共同驱动了荒漠植被组成及分布。

民勤荒漠绿洲过渡带天然白刺群落多样性及其对降雨的响应

为了解降水对白刺灌丛生物多样性的影响,在民勤青土湖绿洲-荒漠过渡带流动沙丘和半固定沙丘上设立固定样地并进行生物多样性调查,结合年降水量,利用统计学原理和方法开展白刺灌丛群落对降雨的响应研究.结果表明:在流动沙丘和半固定沙丘中,白刺群落组成对降水的响应明显;在白刺群落中,1年生草本对降雨响应强烈,多年生草本和灌木半灌木对降雨响应不显著;群落中植物种数、物种植株数量对降雨响应强烈;白刺冠幅、当年生长量、盖度与降水量均成正相关关系.

Analyzing the differences of brackish-water in the Badain Lake by geophysical exploration method

BadainJ aran Desert of Inner Mongolia is arid and rainless all the year around,with much more evaporation than rainfall.But the special groundwater recharge mechanism contributes to the generation of several lakes of different sizes that have never not dried up for years,among which there are many freshwater lakes.As the research object in this paper,East Badain Lake and West Badain Lake in the southeast of the desert,which are less than 50m away from each other,show the considerable difference in mineralization.In fact,one is a freshwater lake,but the other is a brackish-water lake.Considering the underground aquifer structure of BadainJ aran Desert and the special formation structure the particularity of the stratigraphic structure around Badain Lake,the author uses AMT(audio magneto telluric)method and ultra-high density resistivity method to analyze the difference in mineralization of East Badain Lake and West Badain Lake from the perspective of geophysical prospecting methods.

近60年间巴丹吉林沙漠气温和降水变化及其对湖泊的影响

以巴丹吉林沙漠周围的4个国家气象站1960—2017年的长序列和腹地自建的10个气象站2016—2018年的短序列气象数据为支撑,运用一元线性回归模型、Mann-Kendall检验等方法,系统分析沙漠周边及腹地气温和降水量的时空变化特征;结合项目组及前人对湖泊动态的研究成果,分析其变化特征,初步探讨了巴丹吉林沙漠湖泊变化与气候要素的响应关系。研究表明:巴丹吉林沙漠周边年均气温均呈上升趋势,且由南向北升温速率增大,其中阿拉善右旗以0.74℃/10a的速率显著上升;降水量变化趋势不显著;总体而言,近50a来沙漠东南缘气候呈暖湿化、西北缘气候呈暖干化趋势。巴丹吉林沙漠周边年降水量、气温均在20世纪70—80年代出现突变,降水量突变不明显,气温突变显著,气候自此向暖干化趋势发展;沙漠周边与沙漠区月际气候特征基本一致,均具有水热同期,夏季高温多雨,冬季寒冷干燥的特点,但沙漠区雨季较沙漠边缘区短,雨期较边缘区提前。沙漠区湖泊多年来呈不同程度萎缩趋势,湖泊群加速萎缩受当地气候暖干化突变控制;湖泊年度水位、水量峰值与降水量峰值不一致,表明降水量变化不是湖泊变化的主控因素。

巴丹吉林沙漠东南缘沙米群落分布与土壤因子的关系

基于野外样地调查资料,运用数量分类与排序的方法,对巴丹吉林沙漠东南缘沙米群落分布与土壤因子的关系进行探讨,以期为沙米人工驯化栽培提供理论支撑。结果表明:沙米群落共包括植物种21个,其中苋科8个种,禾本科、菊科各3个种,柽柳科2个植物种,蒺藜科、豆科、茄科、蓼科、白花丹科各1个植物种。双向指示种分析(TWINSPAN)将沙米群落分为7个群丛。群丛Ⅰ到群丛Ⅶ的变化过程中,土壤水分由5.12%逐渐降低至1.01%;土壤粘粒含量由6.32%逐渐降低至2.53%。群丛Ⅰ土壤砂粒含量由78.25%逐渐增大至群丛Ⅵ的89.84%和群丛Ⅶ的87.78%。各群丛土壤有机质、全氮、速效磷、pH、电导率呈波动变化。典范对应分析(CCA)结果表明,土壤因子解释30.8%的沙米群丛总变差,解释贡献率大小排序为土壤水分(6.8%)>pH(5.3%)>速效磷(4.4%)>有机质(4.4%)>全氮(3.6%)>土壤粉粒(2.3%)>土壤电导率(2.2%)>土壤砂粒(1.9%)。其中,土壤水分、pH、有机质、速效磷是影响沙米群落分布的重要环境调控因子。沙米人工栽培过程除了保证正常的水分供应外,还应注重土壤有机质和速效磷的补充。

巴丹吉林沙漠高大沙山短穗柽柳分布区水分特征及其水文指示意义

巴丹吉林沙漠湖泊群及其补给来源是热点研究问题。沙山是联系大气降水和湖泊水的纽带,研究其水文特征可加深认识区域湖泊水循环,而植物分布对沙山水文特征具有重要的指示意义。本文以短穗柽柳(Tamarix laxa)所在的高大沙山背风坡土壤为研究对象,采用烘干法测定了短穗柽柳分布区土壤含水量,分析了其时空变化特征,探讨其对高大沙山水文特征的指示意义。结果显示:短穗柽柳分布区土壤剖面按其水分特征可划分为水分速变层(0~60 cm)、水分活跃层(60~120 cm)及水分相对稳定层(120~200 cm),含水量随深度增加呈减小趋势,速变层平均含水量为1.69%,显著高于其他2层;95.83%短穗柽柳分布区含水量处于0.50%~3.00%,且观测最大值为4.88%,均小于沙山田间持水量(5.00%),说明短穗柽柳分布区难以存在重力水,指示高大沙山背风坡降水难以形成重力水快速下渗补给湖泊水;短穗柽柳的“乔木化”生长特征及其特殊的分布位置,不仅有利于其根叶繁殖,还有利于对水分的储存和保持,维持着短穗柽柳的生存和发展。

巴丹吉林-腾格里沙漠间沉积物粒度和磨圆度的空间分异

为探索巴丹吉林沙漠与腾格里沙漠交界处风沙口的沉积物分异特征,沿风沙口主风向走向(NW-SE)对沙丘表层沉积物取样,并进行粒度和磨圆度分析。结果表明,(1)沙丘表层沉积物中砂含量占比最高,细沙和粗砂含量次之;迎风坡顶部中砂占比最多,迎风坡中部细砂占比最多,背风坡底粗砂占比最多。(2)沿主风向从风沙口至腾格里沙漠腹地的平均粒径和中值粒径呈波动增大趋势;分选系数呈波动降低的趋势;偏度值在正负偏度值之间波动。(3)沉积物石英砂的磨圆度次圆占比最高;迎风坡顶部沙样的磨圆度最好,背风坡底的磨圆度最差。

巴丹吉林沙漠东缘天然梭梭种群结构与动态特征

为探究巴丹吉林沙漠天然梭梭林的种群结构以及动态特征,揭示梭梭建群种的更新过程和未来发展趋势,编制其静态生命表、生存曲线、数量动态变化指数及时间序列预测模型。结果表明:(1)梭梭种群年龄结构属于“J”型,且梭梭幼苗数量较多;(2)梭梭种群存活曲线属于Deevey-Ⅱ型,龄级越大数量越少,消失率和死亡率变化趋势一致,均在第ⅩⅦ和Ⅳ龄级出现极大值和极小值;(3)梭梭种群结构与动态变化指数大于零(V_(pi)>V'_(pi)>0),为增长型种群;(4)时间序列预测分析结果表明,梭梭各龄级个体数量呈增加趋势。研究显示,巴丹吉林沙漠东缘天然梭梭种群为稳定增长型种群。针对该种群幼龄成活率较低的情况,建议人工干预,以提高存活率。

Holocene high lake-levels and pan-lake period on Badain Jaran Desert

Many lakes exist in southeastern Badain Jaran Desert and its hinterland, including 110 perennial lakes and some seasonal or extinct lakes. Geomorphological, sedimentological, and bioglyph evidence obtained from field investigations on Badain Jaran Desert lake group, alongside measurements and dating performed on lake relic, prove that these lakes expanded while the climate was relatively wet during early and middle Holocene. The dating results suggest that the pan-lake period of the Badain Jaran Desert began at 10 cal kyr BP, before which the limnic peat period occurred(11–10 cal kyr BP). Many lakes reached their maximal water-level during 8.6–6.3 cal kyr BP and retreated or dried up in the late Holocene(about 3.5–0 cal kyr BP). During that period, the precipitation at Badain Jaran Desert may have reached 200 mm yr^(-1) for 7.7–5.3 cal kyr BP, inferred from both the age and precipitation rate of calcareous root tubes. The water balance calculation shows that wetter and warmer climate and the increase of underground water recharge were key factors in maintaining and developing the lake group at both centennial and millennial time scales. Furthermore, lake surface expansion and the increasing fresh water availability set the background for the prosperous prehistoric culture.

Groundwater recharge and climatic change during the last 1000 years from unsaturated zone of SE Badain Jaran Desert

The history of groundwater recharge and climatic changes during the last 1000 years has been estimated and reconstructed using environmental chloride from unsaturated zone profile in the southeast Badain Jaran Desert, NW China. By using a steady-state model for duplicate unsaturated zone chloride profiles, the long-term recharge at the site was estimated to be 1.3 mm yr-1. From one profile, which reached the water table, the climatic change events of 10—20 years duration were well preserved. There were 3 wet phases and 4 dry episodes during the recent 800 years according to the peaks and troughs of recharge rate calculated via chloride concentration and moisture content. There was a dry episode before 1290 AD. At ca. 1500—1530 AD, which is an important date, there was an abrupt change from drought to wet conditions. At the beginning of the 1800s, local climate changed from wet to dry occurred and subsequently deteriorated over the past 200 years. The unsaturated profile was compared with the Guliya ice core records. The agreement of wet and dry phases from 1200 to 1900 AD is quite good, whilst trends diverged during the last 100 years. It seems that the large-scale climate difference took place between mountain regions and the desert basin in NW China during the 20th century, which closely correspond to the water table reduction of some 1 metre.