Prediction and evaluation of groundwater level changes in an over-exploited area of the Baiyangdian Lake Basin, China under the combined influence of climate change and ecological water recharge

Guangyao Chi; Xiaosi Su; Hang Lyu; Hongyan Li; Guigui Xu; Yiwu Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2022.113104

Prediction and evaluation of groundwater level changes in an over-exploited area of the Baiyangdian Lake Basin, China under the combined influence of climate change and ecological water recharge

Environ Res. 2022 Sep;212(Pt A):113104. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113104. Epub 2022 Apr 2.

Authors

Guangyao Chi¹, Xiaosi Su², Hang Lyu³, Hongyan Li⁴, Guigui Xu¹, Yiwu Zhang⁵

Affiliations

¹ College of Construction Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China; Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130026, China; Institute of Water Resources and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China; Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun, 130026, China.
² Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130026, China; Institute of Water Resources and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China; College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China; Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun, 130026, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130026, China; College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China; Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun, 130026, China. Electronic address: lvhangmail@163.com.
⁴ College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China.
⁵ Nanjing Center of China Geological Survey, Nanjing, 210016, China.

PMID: 35381262
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113104

Abstract

Groundwater (GW) and surface water (SW) are important components of water resources and play key roles in social and economic development and regional ecological security. There are currently several stresses placing immense pressure on the GW resources of the Baiyangdian Lake Basin (BLB) in China, including climate change. A series of ecological and environmental challenges have manifested in the plain area of the BLB due to long-term over-exploitation of GW, including regional declines in GW level, aquifer drainage, land subsidence, and soil secondary salinization. Climate change may aggravate environmental challenges by altering GW recharge rates and availability of GW. This study applied the fully processed and physically-based numerical models, MODFLOW and the Soil & Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) in a semi-coupled modeling framework. The aim of the study was to quantitatively analyze changes to shallow GW levels and reserves in the plain area of BLB over the next 15 years (2021-2035) under climate change and different artificial recharge schemes. The results indicated that GW storage and levels are rising under the different GW recharge schemes. The maximum variation in the GW level was 20-30 m under a rainfall assurance rate of 50% and water level in the depression cone increased 14.20-14.98 m. This study can act as a theoretical basis for the development of a more sustainable GW management scheme in the plain area of the BLB and for the management and protection of aquifers in other areas with serious GW overdraft.

Keywords: Climate change; Ecological water recharge; Groundwater; SWAT-MODFLOW.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Climate Change*
Environmental Monitoring / methods
Groundwater*
Lakes
Soil
Water

Substances

Soil
Water