Hydrogeochemical characteristics and recharge sources identification based on isotopic tracing of alpine rivers in the Tibetan Plateau

Ruiyin Han; Wenjing Liu; Jiangyi Zhang; Tong Zhao; Huiguo Sun; Zhifang Xu

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2023.115981

Hydrogeochemical characteristics and recharge sources identification based on isotopic tracing of alpine rivers in the Tibetan Plateau

Environ Res. 2023 Jul 15:229:115981. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115981. Epub 2023 Apr 24.

Authors

Ruiyin Han¹, Wenjing Liu², Jiangyi Zhang², Tong Zhao², Huiguo Sun², Zhifang Xu³

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Cenozoic Geology and Environment, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
² Key Laboratory of Cenozoic Geology and Environment, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Life and Paleoenvironment, Beijing, 100044, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Cenozoic Geology and Environment, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Life and Paleoenvironment, Beijing, 100044, China. Electronic address: zfxu@mail.iggcas.ac.cn.

PMID: 37100365
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115981

Abstract

Alpine rivers originating from the Tibetan Plateau (TP) contain large amounts of water resources with high environmental sensitivity and eco-fragility. To clarify the variability and controlling factors of hydrochemistry on the headwater of the Yarlung Tsangpo River (YTR), the large river basin with the highest altitude in the world, water samples from the Chaiqu watershed were collected in 2018, and major ions, δ²H and δ¹⁸O of river water were analyzed. The values of δ²H (mean: -141.4‰) and δ¹⁸O (mean: -18.6‰) were lower than those in most Tibetan rivers, which followed the relationship: δ²H = 4.79*δ¹⁸O-52.2. Most river deuterium excess (d-excess) values were lower than 10‰ and positively correlated with altitude controlled by regional evaporation. The SO₄^2- in the upstream, the HCO₃^- in the downstream, and the Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ were the controlling ions (accounting for >50% of the total anions/cations) in the Chaiqu watershed. Stoichiometry and principal component analysis (PCA) results revealed that sulfuric acid stimulated the weathering of carbonates and silicates to produce riverine solutes. This study promotes understanding water source dynamics to inform water quality and environmental management in alpine regions.

Keywords: Alpine river; Hydrochemistry; Isotopic tracing; Major ions; Tibetan Plateau.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Carbonates / analysis
Environmental Monitoring* / methods
Rivers
Tibet
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis
Water Quality

Substances

Carbonates
Water Pollutants, Chemical