Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Processes and influences of integration of Yellow River water into a hillslope-riparian-stream continuum

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The hillslope-riparian-stream continuum (HRSC) may be significantly influenced by interbasin transfer of water. However, the integration processes of transferred water into HRSC and the hydrological and hydrochemical responses of HRSC remain poorly understood. Based on the hydrological observation and hydrogeochemical analyses, we delineate the processes and influences of Yellow River water integration into the HRSC of the Fen River, clarifying the essential mechanisms. Our results indicate that high mixing ratios of transferred water in the channel (94%) and increased recharge into the aquifer are responsible for noticeable hydraulic and hydrochemical influences within the HRSC. Specifically, the hydraulic impact range of the seepage river on adjacent groundwater is much greater than the range of hydrochemical influence. The mixing of river water and groundwater is confined to the riparian zone. Approximately 14% of Na+ and K+ ions were adsorbed from the percolating river water through ion exchange prior to mixing. During the intervals of the transfer, bank storage backflow persisted for an average of about four weeks, imposing hydrochemical influences on the Fen River similar to those of the transferred water. Additionally, we found that the repelling salts effect of icing induces an overestimation of the proportion of the end member with higher ion concentrations. Our study highlights the importance of anthropogenic water cycle processes on earth system.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The data sets presented in this article are available upon request.

References

  • Appelo C, Postma D (2005) Geochemistry, groundwater and pollution, 2nd edn. A.A. Balkema Publisher, Delft

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng Y, Zhang H et al (2024) Nutrient transport following water transfer through the world’s largest water diversion channel. J Environ Sci 135:703–714

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glaser B et al (2016) On the value of surface saturated area dynamics mapped with thermal infrared imagery for modeling the hillslope-riparian-stream continuum. Water Resour Res 52(10):8317–8342. https://doi.org/10.1002/2015wr018414

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang JC, Gao JF, Zhang YJ, Xu Y (2015) Modeling impacts of water transfers on alleviation of phytoplankton aggregation in Lake Taihu. J Hydroinf 17(1):149–162. https://doi.org/10.2166/hydro.2014.023

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jencso KG, McGlynn BL (2011) Hierarchical controls on runoff generation: topographically driven hydrologic connectivity, geology, and vegetation. Water Resour Res. https://doi.org/10.1029/2011WR010666

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jencso KG et al (2009) Hydrologic connectivity between landscapes and streams: transferring reach- and plot-scale understanding to the catchment scale. Water Resour Res. https://doi.org/10.1029/2008WR007225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang X, Ma R, Ma T, Sun Z (2022) Modeling the effects of water diversion projects on surface water and groundwater interactions in the central Yangtze River basin. Sci Total Environ 830:154606. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154606

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jin ZF, Chen LX, Li FL, Pan ZY, Jin MT (2015) Effects of water transfer on water quality and estimation of the pollutant fluxes from different sources into West Lake, Hangzhou City, China. Environ Earth Sci 73(3):1091–1101. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-014-3456-6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jones JP, Sudicky EA et al (2006) An assessment of the tracer-based approach to quantifying groundwater contributions to streamflow. Water Resour Res 42(2):W02407

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klaus J, McDonnell JJ, Jackson CR, Du E, Griffiths NA (2015) Where does streamwater come from in low-relief forested watersheds? A dual-isotope approach. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 19(1):125–135. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-125-2015

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leith FI et al (2015) Carbon dioxide transport across the hillslope–riparian–stream continuum in a boreal headwater catchment. Biogeosciences 12(6):1881–1892

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liang L, Deng Y et al (2023) Modelling of pH changes in alkaline lakes with water transfer from a neutral river. Chemosphere 310:136882

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu J, Song X, Yuan G, Sun X, Liu X, Wang S (2010) Characteristics of δ18O in precipitation over Eastern Monsoon China and the water vapor sources. Chin Sci Bull 55:200–211

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Q et al (2014) Impact of water diversion on the hydrogeochemical characterization of surface water and groundwater in the Yellow River Delta. Appl Geochem 48:83–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2014.07.009

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Long X, Zhang K, Yuan R et al (2019) Hydrogeochemical and isotopic constraints on the pattern of a deep circulation groundwater flow system. Energies 12(3):404. https://doi.org/10.3390/en12030404

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McGlynn BL, McDonnell JJ (2003) Quantifying the relative contributions of riparian and hillslope zones to catchment runoff. Water Resour Res. https://doi.org/10.1029/2003WR002091

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Misra AK, Saxena A, Yaduvanshi M, Mishra A, Bhadauriya Y, Thakur A (2007) Proposed river-linking project of India: a boon or bane to nature. Environ Geol 51(8):1361–1376

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nyingi RW, Mwangi JK, Karimi P, Kiptala JK (2023) Optimal urban water allocation strategies under inter-basin water transfer: case of Nairobi City, Kenya. Afr J Educ Sci Technol 7(3):100–112

    Google Scholar 

  • Parkhurst DL, Appello CAJ (1999) User’s guide to phreeqc (version 2)—a computer program for speciation, batch-reaction, one dimensional transport and inverse geochemical calculation. USGS Water Resour Invest Rep 99–4259:312

    Google Scholar 

  • Qin J, Schmidt BV et al (2023) Water transfer determines the regional spread dynamics of non-native fish species. Water Biol Security 2(2):100135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qu X, Olden JD et al (2023) Hydrology and water quality shape macroinvertebrate patterns and facilitate non-native species dispersals in an inter-basin water transfer system. J Environ Manag 329:117111

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shumilova O, Tockner K, Thieme M, Koska A, Zarfl C (2018) Global water transfer megaprojects: a potential solution for the water-food-energy nexus? Front Environ Sci. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2018.00150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sternberg T (2016) Water megaprojects in deserts and drylands. Int J Water Resour Dev 32:301–320

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ward AS et al (2013) How does rapidly changing discharge during storm events affect transient storage and channel water balance in a headwater mountain stream? Water Resour Res 49(9):5473–5486. https://doi.org/10.1002/wrcr.20434

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Webber M, Crow-Miller B, Rogers S (2017) The South-North Water Transfer Project: remaking the geography of China. Reg Stud 51(3):370–382

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xiao HB et al (2022) Physical structure and rainfall controls on subsurface hydrological connectivity in hillslope-riparian-stream continuums. CATENA 214:106286. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2022.106286

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yan H, Lin Y et al (2023) A review of the eco-environmental impacts of the South-to-North water diversion: implications for interbasin water transfers. Engineering 30:161–169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ye AZ, Duan QY, Chu W, Xu J, Mao YN (2014) The impact of the South-North Water Transfer Project (CTP)’s central route on groundwater table in the Hai River basin, North China. Hydrol Process 28(23):5755–5768. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.10081

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan R, Wang S, Wang P, Song X, Tang C (2017) Changes in flow and chemistry of groundwater heavily affected by human impacts in the Baiyangdian catchment of the North China Plain. Environ Earth Sci 76(16):571. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-6918-9

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan R, Wang M, Wang S, Song X (2020) Water transfer imposes hydrochemical impacts on groundwater by altering the interaction of groundwater and surface water. J Hydrol 583:124617. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.124617

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan R, Zhang Y, Long X (2022) Deep groundwater circulation in a syncline in Rucheng County, China. J Hydrol 610:127824

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeng Q, Qin L, Li X (2015) The potential impact of an inter-basin water transfer project on nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous) and chlorophyll a of the receiving water system. Sci Total Environ 536:675–686. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.07.042

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 42071037 and No. 41301033).

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant numbers 42071037 and 41301033).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Shanxi University, 36 Wucheng Rd., Xiaodian District, Taiyuan, 030006, China

    Ruiqiang Yuan, Zejun Li & Wenxin Zhang

Authors
  1. Ruiqiang Yuan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zejun Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Wenxin Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

R.-Q. Y. designed the study, carried out the field works, contributed to the analysis and wrote the paper. Z.-J. L. contributed to the analysis and helped with data processing. W.-X. Z. contributed to the field works and analysis.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ruiqiang Yuan.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yuan, R., Li, Z. & Zhang, W. Processes and influences of integration of Yellow River water into a hillslope-riparian-stream continuum. Environ Earth Sci 83, 257 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-024-11564-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-024-11564-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation