Revealing karst water circulation based on the GIS and environmental isotopes methods—A case study in eastern Sichuan, southwestern China

Zixuan Qin; Qiang Zhang; Siyao Yu; Yanna Yang; Jiasen Zhang; Mo Xu; Yang Liu; Maoyi Liu; Mi Nie

doi:10.3389/feart.2023.1120618

Frontiers in Earth Science (Jan 2023)

Revealing karst water circulation based on the GIS and environmental isotopes methods—A case study in eastern Sichuan, southwestern China

Zixuan Qin,
Qiang Zhang,
Siyao Yu,
Yanna Yang,
Jiasen Zhang,
Mo Xu,
Yang Liu,
Maoyi Liu,
Mi Nie

Affiliations

Zixuan Qin: State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, College of Environment and Civil Engineering, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, China
Qiang Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, College of Environment and Civil Engineering, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, China
Siyao Yu: State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, College of Environment and Civil Engineering, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, China
Yanna Yang: State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, College of Environment and Civil Engineering, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, China
Jiasen Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, College of Environment and Civil Engineering, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, China
Mo Xu: State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, College of Environment and Civil Engineering, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, China
Yang Liu: Chongqing Survey Institute, Chongqing, China
Maoyi Liu: Chongqing Urban Infrastructure Construction Co., Ltd., Chongqing, China
Mi Nie: Chongqing Urban Infrastructure Construction Co., Ltd., Chongqing, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2023.1120618
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 11

Abstract

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Jura-type folds in eastern Sichuan Basin have created unique multi-type karst water circulation patterns. Understanding the karst water circulation features is helpful to the protection and management of water resources in this area. In this study, a typical Jura-type fold Mingyueshan in eastern Sichuan, Southwestern China is taken as an example. The geological conditions, natural geographical factors, and environmental isotopes data (δ2H, δ18O, δ3H) are analyzed, the GIS method was used to construct the groundwater flow system. The results reveal the karst water circulation patterns under the control of multiple drainage base levels. Finally, it comes to the conclusion that the north, middle and south sections of Mingyueshan present three water circulation patterns: unidirectional shallow circulation system, bidirectional shallow circulation system and unidirectional shallow-deep nested circulation system, respectively. These results are essentially qualitative, some numerical simulations of groundwater flow can be considered in future work, which will help to determine the groundwater flow system quantitatively. The research results can provide reference for the studies of karst aquifers in eastern Sichuan Jura-type folds area and other areas with similar characteristics.

Published in Frontiers in Earth Science

ISSN: 2296-6463 (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science
Website: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/earth-science

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