Analysis and identification of sulfate sources in groundwater of a typical profile in the Yinchuan Plain

Study region: The Yinchuan Plain in China. Study focus: In large watersheds with diverse landforms, multi-level nested groundwater flow systems drive complex sulfate transport and transformation. Focused on a typical profile from the eastern Helan Mountain foothills to the Yellow River Tableland in...

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Main Authors: Ning Liu, Wenke Wang, Deshuai Ji, Zongyu Chen, Yazhen Du
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-04-01
Series:Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581825001053
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author Ning Liu
Wenke Wang
Deshuai Ji
Zongyu Chen
Yazhen Du
author_facet Ning Liu
Wenke Wang
Deshuai Ji
Zongyu Chen
Yazhen Du
author_sort Ning Liu
collection DOAJ
description Study region: The Yinchuan Plain in China. Study focus: In large watersheds with diverse landforms, multi-level nested groundwater flow systems drive complex sulfate transport and transformation. Focused on a typical profile from the eastern Helan Mountain foothills to the Yellow River Tableland in the Yinchuan Plain. By using hydrochemical, multi-isotope, statistical, and microbiological methods on borehole samples of various landforms and depths, sulfate geochemical processes in groundwater were revealed and source contributions quantified. New hydrological insights for the region: SO42- concentrations rose along groundwater flow paths. Sulfate sources varied across groundwater flow systems. In the local groundwater flow systems, affected by topography, geomorphology, and human activities, sulfate sources were abundant, including soil sulfate, etc. Intermediate and regional groundwater flow systems had longer flow paths and reducing environments dominated by evaporite dissolution and bacterial sulfate reduction. Different landforms had distinct sulfate sources. In the alluvial-lacustrine plain's local groundwater flow system recharge zones, soil sulfate (35.7 %–48.9 %) and sulfide oxidation (21 %–28.6 %) contributions were higher. Human activities also enriched SO42- in some shallow groundwater. These findings have theoretical significance for understanding sulfur biogeochemical processes evolution in multi-level nested groundwater flow systems at a regional scale and contribute to groundwater pollution control in arid and semi-arid regions.
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issn 2214-5818
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spelling doaj-art-ca40fadcbaee4580862ebfc9ea821c812025-08-20T03:01:34ZengElsevierJournal of Hydrology: Regional Studies2214-58182025-04-015810228110.1016/j.ejrh.2025.102281Analysis and identification of sulfate sources in groundwater of a typical profile in the Yinchuan PlainNing Liu0Wenke Wang1Deshuai Ji2Zongyu Chen3Yazhen Du4School of Water and Environment, Chang’ an University, Xi’an 710054, PR China; Key Laboratory of Subsurface Hydrology and Ecological Effect in Arid Region of the Ministry of Education, Chang’ an University, Xi’an 710054, PR ChinaSchool of Water and Environment, Chang’ an University, Xi’an 710054, PR China; Key Laboratory of Subsurface Hydrology and Ecological Effect in Arid Region of the Ministry of Education, Chang’ an University, Xi’an 710054, PR China; Corresponding author at: School of Water and Environment, Chang’ an University, Xi’an 710054, PR China.School of Water and Environment, Chang’ an University, Xi’an 710054, PR China; Key Laboratory of Subsurface Hydrology and Ecological Effect in Arid Region of the Ministry of Education, Chang’ an University, Xi’an 710054, PR ChinaChinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Institute of Hydrogeology & Environmental Geology, Hebei 050061, PR China; Ministry of Natural Resource, Key Laboratory Groundwater Sciences & Engineering, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050061, PR ChinaSchool of Water and Environment, Chang’ an University, Xi’an 710054, PR China; Key Laboratory of Subsurface Hydrology and Ecological Effect in Arid Region of the Ministry of Education, Chang’ an University, Xi’an 710054, PR ChinaStudy region: The Yinchuan Plain in China. Study focus: In large watersheds with diverse landforms, multi-level nested groundwater flow systems drive complex sulfate transport and transformation. Focused on a typical profile from the eastern Helan Mountain foothills to the Yellow River Tableland in the Yinchuan Plain. By using hydrochemical, multi-isotope, statistical, and microbiological methods on borehole samples of various landforms and depths, sulfate geochemical processes in groundwater were revealed and source contributions quantified. New hydrological insights for the region: SO42- concentrations rose along groundwater flow paths. Sulfate sources varied across groundwater flow systems. In the local groundwater flow systems, affected by topography, geomorphology, and human activities, sulfate sources were abundant, including soil sulfate, etc. Intermediate and regional groundwater flow systems had longer flow paths and reducing environments dominated by evaporite dissolution and bacterial sulfate reduction. Different landforms had distinct sulfate sources. In the alluvial-lacustrine plain's local groundwater flow system recharge zones, soil sulfate (35.7 %–48.9 %) and sulfide oxidation (21 %–28.6 %) contributions were higher. Human activities also enriched SO42- in some shallow groundwater. These findings have theoretical significance for understanding sulfur biogeochemical processes evolution in multi-level nested groundwater flow systems at a regional scale and contribute to groundwater pollution control in arid and semi-arid regions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581825001053GroundwaterSulfateStable isotopeBayesian stable isotope mixing modelYinchuan Plain
spellingShingle Ning Liu
Wenke Wang
Deshuai Ji
Zongyu Chen
Yazhen Du
Analysis and identification of sulfate sources in groundwater of a typical profile in the Yinchuan Plain
Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies
Groundwater
Sulfate
Stable isotope
Bayesian stable isotope mixing model
Yinchuan Plain
title Analysis and identification of sulfate sources in groundwater of a typical profile in the Yinchuan Plain
title_full Analysis and identification of sulfate sources in groundwater of a typical profile in the Yinchuan Plain
title_fullStr Analysis and identification of sulfate sources in groundwater of a typical profile in the Yinchuan Plain
title_full_unstemmed Analysis and identification of sulfate sources in groundwater of a typical profile in the Yinchuan Plain
title_short Analysis and identification of sulfate sources in groundwater of a typical profile in the Yinchuan Plain
title_sort analysis and identification of sulfate sources in groundwater of a typical profile in the yinchuan plain
topic Groundwater
Sulfate
Stable isotope
Bayesian stable isotope mixing model
Yinchuan Plain
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581825001053
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AT zongyuchen analysisandidentificationofsulfatesourcesingroundwaterofatypicalprofileintheyinchuanplain
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