Abstract
Hydrogeochemical analysis and multivariate statistics were applied to identify flow patterns and major processes controlling the hydrogeochemistry of groundwater in the Jianghan Plain, which is located in central Yangtze River Basin (central China) and characterized by intensive surface-water/groundwater interaction. Although HCO3-Ca-(Mg) type water predominated in the study area, the 457 (21 surface water and 436 groundwater) samples were effectively classified into five clusters by hierarchical cluster analysis. The hydrochemical variations among these clusters were governed by three factors from factor analysis. Major components (e.g., Ca, Mg and HCO3) in surface water and groundwater originated from carbonate and silicate weathering (factor 1). Redox conditions (factor 2) influenced the geogenic Fe and As contamination in shallow confined groundwater. Anthropogenic activities (factor 3) primarily caused high levels of Cl and SO4 in surface water and phreatic groundwater. Furthermore, the factor score 1 of samples in the shallow confined aquifer gradually increased along the flow paths. This study demonstrates that enhanced information on hydrochemistry in complex groundwater flow systems, by multivariate statistical methods, improves the understanding of groundwater flow and hydrogeochemical evolution due to natural and anthropogenic impacts.
Résumé
Des analyses hydrogéologiques et statistiques multivariées ont été utilisées pour identifier les schémas de flux et les processus principaux contrôlant l’hydrogéochimie des eaux souterraines de la plaine de Jianghan, qui est. localisée dans la partie centrale du bassin de la rivière Yangtze (Centre de la Chine) et caractérisée par des interactions importantes entre les eaux de surface et les eaux souterraines. Bien que les eaux de type HCO3-Ca-(Mg) prédominent dans le secteur d’étude, 457 échantillons (21 d’eaux de surface et 436 d’eaux souterraines) ont été classés selon 5 grappes à l’aide de l’analyze hiérarchique par grappe. Selon l’analyze factorielle, les variations hydrochimiques de ces grappes sont gouvernées par trois facteurs. Les composants principaux (ex. Ca, Mg et HCO3) des eaux de surface et eaux souterraines proviennent du lessivage des carbonates et silicates (facteur 1). Les conditions Redox (facteur 2) influencent la contamination par les éléments géogéniques Fe et As dans les parties captives peu profondes des aquifères. Les activités anthropiques (facteur 3) sont responsables principalement des fortes concentrations en Cl et SO4 dans les eaux de surface et des nappes souterraines. De plus, le score du facteur 1 des échantillons de l’aquifère captif peu profond croit le long voies d’écoulement. Cette étude démontre que l’information renforcée sur l’hydrochimie d’un système aquifère complexe, par des méthodes statistiques multivariées, permet d’améliorer la compréhension des flux souterrains et l’évolution hydrogéochimique du fait des impacts naturels et anthropiques.
Resumen
Se aplicaron análisis hidrogeoquímico y estadísticas multivariantes para identificar patrones de flujo y los procesos principales que controlan la hidrogeoquímica del agua subterránea en la llanura de Jianghan, ubicada en la cuenca central del río Yangtze (China central) y caracterizada por una intensa interacción agua superficial/agua subterránea. Aunque el agua de tipo HCO3-Ca-(Mg) predominó en el área de estudio, las 457 muestras (21 de aguas superficiales y 436 de aguas subterráneas) se clasificaron efectivamente en cinco grupos por análisis de agrupamiento jerárquico. Las variaciones hidroquímicas entre estos grupos se rigen por tres factores del análisis factorial. Los principales componentes (por ejemplo, Ca, Mg y HCO3) en las aguas superficiales y subterráneas se originaron a partir de la meteorización del silicato y del carbonato (factor 1). Las condiciones redox (factor 2) influyeron en la contaminación geológica de Fe y As en agua subterránea confinada poco profundas. Las actividades antropogénicas (factor 3) causaron principalmente altos niveles de Cl y SO4 en aguas superficiales y subterráneas freáticas. Además, la puntuación del factor 1 de las muestras en el acuífero confinado poco profundo aumentó gradualmente a lo largo de las vías de flujo. Este estudio demuestra que la información mejorada sobre hidroquímica en sistemas complejos de flujo de aguas subterráneas, mediante métodos estadísticos multivariantes, mejora la comprensión del flujo de aguas subterráneas y la evolución hidrogeoquímica debido a los impactos naturales y antropogénicos.
摘要
江汉平原位于中国中部的长江中游地区,区内地表水-地下水相互作用强烈。本文结合水文地球化学分析和多元统计方法识别江汉平原的地下水流模式,并分析影响地下水水文地球化学特征的主控因素。结果显示457个水样(包括21个地表水和436个地下水样)的水化学类型差异不明显,主要为HCO3-Ca-(Mg)型,聚类分析根据水化学特征有效地将这些样品划分为五类。通过因子分析,共提取了三个造成水化学特征差异的公因子:第一公因子为水-岩相互作用,包括碳酸盐溶解和硅酸盐风化过程,控制地表水和地下水中的主要组分(如Ca、Mg和HCO3);第二公因子为氧化还原条件,影响浅层承压水中原生Fe和As的富集;第三公因子为人为活动,常导致地表水和浅层潜水中的Cl和SO4污染。此外,在浅层承压含水层中,水样的第一公因子得分沿地下水流向逐渐增大。本文的研究表明多元统计方法可有效地识别复杂地下水流系统的水化学信息,从而有助于更好地掌握受自然和人为因素双重影响下的地下水径流和水文地球化学演化规律。
Resumo
Análises hidrogeoquímicas e estatística multivariada foram aplicadas para identificar os padrões de fluxo e principais processos que controlam a hidrogeoquímica das águas subterrâneas na planície de Jianghan, que está localizado na bacia central do rio Yangtze (centro da China) e é caracterizada pela ocorrência de intensa interação entre águas superficiais e subterrâneas. Apesar do predomínio do tipo de água HCO3-Ca-(Mg) na área de estudo, as 457 amostras (21 de águas superficiais e 436 subterrâneas) foram efetivamente classificados em cinco grupos por análise de agrupamento hierárquico. As variações hidroquímicas entre esses grupos foram governadas por três fatores da análise fatorial. Os componentes principais (p.ex. Ca, Mg e HCO3) da água superficial e subterrânea originaram-se do intemperismo de carbonato e silicato (fator 1). Condições redox (fator 2) influenciaram o Fe gênico e a contaminação por As em águas subterrâneas confinadas rasas. Atividades antropogênicas (fator 3) foram as principais causas dos altos níveis de Cl e SO4 em águas superficiais e subterrâneas freáticas. Além disso, o valor do fator 1 de amostras no aquífero confinado raso aumentou gradualmente ao longo dos caminhos de fluxo. Este estudo demonstra que informações aprimoradas sobre a hidroquímica em sistemas complexos de fluxo de águas subterrâneas, por métodos estatísticos multivariados, melhoram a compreensão do fluxo de águas subterrâneas e a evolução hidrogeoquímica devido a impactos naturais e antropogênicos.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Awaleh MO, Baudron P, Soubaneh YD, Boschetti T, Hoch FB, Egueh NM, Mohamed J, Dabar OA, Masse-Dufresne J, Gassani J (2017) Recharge, groundwater flow pattern and contamination processes in an arid volcanic area: insights from isotopic and geochemical tracers (Bara aquifer system, Republic of Djibouti). J Geochem Explor 175:82–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2017.01.005
Barbieri M, Boschetti T, Petitta M, Tallini M (2005) Stable isotope (2 H, 18 O and 87 Sr/ 86 Sr) and hydrochemistry monitoring for groundwater hydrodynamics analysis in a karst aquifer (Gran Sasso, central Italy). Appl Geochem 20(11):2063–2081. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2005.07.008
Chen C, Wen Z, Liang X, Li X (2017) Estimation of hydrogeological parameters for representative aquifers in Jianghan Plain (in Chinese with English abstract). Earth Sci 42(5):727–733
Cloutier V, Lefebvre R, Therrien R, Savard MM (2008) Multivariate statistical analysis of geochemical data as indicative of the hydrogeochemical evolution of groundwater in a sedimentary rock aquifer system. J Hydrol 353(3–4):294–313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2008.02.015
Cui LJ, Gao CJ, Zhao XS, Ma QF, Zhang MY, Li W, Song HT, Wang YF, Li SN, Zhang Y (2013) Dynamics of the lakes in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River basin, China, since late nineteenth century. Environ Monit Assess 185(5):4005–4018. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-012-2845-0
Demlie M, Wohnlich S, Wisotzky F, Gizaw B (2007) Groundwater recharge, flow and hydrogeochemical evolution in a complex volcanic aquifer system, central Ethiopia. Hydrogeol J 15(6):1169–1181. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-007-0163-3
Du Y, Ma T, Deng YM, Shen S, Lu ZJ (2017) Sources and fate of high levels of ammonium in surface water and shallow groundwater of the Jianghan Plain, central China. Environ Sci-Process Impacts 19(2):161–172. https://doi.org/10.1039/c6em00531d
Duan YH, Gan YQ, Wang YX, Deng YM, Guo XX, Dong CJ (2015) Temporal variation of groundwater level and arsenic concentration at Jianghan Plain, central China. J Geochem Explor 149:106–119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2014.12.001
Duan YH, Gan YQ, Wang YX, Liu CX, Yu K, Deng YM, Zhao K, Dong CJ (2017) Arsenic speciation in aquifer sediment under varying groundwater regime and redox conditions at Jianghan Plain of central China. Sci Total Environ 607–608:992–1000. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.07.011
Farnham IM, Johannesson KH, Singh AK, Hodge VF, Stetzenbach KJ (2003) Factor analytical approaches for evaluating groundwater trace element chemistry data. Anal Chim Acta 490(1–2):123–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0003-2670(03)00350-7
Gaillardet J, Dupre B, Louvat P, Allegre CJ (1999) Global silicate weathering and CO2 consumption rates deduced from the chemistry of large rivers. Chem Geol 159(1–4):3–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0009-2541(99)00031-5
Gan YQ, Wang YX, Duan YH, Deng YM, Guo XX, Ding XF (2014) Hydrogeochemistry and arsenic contamination of groundwater in the Jianghan Plain, central China. J Geochem Explor 138:81–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2013.12.013
Guler C, Thyne GD (2004) Delineation of hydrochemical facies distribution in a regional groundwater system by means of fuzzy c-means clustering. Water Resour Res 40(12). https://doi.org/10.1029/2004wr003299
Guler C, Thyne GD, McCray JE, Turner AK (2002) Evaluation of graphical and multivariate statistical methods for classification of water chemistry data. Hydrogeol J 10(4):455–474. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-002-0196-6
Guler C, Kurt MA, Alpaslan M, Akbulut C (2012) Assessment of the impact of anthropogenic activities on the groundwater hydrology and chemistry in Tarsus coastal plain (Mersin, SE Turkey) using fuzzy clustering, multivariate statistics and GIS techniques. J Hydrol 414:435–451. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2011.11.021
Halim MA, Majumder RK, Nessa SA, Hiroshiro Y, Sasaki K, Saha BB, Saepuloh A, Jinno K (2010) Evaluation of processes controlling the geochemical constituents in deep groundwater in Bangladesh: spatial variability on arsenic and boron enrichment. J Hazard Mater 180(1–3):50–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2010.01.008
He JH, Ma JZ, Zhao W, Sun S (2015) Groundwater evolution and recharge determination of the quaternary aquifer in the Shule River basin, Northwest China. Hydrogeol J 23(8):1745–1759. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-015-1311-9
Helena B, Pardo R, Vega M, Barrado E, Fernandez JM, Fernandez L (2000) Temporal evolution of groundwater composition in an alluvial aquifer (Pisuerga River, Spain) by principal component analysis. Water Res 34(3):807–816. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0043-1354(99)00225-0
Helstrup T, Jorgensen NO, Banoeng-Yakubo B (2007) Investigation of hydrochemical characteristics of groundwater from the Cretaceous-Eocene limestone aquifer in southern Ghana and southern Togo using hierarchical cluster analysis. Hydrogeol J 15(5):977–989. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-007-0165-1
Huang GX, Sun JC, Zhang Y, Chen ZY, Liu F (2013) Impact of anthropogenic and natural processes on the evolution of groundwater chemistry in a rapidly urbanized coastal area, South China. Sci Total Environ 463–464:209–221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.05.078
Huang H, Huang L, Lu ZL, Guo HR (2017) Analysis on dynamic characteristics of groundwater level in Jianghan Plain (in Chinese with English abstract). Yantze River 48(18):33–38
Johnson DE (2004) Applied multivariate methods for data analysts. Higher Education Press, Beijing
Krishna AK, Satyanarayanan M, Govil PK (2009) Assessment of heavy metal pollution in water using multivariate statistical techniques in an industrial area: a case study from Patancheru, Medak District, Andhra Pradesh, India. J Hazard Mater 167(1–3):366–373. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2008.12.131
Li R, Kuo YM, Liu WW, Jang CS, Zhao E, Yao L (2018) Potential health risk assessment through ingestion and dermal contact arsenic-contaminated groundwater in Jianghan Plain, China. Environ Geochem Health. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-018-0073-4
Liang X, Zhang RQ, Jin MG (2015) Groundwater flow systems: theory, application and investigation (in Chinese). Seismological Press, Beijing
Liu S, Tang ZH, Gao MS, Hou GH (2017) Evolutionary process of saline-water intrusion in Holocene and late Pleistocene groundwater in southern Laizhou Bay. Sci Total Environ 607–608:586–599. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.06.262
Luo Q, Guo SL, Li TY, Fu L (2011) Long-term trends of precipitation and temperature in Jianghan Plain from 1957 to 2008 (in Chinese with English abstract). J Yangtze River Sci Res Inst 28(3):10–14
Mertler CA, Reinhart RV (2016) Advanced and multivariate statistical methods: practical application and interpretation, 6th edn. Routledge, New York
Moeck C, Radny D, Borer P, Rothardt J, Auckenthaler A, Berg M, Schirmer M (2016) Multicomponent statistical analysis to identify flow and transport processes in a highly-complex environment. J Hydrol 542:437–449. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2016.09.023
Moya CE, Raiber M, Taulis M, Cox ME (2015) Hydrochemical evolution and groundwater flow processes in the Galilee and Eromanga basins, Great Artesian Basin, Australia: a multivariate statistical approach. Sci Total Environ 508:411–426. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.11.099
Mukherjee A, Fryar AE (2008) Deeper groundwater chemistry and geochemical modeling of the arsenic affected western Bengal basin, West Bengal, India. Appl Geochem 23(4):863–894. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2007.07.011
Mukherjee A, Bhattacharya P, Shi F, Fryar AE, Mukherjee AB, Xie ZM, Jacks G, Bundschuh J (2009) Chemical evolution in the high arsenic groundwater of the Huhhot basin (Inner Mongolia, PR China) and its difference from the western Bengal basin (India). Appl Geochem 24(10):1835–1851. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2009.06.005
Newman BD, Havenor KC, Longmire P (2016) Identification of hydrochemical facies in the Roswell Artesian Basin, New Mexico (USA), using graphical and statistical methods. Hydrogeol J 24(4):819–839. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-016-1401-3
Niu BB, Wang HH, Loaiciga HA, Hong S, Shao W (2017) Temporal variations of groundwater quality in the western Jianghan Plain, China. Sci Total Environ 578:542–550. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.10.225
Owen DD, Cox ME (2015) Hydrochemical evolution within a large alluvial groundwater resource overlying a shallow coal seam gas reservoir. Sci Total Environ 523:233–252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.03.115
Pilla G, Sacchi E, Zuppi G, Braga G, Ciancetti G (2006) Hydrochemistry and isotope geochemistry as tools for groundwater hydrodynamic investigation in multilayer aquifers: a case study from Lomellina, Po Plain, south-western Lombardy, Italy. Hydrogeol J 14(5):795–808. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-005-0465-2
Schaefer MV, Ying SC, Benner SG, Duan Y, Wang Y, Fendorf S (2016) Aquifer arsenic cycling induced by seasonal hydrologic changes within the Yangtze River basin. Environ Sci Technol 50(7):3521–3529. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b04986
Schaefer MV, Guo XX, Gan YQ, Benner SG, Griffin AM, Gorski CA, Wang YX, Fendorf S (2017) Redox controls on arsenic enrichment and release from aquifer sediments in central Yangtze River basin. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 204:104–119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2017.01.035
Shen ZL, Zhu WH, Zhong ZS (1993) The basis of hydrogeochemistry (in Chinese). Seismological Press, Beijing
Tabachnick BG, Fidell LS (2014) Using multivariate statistics, 6th edn. Pearson, Boston
Verma S, Mukherjee A, Mahanta C, Choudhury R, Mitra K (2016) Influence of geology on groundwater–sediment interactions in arsenic enriched tectono-morphic aquifers of the Himalayan Brahmaputra River basin. J Hydrol 540:176–195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2016.05.041
Wang XL, Lu XG, Ren XY (2006) Comprehensive evaluation on wetland water system and water resources management in the Jianghan Plain (in Chinese with English abstract). Sci Geogr Sin 26(3):311–315
Wang YX, Shvartsev SL, So CL (2009) Genesis of arsenic/fluoride-enriched soda water: a case study at Datong, northern China. Appl Geochem 24(4):641–649. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2008.12.015
Wu LL, Mei LF, Liu YS, Luo J, Min CZ, Lu SL, Li MH, Guo LB (2017) Multiple provenance of rift sediments in the composite basin-mountain system: constraints from detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology and heavy minerals of the early Eocene Jianghan Basin, central China. Sediment Geol 349:46–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sedgeo.2016.12.003
Xie C, Huang X, Mu HQ, Yin W (2017) Impacts of land-use changes on the lakes across the Yangtze floodplain in China. Environ Sci Technol 51(7):3669–3677. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b04260
Ying SC, Schaefer MV, Cock-Esteb A, Li J, Fendorf S (2017) Depth stratification leads to distinct zones of manganese and arsenic contaminated groundwater. Environ Sci Technol 51(16):8926–8932. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b01121
Yu HT, Ma T, Deng YM, Du Y, Shen S, Lu ZJ (2017) Hydrochemical characteristics of shallow groundwater in eastern Jianghan Plain (in Chinese with English abstract). Earth Sci 42(5):685–692
Zeng ZH (1996) The exploitation, utilization and protection of groundwater resource in the eastern area of Jianghan Plain in the Yangtze Valley (in Chinese with English abstract). Resour Environ 5(4):375–378
Zhang JW, Liang X, Ge Q, Li H, Zhu B (2017) Calculation method about hydraulic conductivity of a Quaternary aquitard in Jianghan Plain (in Chinese with English abstract). Earth Sci 42(5):761–770
Zheng Z, Zhang H, Chen Z, Li X, Zhu P, Cui X (2017) Hydrogeochemical and isotopic indicators of hydraulic fracturing flowback fluids in shallow groundwater and stream water, derived from Dameigou shale gas extraction in the northern Qaidam Basin. Environ Sci Technol 51(11):5889–5898. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b04269
Zhou Y, Wang Y, Li Y, Zwahlen F, Boillat J (2012) Hydrogeochemical characteristics of central Jianghan Plain, China. Environ Earth Sci 68(3):765–778. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-012-1778-9
Zhu GF, Li ZZ, Su YH, Ma JZ, Zhang YY (2007) Hydrogeochemical and isotope evidence of groundwater evolution and recharge in Minqin Basin, Northwest China. J Hydrol 333(2):239–251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2006.08.013
Zhu GF, Su YH, Feng Q (2008) The hydrochemical characteristics and evolution of groundwater and surface water in the Heihe River basin, Northwest China. Hydrogeol J 16(1):167–182. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-007-0216-7
Zhu BQ, Wang XM, Rioual P (2017) Multivariate indications between environment and ground water recharge in a sedimentary drainage basin in northwestern China. J Hydrol 549:92–113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2017.03.058
Funding
The research work was financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 41472217, 41521001 and 41572226), China Geological Survey (No. 12120114069301), Ministry of Science and Technology (No. 2014DFA20720), and the 111 Program (State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs and the Ministry of Education of China, grant No. B18049).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Published in the special issue “Groundwater sustainability in fast-developing China”
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gan, Y., Zhao, K., Deng, Y. et al. Groundwater flow and hydrogeochemical evolution in the Jianghan Plain, central China. Hydrogeol J 26, 1609–1623 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-018-1778-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-018-1778-2