Characteristics of stable isotope and hydrochemistry of the groundwater around Qinghai Lake, NE Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China

The integrated use of isotopic and hydrochemical tracers is an effective approach for investigating complex hydrological processes of groundwater. The stable isotope composition and hydrochemistry of the groundwater around Qinghai Lake were investigated to study the sources and recharge areas. Most of the groundwater points lie close to the local meteoric water line, indicating that the ground waters were recharged primarily from precipitation in the basin, though it had undergone varying degrees of evaporation. The hydrochemical analysis showed that the groundwater was mainly freshwater and that the hydrochemical type was Ca–Mg–HCO3; the results of the boomerang envelope model and solutes calculated indicated that the groundwater chemistry was mainly controlled by carbonate dissolution around Qinghai Lake. The recharge altitudes of groundwater were relatively low (at 3,400 m.a.s.l) on the northern shore of Qinghai Lake (locations G1 and G5), relatively high (above 3,900 m.a.s.l) on the southern shore (locations G3 and G4), and approximately 3,700 m.a.s.l on the western shore (location G2). Furthermore, groundwater samples from the fault zone (e.g., G3) would be recharged in part from fissure or inter-basin water. High salinity of groundwater on the western shore (location G2) was related with the evaporite dissolution, the groundwater is unsuitable for drinking, and the drinking water should be improved and enhanced in this area. Knowledge of our research can promote effective management of water resources in this cold and semiarid region and add new data to global groundwater database.