Chemical and isotopic approach to groundwater cycle in western Qaidam Basin, China

Due to the extremely arid climate in the western Qaidam Basin, the groundwater almost becomes the single water source for local residents and industrial production. It is necessary to know the reliable information on the groundwater cycle in this region for reasonable and sustainable exploitation of the groundwater resources with the further execution of recycling economy policies. This study focused on the recharge, the flow rate and the discharge of groundwater in the western Qaidam Basin through investigations on water chemistry and isotopes. Hydrological, chemical and isotopic characteristics show that the groundwater in the western Qaidam Basin was recharged by meltwater from new surface snow and old bottom glaciers on the northern slope of the Kunlun Mountains. In addition, the results also prove that the source water is enough and stable, and the rates of the circulation and renewal of the groundwater are relatively quick. Therefore, it can be concluded that the groundwater resources would guarantee the regional requirement if the meltwater volume of the mountains has not a great changes in future, moreover, water exploitation should be limited to the renewable amount of the groundwater reservoir in the western Qaidam Basin.