The impact of human activities on groundwater resources in the south edge of Tarim Basin, Xinjiang

Abstract

In the modern times, the population growth, development of industrial and agricultural production and the petroleum exploitation, brought about the unceasing expansion of artificial oasis and abrupt increase of water demand. The artificial hydraulic irrigation engineering took the place of the natural river system, the reservoirs took the place of natural lakes, which in turn enhanced the space-time redistribution of surface water based on the natural evolution, and so did groundwater. The groundwater recharge reduced 26.2% in 46 years from 1950 to 1995 in the southern piedmont flood plain of Tarim Basin due to mean yearly population increase rate of 27.7‰ and associated with the water use rate increasing from 24.6% to 58.4%. At the same time the artificial water system seepage give primary play to groundwater recharge, which is up to 57.6% whilst that of the natural system reduce to 33.7%. As a result, groundwater level drop 3–5m widespread except some irrigation area and surroundings of plain reservoir. Spring water discharge also reduce about 37.6% and discharge zone continuously move away to the north with the value of 0.5–1.2km in the past 40 years.