Variability of Stable Isotope in Lake Water and Its Hydrological Processes Identification in Mt. Yulong Region

Xiaoyi Shi,Cuishan Qi,Dunsheng Xia,Guotao Zhang,Yuanqing He,Tao Pu

doi:10.3390/w9090711

Abstract

Lakes are regarded as important nodes in water resources, playing pivotal roles in the regional hydrological cycle. However, the systematic study on lake water balance is scarce in Mt. Yulong region. Here, we study the stable isotope compositions of precipitation, inflowing rivers and lake water to exploit the characteristics of hydrological supply and lake water balance. The results showed that there was a typical spatial distribution of surface isotope in August and April. Relatively high δ18O values with low d-excess were found on the east and west shores of the lake in August and in the middle part of the lake in April. The lowest δ18O with highest d-excess were found in the north and south shores in August and April, respectively. Meanwhile, slight isotopic stratification indicated that the lake water was vertically mixed-well. Subsequently, the evaporation-to-inflow ratios (E/Is) during the two periods were further derived based on the isotope mass balance model. Approximately 51% in August and 12% in April of the water flowing into Lashi Lake underwent evaporation. This study provides a reference for the long-term monitoring and modeling the hydrology processes of the basin, and is important for the regional water resource.

Highlights

Lakes can either increase seasonal streamflow by recharging local or regional groundwater, or decrease seasonal streamflow by increasing evaporation [1]
Evaporation plays a vital role in the process of hydrological cycle, and constraints on fluxes of vapor, heat and isotopologues associated with evaporation are important for the quantification of many process related to the global water cycle, regional water balance, and interpretation of paleo-isotopic records [4]
The compositions of the lake surface water sampled in August spanned a range of δ18 O

Summary

Introduction

Lakes can either increase seasonal streamflow by recharging local or regional groundwater, or decrease seasonal streamflow by increasing evaporation [1]. Lakes in glaciered catchments especially are natural integrators of surficial processes and are important information sources regarding climate change [2,3]. An understanding of the roles that lakes at high elevations play in seasonal and annual water balances and the water cycles of glacier-runoff systems, especially in glaciered catchments, is essential. Evaporation plays a vital role in the process of hydrological cycle, and constraints on fluxes of vapor, heat and isotopologues associated with evaporation are important for the quantification of many process related to the global water cycle, regional water balance, and interpretation of paleo-isotopic records [4]. E/I models are based on the evaporative enrichment of 18 O and D, for which the light isotopic species of water, H2 16

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