Acta Geographica Sinica ›› 2019, Vol. 74 ›› Issue (5): 975-991.doi: 10.11821/dlxb201905011

• Climate Change and Surface Processes • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Hydrochemical characteristics and factors controlling of natural water in the western, southern, and northeastern border areas of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

TIAN Yuan1,2,YU Chengqun1(),ZHA Xinjie2,3,GAO Xing3,YU Mingzhai4   

  1. 1. Lhasa National Ecological Research Station, Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modelling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing 100101, China
    2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    3. State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing 100101, China
    4. Research Institute of Agriculture, Tibet Academy of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Lhasa 850002, China
  • Received:2018-05-15 Revised:2018-10-15 Online:2019-05-25 Published:2019-05-24
  • Contact: YU Chengqun E-mail:yucq@igsnrr.ac.cn
  • Supported by:
    Key R&D and Transformation Program of Tibet(XZ201901NB08);Major Science and Technology Project of Tibet(XZ201901NA03);Major Science and Technology Project of Tibet(XZ201801NA02)

Abstract:

The special geographic and human environment of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has created the unique hydrochemical characteristics of the region's natural water, which has been preserved in a completely natural state. However, as the intensity of human activities in the region continued to increase, the water environment and hydrochemical characteristics on the plateau have changed. In this study, we collected, analyzed, and measured water samples in the western, southern, and northeastern border areas of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, where human activities are ongoing, and the regional differences and factors controlling them were investigated. The key results were obtained as follows. (1) There were differences in the physical properties and hydrochemical characteristics, and their controlling factors in the different boundary areas of this plateau. These differences were mainly caused by the effects of the geographical environment and geological conditions. (2) The average pH of the water samples was 7.75, the average total dissolved solid (TDS) content was 171 mg/L, and the average hardness (TH) content was 168 mg/L. Overall, the water quality was good and suitable for drinking, with most samples meeting national and WHO drinking water standards. (3) The main cations were Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ in water samples, while HCO3 - and SO4 2- were the main anions. The chemical properties of water were mainly controlled by the weathering of carbonates and the dissolution of evaporative rocks, with the weathering of carbonate rocks being most influential. (4) The biological quality indicators of natural water in the border areas was far superior to national and WHO standards, which indicated that these areas were rarely affected by human activities.

Key words: border area of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, natural water, hydrochemical characteristics, controlling factors