Estimation of shallow groundwater ages and circulation rates in the Henan Plain, China: CFC and deuterium excess methods

作者：Dong, Wei-hong; Kang, Bo; Du, Shang-hai^*; Shi, Xu-fei

来源：Geosciences Journal, 2013, 17(4): 479-488.

DOI：10.1007/s12303-013-0037-8

• groundwater age
• deuterium excess
• chlorofluorocarbons
• groundwater circulation rate
• Henan Plain

CFC age and deuterium excess methods were applied to the estimation of groundwater circulation rates in the Quaternary shallow groundwater system of the Henan Plain. The results provide a basis for groundwater renewability evaluation. The spatial distribution of CFC age shows that the groundwater system mainly comprises modern water, less than 50 a. The groundwater of less than 30 a was in the piedmont zone of the Taihang, Funiu, and Dabie Mountains, indicating short groundwater residence times, and fast groundwater cycling, with circulation rates of 27-31 m/d. Groundwater cycling along the Yellow River was also rapid because of exchange with the Yellow River. The circulation rates were 34-54 m/d. In the areas around Tongxu, Shangqiu, Taikang, Xiangcheng, in the middle of the study area, and east of Huaxian-Changyuan and Xixian, Gushi in the south, groundwater age was 30-40 a, suggesting a longer groundwater residence time. The groundwater cycle in these areas was slower than in the piedmonts, and the area along the Yellow River. The circulation rates were 15-26 m/d. In the areas of Luyi, Yongcheng, Zhumadian, Xincai and Huaibin, the groundwater age was older than 40 a, with the longest residence times and slowest circulation rates (similar to degrees 12 m/d). The correlation between groundwater age and deuterium excess averages for the northern, central, southern shallow groundwater systems and the < 30 a, 30-40 a, > 40 a groundwater age divisions was strong (R = 0.9714), showing that the groundwater residence time embodied by the deuterium excess parameter was consistent with groundwater age estimated using the CFC method.

• 出版日期2013-12
• 单位吉林大学