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Moral, F., Cruz-Sanjulián, J. J., & Olías, M. (2008). Geochemical evolution of groundwater in the carbonate aquifers of Sierra de Segura (Betic Cordillera, southern Spain). Journal of Hydrology, 360(1), 281–296.
Abstract: Sierra de Segura (Betic Cordillera), with a total area of over 3000km2, is the source of the two principal rivers in southern Spain, the Guadalquivir and the Segura. Due to the orographic effect of these mountains, precipitations are considerably more abundant than in nearby lowland areas, where the climate is semi-arid. Sierra de Segura is constituted of Mesozoic and Cenozoic sedimentary rocks, among which there are thick limestone–dolomitic formations which have given rise to extensive outcrops of permeable materials. In geomorphological terms, there is a large plateau intensively karstified that constitutes the main recharge area. Discharge takes place via a large number of springs, of which the 50 most important add up to a mean spring flow of about 13,500l/s. The active geochemical processes in aquifers of Sierra de Segura, with their corresponding time sequence, are: dissolution of CO2, dissolution of calcite, incongruent dissolution of dolomite, dedolomitization, exsolution of CO2, and precipitation of calcite. More evolved water has higher temperature, magnesium content and Mg/Ca ratio; therefore, these parameters can be utilised as indicators of the degree of hydrochemical evolution. In addition, a good correlation between water temperature and magnesium concentration (or Mg/Ca ratio) indicates that an increase in temperature accelerates the kinetics of the dissolution of dolomite. Finally, the distribution of the temperatures in the vadose zone, determined by atmospheric thermal gradient, implies an apparent stratification of the predominant hydrochemical processes and of the groundwater physical and chemical characteristics.
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Vengosh, A., & Rosenthal, E. (1994). Saline groundwater in Israel: its bearing on the water crisis in the country. Journal of Hydrology, 156(1), 389–430.
Abstract: One of the major causes for the deterioration of water quality bearing heavily on the water crisis in Israel is the ongoing contamination of its water resources by saline water bodies. The present paper reviews the geochemical processes forming saline water, lists and explains certain chemical and isotopic parameters which enable understanding these processes and describes the saline groundwater bodies and various salinization phenomena occurring in the country’s various aquifers. Deterioration of groundwater in Israel is caused by numerous natural processes such as encroachment of sea water, migration of connate, highly pressurized brines penetrating into fresh groundwater, by subsurface dissolution of soluble salts originating in surrounding country rocks and by water-rock interaction. In addition to sea water, two saline water bodies were identified as the main factors causing salinization of fresh groundwater: (a) Ca-chloride brines encountered in the Jordan-Dead Sea Rift Valley, in various parts of the Negev and of the Coastal Plain, and (b) Na-chloride saline water identified in the subsurface of the Negev and in the southern part of the Coastal Plain. Intensive exploitation of groundwater in Israel has disturbed the natural equilibrium which prevailed between fresh and saline water. The newly established groundwater flow regimes have facilitated the migration of saline water bodies, their participation in the active hydrological cycle and the progressive contamination of fresh groundwater. These processes which were not anticipated by planners and water resources managers emphasize that large-scale groundwater exploitation was undertaken without giving sufficient consideration to the occurrence and subsurface migration of saline water and brines.
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Zhou, X., & Li, C. (1992). Hydrogeochemistry of deep formation brines in the central Sichuan Basin, China. Journal of Hydrology, 138(1), 1–15.
Abstract: Subsurface brines are abundant in the Sichuan Basin, China. Five brine-bearing aquifers have been identified within rocks of Triassic age in the central part of the basin. These are of two types: brine-bearing clastic and brine-bearing carbonate aquifers. Brines in this region have high total dissolved solids and chemical species that are different from those of evaporatively concentrated seawater. Deep formation brines in clastic aquifers, in which evaporites do not exist, are characterized by high concentrations of Ca, Sr, Ba, Br and I, low concentrations of Mg and K, and lack of SO4, and are dominated by the NaCaCl type. Brines in carbonate aquifers, which have interbeds of evaporites, are characterized by high total dissolved solids, low concentrations of Ca, Mg and SO4, and lack of Ba, and are of the NaCl type. The brines in clastic aquifers originate from connate continental sedimentary waters mixed with marine waters; membrane filtration through shales has played an important part in modifying the chemical compositions and increasing the salinity of the brines. Those in carbonate aquifers are bittern marine sedimentary waters, with chemical compositions mainly controlled by precipitation of evaporites.
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Cui, G., Lu, Y., Zheng, C., Liu, Z., & Sai, J. (2019). Relationship between soil salinization and groundwater hydration in Yaoba Oasis, Northwest China. Water, 11(1), 175.
Abstract: Precipitation is scarce and evaporation is intense in desert areas. Groundwater is used as the main water source to develop agriculture in the oases. However, the effects of using groundwater on the ecological environment elicit widespread public concern. This study investigated the relationship between soil salinity and groundwater characteristics in Yaoba Oasis through in situ experiments. The relationship of the mineral content, pH, and main ion content of groundwater with soil salt was quantitatively evaluated through a gray relational analysis. Four main results were obtained. First, the fresh water area with low total dissolved solid (TDS) was usually HCO3− or SO42− type water, and salt water was mostly Cl− and SO42−. The spatial distribution of main ions in groundwater during winter irrigation in November was basically consistent with that during spring irrigation in June. However, the spatial distribution of TDS differed in the two seasons. Second, soil salinization in the study area was severe, and the salinization rate reached 72.7%. In this work, the spatial variability of soil salinization had a relatively large value, and the values in spring were greater than those in autumn. Third, the soil in the irrigated area had a high salt content, and the salt ion content of surface soil was higher than that of subsoil. A piper trilinear diagram revealed that Ca2+ and K+ + Na+ were the main cations. SO42−, Cl−, and HCO3− were the main anions, and salinization soil mainly contained SO42−. Fourth, the changes in soil salt and ion contents in the 0–10 cm soil layer were approximately similar to those of irrigation water quality, both of which showed an increasing trend. The correlation of surface soil salinity with the salinity of groundwater and its chemical components was high. In summary, this study identified the progress of irrigation water quality in soil salinization and provided a scientific basis for improving the oasis ecosystem, maintaining the healthy development of agriculture, managing oasis water resources, and policy development. Our
findings can serve as a reference for other, similar oasis research.
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Darwish, T., Atallah, T., Francis, R., Saab, C., Jomaa, I., Shaaban, A., et al. (2011). Observations on soil and groundwater contamination with nitrate: A case study from Lebanon-East Mediterranean. Agricultural Water Management, 99(1), 74–84.
Abstract: The impact of agricultural practices on soil–groundwater quality in the sub-humid Bekaa plain of Lebanon-East Mediterranean was monitored in four fields (F) between July 2007 and July 2009. These were occupied by continuous mint (F1), summer potato/wheat/potato (F2), lettuce/lettuce/potato/wheat/summer potato (F3) and table grapes (F4). N input calculated on a two-year basis, was in the following ascending order F4, F2, F3 and F1. Soil samples, analyzed down to 200 cm depth, showed high nitrate and chloride concentrations at the end of the 2007 and 2008 seasons. Soil chloride and nitrate peaks recorded in October 2007 and 2008 disappeared below 200 cm overwinter. The calculated N biannual discharge ranged from 130 (F4), to 516 (F2), to 778 (F1), to 879 kg ha−1 (F3). Groundwater quality was studied in 21 wells distributed along a sequence stretching from the Litani River to the eastern water dividing line. Based on the nitrate concentrations, the well located at the top of the water dividing line was the only one suitable for drinking purposes. Eight wells were mildly contaminated, therefore suitable for irrigation purposes except for sensitive crops. Twelve wells, positioned in the plain, showed a nitrate level exceeding 200 mg L−1. Protecting the soil and groundwater quality is a top priority to maintain the ecological and agricultural functions of water.
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