Zhang et al. (2025) Estimation of hydrogeological spring catchment area: case of Jinci spring in North China

Identification

• Journal: Carbonates and Evaporites
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-09-11
• Authors: Zhixiang Zhang, Zhaoliang Wang, Qiang Zheng, Yongxin Xu, Xuehua Zhao, Liangliang Guo, Jian Zhang
• DOI: 10.1007/s13146-025-01165-2

Research Groups

• College of Water Resources Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, China
• College of Geological and Surveying Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, China
• College of Environment and Ecology, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, China
• Department of Earth Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa

Short Summary

This study investigates the time-varying characteristics of the Jinci spring flow decrease coefficient from 1956 to 1994 and estimates its hydrogeological spring catchment area using linear regression and Turc methods. The findings provide a theoretical foundation for the sustainable utilization and protection of karst groundwater resources in semi-arid northern China.

Objective

• To investigate the variation pattern of the Jinci spring flow decrease coefficient from 1956 to 1994.
• To estimate the hydrogeological spring catchment area of Jinci spring using the linear regression method and the Turc method.
• To provide a theoretical foundation for the protection and management of karst groundwater in the semi-arid region of northern China.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Jinci spring, a karst groundwater system in North China.
• Temporal Scale: 1956 to 1994 (for spring flow decrease coefficient analysis and catchment area estimation).

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Linear regression method, Turc method.
• Data sources: Historical spring flow decrease coefficient data (implied from the study period 1956-1994).

Main Results

• The spring flow decrease coefficient generally shows an increasing trend over time, indicating the time-varying characteristics of the hydrogeological spring catchment area.
• The hydrogeological spring catchment areas estimated by the linear regression method are 2143 square kilometers, 2084 square kilometers, and 2037 square kilometers, with an average of 2088 square kilometers.
• The hydrogeological spring catchment area estimated by the Turc method exhibits a series of values, demonstrating dynamic changes over time resulting from the joint effects of natural and anthropogenic factors.

Contributions

• Provides detailed research on the hydrogeological spring catchment area of Jinci spring, addressing a previous lack of such studies.
• Quantifies the hydrogeological spring catchment area using two different methods, offering specific values for the region.
• Highlights the time-varying nature of the catchment area, attributing changes to both natural and anthropogenic factors.
• Offers a theoretical foundation for the protection and management of karst groundwater in the semi-arid region of northern China.

Funding

• Special fund for Science and Technology Innovation Teams of Shanxi Province (202204051002027)
• Application Basic Research Project of Shanxi Province (202303021211252)
• Science and Technology Innovation Project of Shanxi transportation holdings group co., LTD. (23-JKKJ-46)
• Shanxi Key Laboratory of Collaborative Utilization of River Basin Water Resources

Citation

@article{Zhang2025Estimation,
  author = {Zhang, Zhixiang and Wang, Zhaoliang and Zheng, Qiang and Xu, Yongxin and Zhao, Xuehua and Guo, Liangliang and Zhang, Jian},
  title = {Estimation of hydrogeological spring catchment area: case of Jinci spring in North China},
  journal = {Carbonates and Evaporites},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.1007/s13146-025-01165-2},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-025-01165-2}
}