Li et al. (2025) Numerical simulation and analysis of groundwater response to ecological water recharge in an alluvial fan system

Identification

• Journal: Physics and Chemistry of the Earth Parts A/B/C
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-11-29
• Authors: Binjie Li, Qichen Hao, Fei Chen, Kexin Chen, Jia Li, Wenlong Shi, Ruoqi Ma, Yong Xiao, Weizhe Cui
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pce.2025.104208

Research Groups

• Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Science, Xiamen, China
• Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Water Cycling and Eco-Geological Processes, Xiamen, China
• MWR General Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Planning and Design (GIWP), Beijing, China
• Bureau of South to North Water Transfer of Planning, Designing and Management, Ministry of Water Resources, Beijing, China
• Faculty of Geosciences and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
• School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China

Short Summary

This study quantifies the synergistic effects of ecological water replenishment (EWR) and other restoration measures on groundwater levels in a North China alluvial fan system, revealing significant spatial differentiation and cross-layer hydraulic responses.

Objective

• To quantitatively analyze the synergistic effects of ecological water replenishment (EWR) and other restoration measures on groundwater aquifer systems in a typical alluvial fan area.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: A typical alluvial fan area in the water-scarce North China region.
• Temporal Scale: Monthly-scale groundwater numerical model, analyzing effects over five years (from 2018 onwards).

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Groundwater numerical simulation software GMS, refined monthly-scale 3D-grid groundwater numerical model.
• Data sources: Groundwater level data from 81 monitoring wells (used for calibration).

Main Results

• Under the combined effects of multiple factors, the average groundwater level in the study area rose by 0.77 m over five years.
• The farthest influence distance of EWR reached 17.39 km.
• The restoration effect of EWR shows significant spatial differentiation: groundwater levels in the upstream area rose by more than 30 m, while the impact in the downstream area was negligible, primarily controlled by stratum structure.
• EWR can drive the restoration of deep aquifers, achieving cross-layer hydraulic response.

Contributions

• Provides a scientific paradigm for the restoration of alluvial fan aquifer systems by analyzing the multi-dimensional coupling mechanism of recharge, extraction reduction, and natural conditions.

Funding

• Not specified in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Li2025Numerical,
  author = {Li, Binjie and Hao, Qichen and Chen, Fei and Chen, Kexin and Li, Jia and Shi, Wenlong and Ma, Ruoqi and Xiao, Yong and Cui, Weizhe},
  title = {Numerical simulation and analysis of groundwater response to ecological water recharge in an alluvial fan system},
  journal = {Physics and Chemistry of the Earth Parts A/B/C},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.1016/j.pce.2025.104208},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2025.104208}
}