ISSN 1000-3665 CN 11-2202/P

    青藏高原地下水研究进展与挑战

    Groundwater in the Tibetan Plateau: advances and challenges

    • 摘要: 青藏高原作为“亚洲水塔”的核心区域,是长江、黄河、雅鲁藏布江、恒河、湄公河等重要江河的发源地。作为全球气候变化的敏感区,其显著的升温效应强烈影响流域水循环过程,进而引发中下游生态环境级联效应。地下水系统作为流域水循环的重要组成部分,在维持河流源区径流和生态环境稳定方面发挥着重要作用。系统总结了青藏高原地下水系统结构、高寒区地下水循环特征及储量变化的研究进展。研究表明:青藏高原总陆地水储量呈下降趋势,而地下水储量在部分地区呈增加趋势,气候变化加强了冰川、积雪等地表固态水分向地下水的转化;地下水通过基流排泄维持旱季河流源区径流,地下水循环随着冻土退化将进一步增强,其中冻土“可变含水层”的表征模拟是冻土地下水模拟的瓶颈;浅层地下水水位维持着高寒草地生态系统,冻土活动层厚度增加导致的地下水水位降低可能引发植被群落演替;随着冰雪消融、冻土退化,山区坡面土体含水量及壤中流增加,从而增加滑坡等地质灾害风险。未来应加强观测网络建设与多元数据整合,发展融合冰冻圈要素的地下水系统模型,推进水文地质-生态-工程等跨学科协同研究,提升地下水变化调控的理论和应用研究水平,为应对气候变化和实现亚洲水塔区域水资源可持续管理和高原生态保护提供科学支撑。

       

      Abstract: As the core area of the "Asian Water Tower", the Tibetan Plateau serves as the source region of major rivers including the Yangtze, Yellow, Yarlung Tsangpo, Ganges, and Mekong rivers. Highly sensitive to global climate change, the Tibetan Plateau experiences pronounced warming, which profoundly alters watershed hydrological cycles and triggers cascading ecological impacts in mid-lower reaches. The groundwater system, a critical component of hydrological processes, plays a vital role in maintaining baseflow stability and ecosystem equilibrium in river source areas. This study provides a comprehensive review of the structure of the groundwater system, groundwater circulation characteristics in cold regions, and changes in groundwater storage on the Tibetan Plateau. Studies show that the total terrestrial water storage on the Tibetan Plateau is decreasing, while groundwater storage is increasing in some areas. Climate change has accelerated the conversion of surface solid water, such as glaciers and snow, into groundwater. Groundwater discharge through baseflow maintains river runoff during the dry season, and this cycle will be further intensified as permafrost degrades. However, the representation and simulation of the "variable aquifer" in permafrost remains a significant challenge for groundwater modeling. Shallow groundwater levels are essential for maintaining the alpine grassland ecosystem, and the increase in permafrost activity layer thickness leads to a decline in groundwater levels, which could trigger vegetation community succession. Moreover, as snow and ice melt and permafrost degrades, soil moisture and subsurface flow increase on mountain slopes, raising the risk of geological disasters such as landslides. Future research should focus on enhancing observation networks, integrating diverse data sources, and developing groundwater system models that incorporate permafrost elements. Promoting interdisciplinary research across hydrology, geology, ecology, and engineering will improve the understanding and management of groundwater changes. These efforts will provide scientific support for addressing climate change, ensuring sustainable water resource management, and protecting the ecosystem in the "Asian Water Tower" region.

       

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