『Abstract
Globally, it is possible that up to 25% of the world's population
depends on karst water supplies. In karst areas, a high degree
of groundwater and surface water linkage often results in the
direct recharge of groundwater with polluted run-off following
rainfall. In order to reveal the hydrochemical variations after
rainfall, especially real-time variation of pollutants, high-resolution
auto-monitoring techniques were used at the outlet of Qingmuguan
subterranean stream (QSS), which is influenced by agricultural
activities. In addition to rainfall, high-resolution measurements
of pH, water level, electrical conductivity (Ec) and NO3-
concentration were recorded in the monsoon season and fertilizer
application period using a data logger with time intervals of
15 min. In the six observed rainfall events, the pH value was
mainly controlled by acidic rainfall inputs. The pH showed sharp
decline after the rainfall event, and then increased. The Ec was
impacted by the rainfall chemistry, dilution effect of rainfall
and agricultural wastewater. NO3-
derived from agricultural activities was less impacted by rain
chemistry; and its variations were mainly affected by the dilution
effect of rainfall and agricultural wastewater. Under the influences
of the R1 rainfall, the rapid changes of Ec and NO3-
were opposite in direction. As the rain continued, both the Ec
and NO3- rapidly changed in synchronization
within the shortest period of 5 h and the longest of 27 h because
of the impact of the agricultural wastewater. The groundwater
quality changed due to the influx of agricultural wastewater over
the entire monitoring period. According to the National Groundwater
Quality Standard, People's Republic of China (GB/T 14848-9), the
groundwater quality of the QSS moved through the following grades
during the monitoring period: Grad III→Grade IV→Grade V→Grade
IV→Grade V→Grade IV→Grade V→Grade IV→Grade III. Traditional sampling
methods did not reveal accurate hydrochemistry changes of the
QSS, and even generated misleading results. Consequently, the
high-resolution auto-monitoring technique is necessary for the
future protection and sustainable use of karst aquifer in Southwest
China.
Keywords: High-resolution auto-monitoring; Subterranean stream;
hydrochemistry; Nitrate real-time variations; Agriculture』
Introduction
Physical setting of the study site
Methods
Results and discussion
Analyzing continuous monitoring data
The first rain event (R1)
The second rain event (R2)
The third rain event (R3)
The remaining several rain events (R4, R5, R6)
Contrast of auto-monitoring logger data and experimental result
Variation of groundwater quality
Conclusion
Acknowledgments
References