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Arid Land Geography ›› 2021, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (1): 80-88.doi: 10.12118/j.issn.1000–6060.2021.01.09

• Climatology and Hydrology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Variations in groundwater table depth at Daliyaboyi Oasis, Keriya River, China

TANG Min(),ZHANG Feng(),SHI Qingdong   

  1. Key Laboratory of Oasis Ecology Ministry Education, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830046, Xinjiang, China
  • Received:2019-07-09 Revised:2020-07-04 Online:2021-01-25 Published:2021-03-09
  • Contact: Feng ZHANG E-mail:15700353407@163.com;zhang-f-eng@sohu.com

Abstract:

Dynamic changes in groundwater table depth largely control desert vegetation, which affects and restricts oasis ecosystems in arid regions. Daliyaboyi, located in the lower reaches of the Keriya River and comprising desert riparian forest, is the largest natural oasis in the Taklimakan Desert, Xinjiang, China. Monitoring variations in groundwater table depth and studying its influence on surface vegetation further the understanding of the formation and maintenance of a pristine oasis. No researcher has previously obtained continuous groundwater monitoring data in the oasis because of the complex geographical environment and restricted travel conditions. In October 2012, our laboratory set up a monitoring well in the hinterland of the Daliyaboyi Oasis and obtained data for groundwater table depth from 2012 to 2018. This study analyzes the dynamic changes in water level from four aspects: daily extreme value distribution, diurnal range distribution, and annual and interannual fluctuations of groundwater table depth. Combined with observed growth habits of Populus euphratica, the possible influence of groundwater table depth changes on the oasis ecosystem was discussed. The preliminary analysis conclusions are as follows: (1) Daily minimum groundwater table depths occurred at 16:00, 20:00, or 04:00. Maximum depths mainly appeared at 16:00, from April to October, particularly in September. (2) Daily variations ranged from 0 to 0.5 m, and the level was deeper than 0.1 m from July to August, particularly during this two month period in 2017. (3) Groundwater table depth in each year varied from 1.0 to 3.0 m, and crests were mainly observed from February to March and August to September. (4) The average groundwater table depth for many years was 2.0 m, which showed a slowly increasing trend of approximately 0.08 m·a -1. Additionally, the total number of days with groundwater table depth in the range of 1.0-2.0 m during each year is increasing, which is suitable for the growth of Populus euphratica seedling (the dominative species of riparian vegetation in Daliyaboyi Oasis). The total number of days with depths of 2.0-4.0 m, which might restrict the growth of mature Populus euphratica, is decreasing.

Key words: Tarim Basin, Taklimakan Desert, Daliyaboyi, pristine oasis, groundwater, dynamic changes