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Arid Land Geography ›› 2026, Vol. 49 ›› Issue (6): 1108-1121.doi: 10.12118/j.issn.1000-6060.2025.358

• Climatology and Hydrology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Spatiotemporal differentiation characteristics and formation mechanisms of hydrochemistry in the Manas River Basin

LI Yong1,2(), ZHANG Fuchu1,2, HE Xinlin1,2(), LI Xiaolong1,2, SONG Weihao1,2   

  1. 1 College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, Xinjiang, China
    2 Key Laboratory of Cold and Arid Regions Eco-Hydraulic Engineering of Xinjiang Production & Construction Corps, Shihezi 832003, Xinjiang, China
  • Received:2025-06-25 Revised:2025-07-09 Online:2026-06-25 Published:2026-06-29
  • Contact: HE Xinlin E-mail:17834142416@163.com;hexinlin2002@163.com

Abstract:

The periodic differentiation of chemical characteristics in surface and groundwater can reveal the extent of the interaction between natural conditions and human disturbance in arid agricultural regions, thus offering insights into the dynamics of water system evolution. To investigate the spatiotemporal coupling and differentiation of water chemistry in the Manas River Basin, we collected 184 surface and groundwater samples in April (pre-irrigation), July (mid-irrigation), and October (post-irrigation) of 2024. We employed Piper diagrams, Gibbs diagrams, and reverse geochemical modeling to systematically analyze the spatiotemporal interactions and driving factors of water chemistry across four geological units: The low-latitude mountainous area, piedmont plain area, artificial oasis area, and desert transition zone throughout the irrigation cycle. The results show that (1) Water chemistry types display a gradient spatial differentiation pattern, transitioning from the HCO3-Ca·Mg type in the low-latitude mountainous area to the Cl·SO4-Na type in the desert transition zone. Irrigation activities drive the artificial oasis and desert transition zones through three stages of salinization, evolving from the HCO3-Ca type in the pre-irrigation period to the high-salinity Cl·SO4-Na type in the post-irrigation period, following a temporal differentiation pattern. (2) In the low-latitude mountainous and piedmont plain areas, water chemistry is primarily influenced by water-rock interactions. By contrast, the artificial oasis area and desert transition zone are affected by both evaporation and crystallization processes, as well as human activities, which intensify during the mid- and post-irrigation periods. Na+, K+, and Cl primarily originate from rock salt dissolution and cation exchange, whereas Ca2+, Mg2+, and HCO3 mainly derive from dolomite and calcite dissolution, with SO42− primarily coming from gypsum dissolution. (3) Water-rock interactions are largely driven by dolomite and calcite dissolution and cation exchange, with minimal contributions from rock salt and gypsum, exhibiting distinct temporal differentiation characteristics. Through a comprehensive analysis of water chemistry differentiation and its controlling factors across multiple spatiotemporal scales, this study provides a scientific foundation for the sustainable management of surface and groundwater systems and for the prevention and control of salinization in arid regions.

Key words: water chemical evolution, irrigation-driven, spatiotemporal differentiation, Manas River Basin