Advances in Hydro-Geological Research in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recent advancements in hydro-geology allow for a better management of water resources and provide a strategy for overcoming issues in the future. In terms of concepts, models, and technology, the hydro-geologist community has created interdisciplinary approaches using tools of various sizes. Publishing studies highlighting developments and trends in the hydro-sciences is possible using remote sensing, GIS and artificial intelligence methods.

Studies utilizing supercomputer platforms, computer clusters, or other hardware are also of interest to this Topic since they can be excellent instruments for calibrating huge data gathered from field research or finely detailed laboratory trials.

The goal of this Topic is to offer a venue for the quick, open publication of peer-reviewed research on the hydro-geology and water resources of semiarid and arid regions. Topics to be covered in this topic include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Water management;
• Drought risk assessment;
• Groundwater optimal use;
• Water deficit;
• Advanced artificial intelligence;
• Remote sensing;
• Rainfall harvesting;
• Geographical information system;
• Spatial planning and governance for climate adaptation.

Dr. Ahmed Elbeltag
Prof. Dr. Quanhua Hou
Prof. Dr. Bin He
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Hydrology hydrology	3.2	4.1	2014	17.8 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Water water	3.4	5.5	2009	16.5 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Climate climate	3.7	5.2	2013	19.7 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Atmosphere atmosphere	2.9	4.1	2010	17.7 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Agriculture agriculture	3.6	3.6	2011	17.7 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Geosciences geosciences	2.7	5.2	2011	23.6 Days	CHF 1800	Submit

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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14 pages, 3873 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Boundary Layer Height and Trends over the Tarim Basin

by Akida Salam, Qing He, Alim Abbas, Tongwen Wu, Jie Zhang, Weihua Jie and Junjie Liu

Atmosphere 2024, 15(5), 541; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15050541 - 28 Apr 2024

Viewed by 227

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the spatio-temporal variations in the atmospheric boundary layer height (ABLH) over the Tarim Basin (TB). Monthly ABLH data from the ERA-Interim dataset from January 1979 to December 2018 were used. Periodicity analysis and the Mann–Kendall Abrupt Changes test [...] Read more.

This study aimed to examine the spatio-temporal variations in the atmospheric boundary layer height (ABLH) over the Tarim Basin (TB). Monthly ABLH data from the ERA-Interim dataset from January 1979 to December 2018 were used. Periodicity analysis and the Mann–Kendall Abrupt Changes test were employed to identify the change cycle and abrupt change year of the boundary layer height. The Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) method was utilized to determine the spatial distribution of the boundary layer height, and the RF method was used to establish the relationship between the ABLH and influencing factors. The results demonstrated that the highest values of ABLH (over 1900 m) were observed in the middle parts of the study area in June, and the ABLH exhibited a significant increase over the TB throughout the study period. Abrupt changes in the ABLH were also identified in 2004, as well as in 2-, 5-, 9-, and 15-year changing cycles. The first EOF ABLH mode indicated that the middle and northeast regions are relatively high ABLH areas within the study area. Additionally, the monthly variations in ABLH show a moderately positive correlation with air temperature, while exhibiting a negative correlation with air pressure and relative humidity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Hydro-Geological Research in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas)

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18 pages, 8551 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

An Assessment of the Coupled Weather Research and Forecasting Hydrological Model on Streamflow Simulations over the Source Region of the Yellow River

by Yaling Chen, Jun Wen, Xianhong Meng, Qiang Zhang, Xiaoyue Li, Ge Zhang and Run Chen

Atmosphere 2024, 15(4), 468; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15040468 - 10 Apr 2024

Viewed by 413

Abstract

The Source Region of the Yellow River (SRYR), renowned as the “Water Tower of the Yellow River”, serves as an important water conservation domain in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, significantly influencing water resources within the basin. Based on the Weather [...] Read more.

The Source Region of the Yellow River (SRYR), renowned as the “Water Tower of the Yellow River”, serves as an important water conservation domain in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, significantly influencing water resources within the basin. Based on the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model Hydrological modeling system (WRF-Hydro), the key variables of the atmosphere–land–hydrology coupling processes over the SRYR during the 2013 rainy season are analyzed. The investigation involves a comparative analysis between the coupled WRF-Hydro and the standalone WRF simulations, focusing on the hydrological response to the atmosphere. The results reveal the WRF-Hydro model’s proficiency in depicting streamflow variations over the SRYR, yielding Nash Efficiency Coefficient (NSE) values of 0.44 and 0.61 during the calibration and validation periods, respectively. Compared to the standalone WRF simulations, the coupled WRF-Hydro model demonstrates enhanced performance in soil heat flux simulations, reducing the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of surface soil temperature by 0.96 K and of soil moisture by 0.01 m³/m³. Furthermore, the coupled model adeptly captures the streamflow variation characteristics with an NSE of 0.33. This underscores the significant potential of the coupled WRF-Hydro model for describing atmosphere–land–hydrology coupling processes in regions characterized by cold climates and intricate topography. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Hydro-Geological Research in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas)

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14 pages, 12543 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Various Forms of Geothermal Energy Release in the Beijing Region, China

by Zebin Luo, Mingbo Yang, Xiaocheng Zhou, Guiping Liu, Jinlong Liang, Zhe Liu, Peixue Hua, Jingchen Ma, Leyin Hu, Xiaoru Sun, Bowen Cui, Zhiguo Wang and Yuxuan Chen

Water 2024, 16(4), 622; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16040622 - 19 Feb 2024

Viewed by 707

Abstract

The energy inside the Earth can not only be released outward through earthquakes and volcanoes but also can be used by humans in the form of geothermal energy. Is there a correlation between different forms of energy release? In this contribution, we perform [...] Read more.

The energy inside the Earth can not only be released outward through earthquakes and volcanoes but also can be used by humans in the form of geothermal energy. Is there a correlation between different forms of energy release? In this contribution, we perform detailed seismic and geothermal research in the Beijing area. The results show that the geothermal resources in Beijing belong to typical medium-low temperature geothermal resources of the sedimentary basin, and some areas are controlled by deep fault activities (e.g., Xiji geothermal well (No. 17)). The heat sources are upper mantle heat, radioactive heat in granite, and residual heat from magma cooling. The high overlap of earthquakes and geothermal field locations and the positive correlation between the injection water and earthquakes indicate that the exploitation and injection water will promote the release of the earth’s energy. The energy releases are partitioned into multiple microearthquakes, avoiding damaging earthquakes (M_L ≥ 5) due to excessive energy accumulation. Therefore, the exploitation of geothermal resources may be one way to reduce destructive earthquakes. Furthermore, the use of geothermal resources can also reduce the burning of fossil energy, which is of great significance in dealing with global warming. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Hydro-Geological Research in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas)

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27 pages, 13685 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Using an Open-Source Tool to Develop a Three-Dimensional Hydrogeologic Framework of the Kobo Valley, Ethiopia

by Sisay S. Mekonen, Scott E. Boyce, Abdella K. Mohammed and Markus Disse

Geosciences 2024, 14(1), 3; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14010003 - 20 Dec 2023

Viewed by 1382

Abstract

Groundwater resource management requires understanding the groundwater basin’s hydrogeology and would be improved with the development of a three-dimensional hydrogeologic framework model (HFM). A wide range of methods and software exist to quantify the extent, structure, and properties of geologic systems. However, most [...] Read more.

Groundwater resource management requires understanding the groundwater basin’s hydrogeology and would be improved with the development of a three-dimensional hydrogeologic framework model (HFM). A wide range of methods and software exist to quantify the extent, structure, and properties of geologic systems. However, most geologic software is proprietary and cost-prohibitive for use in developing countries. GemPy is a Python-based, open-source (no-cost) tool for generating three-dimensional geological models. This study uses available data and GemPy to develop the Kobo Valley Hydrogeologic Framework Model (KV-HFM), a three-dimensional HFM for Kobo Valley in northern Ethiopia, which is part of the East African Rift System. The KV-HFM is a conceptual model that comprises the hydrostratigraphy, structural features, and hydraulic properties of the Kobo Valley groundwater system. The limited data described the extent and altitude of the hydrostratigraphic units using the GemPy implicit potential–field interpolation. The KV-HFM showed the existence of an east-to-west, structural-based groundwater divide composed of volcanic rock and clay. This divide splits the catchment into two groundwater systems with limited interconnected flow. This study illustrates the use of open-source software for developing an HFM using sparse, existing geologic data. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Hydro-Geological Research in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas)

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15 pages, 5588 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Arid AREAS Water-Piled Photovoltaic Prevents Evaporation Effects Research

by Jiamin Huang, Kebin Shi, Xingpeng Shi, Guocheng Hao and Yimin Yang

Water 2023, 15(21), 3716; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15213716 - 24 Oct 2023

Viewed by 845

Abstract

(1) Background: In arid and semi-arid reservoirs, water surface evaporation is the main method of water dissipation in order to inhibit the evaporation of water and enhance economic efficiency. The evaporation inhibition rate of water-piled PV at different times of the year is [...] Read more.

(1) Background: In arid and semi-arid reservoirs, water surface evaporation is the main method of water dissipation in order to inhibit the evaporation of water and enhance economic efficiency. The evaporation inhibition rate of water-piled PV at different times of the year is derived from the anti-evaporation test of water-piled PV, and a new idea is proposed for water conservation in plains reservoirs in arid areas. (2) Methods: The test was conducted by dividing the area into groups A and B, with and without PV panel shading. In situ observation and numerical calculation were used to measure the atmosphere’s temperatures, test group, and PV module. The saturated water vapor pressure difference was then calculated according to Dalton’s principle to analyze the economic benefits of water saving. (3) Results: Based on the test results, it was found that the shading of PV panels had a cooling effect on the water body, the PV module, and the atmosphere. Group A showed a 44.2% decrease in the saturation water vapor pressure difference compared to Group B. The maximum evaporation suppression rate of 40.2% was observed in July, while the minimum rate of 12.2% was observed in January. The average evaporation suppression rate for the entire year was 29.2%. By utilizing the annual water savings for agricultural irrigation, it is possible to cover 38 hm² of land and generate a revenue of 39,000 CNY. (4) Conclusions: The photovoltaic water cover can effectively reduce water evaporation and generate economic benefits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Hydro-Geological Research in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas)

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16 pages, 7533 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Balancing Water Ecosystem Services: Assessing Water Yield and Purification in Shanxi

by Man Li, Shanshan Li, Huancai Liu and Junjie Zhang

Water 2023, 15(18), 3261; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15183261 - 13 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1190

Abstract

Water yield and purification are important aspects of water ecosystem services, and achieving a balanced development of the two is necessary for the development of aquatic ecosystems. Using the InVEST model, the spatiotemporal variations of regional water yield and purification services in Shanxi, [...] Read more.

Water yield and purification are important aspects of water ecosystem services, and achieving a balanced development of the two is necessary for the development of aquatic ecosystems. Using the InVEST model, the spatiotemporal variations of regional water yield and purification services in Shanxi, China, from 2000 to 2020 were analyzed. Three future scenarios (natural development, urban development, and ecological protection) were assessed for 2030 using the PLUS model. The results showed that in 2000–2020, the water yield of Shanxi Province in terms of space was generally low in the middle and northwest and high in the southeast, and it was affected by land-use change and climatic change. From 2000 to 2020, the water yield of Shanxi Province changed by 78.8 mm. In 2030, water yield will be highest under the urban development scenario (380.53 mm) and lowest in the ecological protection scenario (368.22 mm). Moreover, the water quality purification capacity improved, with nitrogen loading high in the center and low in the east and west. Due to the implementation of environmental protection policies and the improvement of the technical level, the nitrogen load was the highest in 2000 (0.97 kg/hm²) and lowest in 2015 (0.94 kg/hm²). By 2030, because of the high nitrogen loadings of cultivation and construction land and low nitrogen loadings of forests and grasslands, the nitrogen load was lowest under the scenario of urban development (0.94 kg/hm²) and highest under ecological protection (0.85 kg/hm²). Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Hydro-Geological Research in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas)

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22 pages, 4622 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Hydrochemical Characteristics and Quality Evaluation of Irrigation and Drinking Water in Bangong Co Lake Watershed in Northwest Tibetan Plateau

by Yuxiang Shao, Buqing Yan, Lubaiyang Liu, Xiao Yu, Gang Feng, Kun Zhang and Kang Gong

Water 2023, 15(14), 2655; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15142655 - 22 Jul 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1342

Abstract

Bangong Lake is a narrow and long lake in the arid region of the plateau in northern Tibet. The salinity of the east of the lake is different from that the west, resulting in differences in the natural environment and human living conditions [...] Read more.

Bangong Lake is a narrow and long lake in the arid region of the plateau in northern Tibet. The salinity of the east of the lake is different from that the west, resulting in differences in the natural environment and human living conditions on each side. Watershed hydrochemical analysis and spatial statistical analysis can help to understand regional hydrochemical evolution and water quality evaluation. In this study, the hydrochemical characteristics of surface water (glacier, river, and lake) and groundwater in the Bangong Co Lake Watershed were investigated to reveal the relationships between various water bodies. The drinking water quality index (DWQI) and USSL classification were applied to assess groundwater quality suitability for agricultural and drinking purposes. The hydrochemical characteristics show the differences among water bodies and their spatial distribution. The analyzed groundwater and surface water samples, such as river water and glaciers, were mainly Ca-HCO₃-type and the lake water was mainly categorized as Na-Cl-type with some Na-HCO₃-Cl type. The lake water’s chemical components are mainly affected by evaporative karst decomposition. The main mineralization process of groundwater and river water was related to the dissolution of reservoir minerals, such as dolomite and calcite, as well as halite. The drinking water quality index (DWQI) indicates that 79% of the groundwater samples in the study area were of good enough quality for drinking. In terms of irrigation water quality, the electrical conductivity (EC), calculated sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), and magnesium hazardous ratio (MHR) showed that more than 13% of the total samples were not suitable for irrigation. However, the USSL classification indicated that glacier and river water are relatively suitable for irrigation. Additionally, some groundwater and lake water has very high alkalinity or salinity, which is alarming when considering them for irrigation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Hydro-Geological Research in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas)

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