Hydrological Evolution of a Lake Recharged by Groundwater in the Badain Jaran Desert Over the Past 140 years

A groundwater-recharged lake in the Badain Jaran Desert, China, has undergone significant hydrological changes over the past 140 years, primarily driven by increased evaporation due to rising temperatures. The study, which analyzed sediment cores from Sayinwusu Lake using radiometric dating and mineral content analysis, revealed two distinct evolutionary periods: a low-productivity phase (1880–1950) and a rapid increase in primary productivity and salinity beginning in the 1950s. Despite regional precipitation increases, evaporation effects have dominated lake dynamics in this hyper-arid environment. This research provides critical insights for projecting future changes in desert groundwater-recharged lakes.

Jiang, G., Wang, N., Mao, X., Zhao, H., Liu, L., Shen, J., Nie, Z., & Wang, Z. (2021). Hydrological Evolution of a Lake Recharged by Groundwater in the Badain Jaran Desert Over the Past 140 years. Frontiers in Earth Science, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2021.721724