Research on the recharge of the lakes in the Badain Jaran Desert: Simulation study in the Sumu Jaran lakes area

A study of the Badain Jaran Desert's lakes reveals that deep confined groundwater, likely sourced from surrounding mountain precipitation, is the primary water source sustaining these oases. Contrary to assumptions, the research found that rainfall alone cannot balance lake evaporation losses, with only 13% of the annual recharge (11,620 m³/day) coming from precipitation. The remaining 87% is supplied by deep groundwater leakage, showing minimal seasonal variation. Dynamic monitoring and a 3D groundwater model demonstrated that both lake and groundwater levels peak in April and reach their lowest in November, with amplitudes of 22 cm and 18 cm, respectively. These findings challenge the notion of long-distance fracture-fed water transport and provide critical insights for sustainable groundwater management in this arid ecosystem.

Jing, Z., Xusheng, W., Xiaonong, H., Huiting, L., & Zhen, M. (2017). Research on the recharge of the lakes in the Badain Jaran Desert: Simulation study in the Sumu Jaran lakes area. Journal of Lake Sciences, 29(2), 467–479. https://doi.org/10.18307/2017.0223