Publications
Research on Groundwater Drought and Sustainability in Badain Jaran Desert and Surrounding Areas Based on GRACE Satellite
A severe decline in groundwater sustainability threatens the Badain Jaran Desert's unique sand dune-lake system. Using GRACE satellite data and in situ observations from 2003 to 2022, researchers found that 99.2% of the region experienced significant groundwater storage loss, with the Groundwater Drought Index dropping from 1.44 to -1.54 annually. By 2022, the southeastern area faced extreme stress (GGDI: -3.04), while the Sustainability Index plummeted from 1.00 to 0.01, signaling critical human-induced impacts. These findings underscore urgent needs for adaptive groundwater management in arid regions.
Dissolved Organic Matter Characteristics and Composition of Saline Lakes in the Badain Jaran Desert, China
Salinization significantly alters dissolved organic matter (DOM) characteristics and composition in saline lakes of the Badain Jaran Desert, China. Research reveals that while dissolved organic carbon (DOC) increases with salinity, DOM aromaticity, fluorescent components, and lignin-like compounds decrease, whereas lipid-like components rise. Additionally, brine lakes exhibit higher chlorination than bromination of DOM, indicating preferential chlorination over bromination. The study, employing spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and 14C analysis across 10 lakes, underscores the critical role of saline lakes as persistent carbon pools in arid environments.
Safety assessment of fragile environment in Badain Jaran Desert and its surrounding areas based on the DPSIR model
A comprehensive safety assessment of the Badain Jaran Desert and its surrounding areas (BJDCA) reveals a positive trend in ecological environmental security from 2001 to 2019, with conditions stabilizing at a medium safety level post-2010. This improvement is attributed to coordinated socio-economic development and ecological restoration efforts. Researchers used the DPSIR model, selecting 40 indicators to evaluate the region's safety status over nearly two decades. While future pressures from socio-economic growth may persist, the study recommends adjusting industrial development modes to ensure sustainable progress. These findings provide critical data for regional ecological restoration and policy-making, supporting the preservation of this fragile UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Water use strategies of Nitraria tangutorum in the lake-basin region of the Badain Jaran Desert
Nitraria tangutorum, a desert plant, demonstrates adaptive water-use strategies in the Badain Jaran Desert's lake-basin region. The study reveals that it shifts between groundwater absorption and deep soil water reliance depending on seasonal fluctuations, while also adjusting its water use efficiency (WUE) and leaf water potential to cope with decreasing soil moisture. Notably, as water stress intensifies, N. tangutorum transitions from an adventurous anisohydric regulation to a conservative isohydric strategy, allowing it to thrive under varying environmental conditions. This research provides critical insights into desert plant adaptations to long-term drought and quantifies the hydrological cycle in warming ecosystems.
Dust Aerosol Impacts on the Time of Cloud Formation in the Badain Jaran Desert Area
Dust aerosols significantly advance cloud formation time by approximately 138 minutes for every 0.1 increase in aerosol optical depth, primarily through radiative effects that destabilize the low troposphere when total precipitable water exceeds 18.5 kg/m². Conversely, dust inhibits convective cloud formation via microphysical processes under lower moisture conditions. This study, conducted using high-resolution Himawari-8 satellite data over the minimally human-influenced Badain Jaran Desert, provides critical observational evidence to refine cloud parameterization in atmospheric models.
A Characterization of the Hydrochemistry and Main Controlling Factors of Lakes in the Badain Jaran Desert, China
In the Badain Jaran Desert, China, lakes exhibit diverse hydrochemical profiles—ranging from freshwater to saline—despite uniform arid conditions. A study analyzing 80 lakes revealed that water chemistry transitions from sulfate-chloride-bicarbonate type in the southeast (freshwater) to sulfate-chloride type in the northwest (saline), driven primarily by evaporation-crystallization processes. Freshwater and slightly brackish lakes cluster near the Yabulai Mountains, while saline lakes dominate the desert hinterland, with ion concentrations increasing toward lower altitudes. The research used statistical analysis, correlation analysis, and hydrogeochemical methods to characterize these patterns, highlighting the dominant role of evaporation in shaping lake chemistry and forming extensive mineral deposits.
Groundwater characteristics and climate and ecological evolution in the Badain Jaran Desert in the southwest Mongolian Plateau
Groundwater in the Badain Jaran Desert, China's third-largest desert, is primarily replenished by local precipitation with limited renewability, totaling 1.8684×10⁸ m³ annually. The study, combining hydrogeological surveys, geophysical exploration, and isotopic tracing, reveals that the region has experienced four humid periods since the Quaternary but shows an overall trend toward aridity, marked by a 2.5°C rise in average annual temperature over the past 50 years. Despite shrinking lakes between 1973–2015, vegetation cover increased during 2000–2016, indicating no significant desert expansion. These findings provide critical insights for sustainable groundwater use and ecological conservation in this UNESCO-recognized site.
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.
Variation characteristics and influencing mechanism of CO2 flux from lakes in the Badain Jaran Desert: A case study of Yindeer Lake
Lakes within the Badain Jaran Desert, particularly Yindeer Lake, play a significant and previously underappreciated role in global carbon sequestration. A six-year study (2012–2017) using eddy covariance (EC) techniques revealed that these lakes act as net CO₂ sinks, absorbing approximately 1.91 × 10³ tons of CO₂ annually. This finding highlights their potential to mitigate global warming in arid regions. The research also identified that meteorological factors influence CO₂ flux on varying timescales and that inorganic processes, primarily driven by pH levels, control CO₂ absorption and release. These insights address the 'missing sink' problem, offering new directions for understanding carbon budgets in inland desert lakes.
Ecosystem health assessment of desert nature reserve with entropy weight and fuzzy mathematics methods: A case study of Badain Jaran Desert
A comprehensive ecosystem health assessment of the Badain Jaran Desert, the fourth largest desert globally, reveals that 68.1% of its area is in healthy or sub-healthy status, with only 4% and 0.2% classified as unhealthy and sick, respectively. The study utilized entropy weight and fuzzy mathematics methods to evaluate 11 key indicators—such as biomass, net primary productivity (NPP), and soil parameters—across the desert's spatial scale. Findings indicate that while the interior of the desert maintains ecological stability, peripheral areas with frequent human activity require urgent protection and restoration to mitigate further degradation. This research establishes a technical framework for ecosystem health assessment in arid desert reserves, offering critical support for monitoring, prevention, and sustainable management.
Origin of water in the Badain Jaran Desert, China: new insight from isotopes
New isotopic evidence challenges long-standing hypotheses about the origin of water in China's Badain Jaran Desert, revealing that both groundwater and lake water are sourced from modern precipitation in the region rather than remote or ancient sources. The study analyzed radiocarbon (14C), tritium (3H), stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopes (δ2H – δ18O), and d-excess values in water samples from lakes, springs, and local aquifers, alongside evaporation experiments to assess isotopic changes under desert conditions. Contrary to previous theories, the data show that groundwater is derived from recent meteoric precipitation, not ancient carbonates or early Holocene recharge, debunking claims of distant Tibetan Plateau or paleoclimate origins.
Satellite-based estimates of groundwater depletion in the Badain Jaran Desert, China
Groundwater depletion is accelerating in the Badain Jaran Desert, China, despite some recent increases in soil water due to climate-driven rainfall. A study using satellite altimetry and hydrological models found that lake levels and groundwater storage have declined significantly from 2003 to 2009, with long-term depletion outpacing short-term gains. If unchecked, this trend threatens the survival of fragile desert oases, posing ecological and environmental risks.
Hydrochemical characteristics and recharge sources of Lake Nuoertu in the Badain Jaran Desert
Lake Nuoertu, one of the largest and deepest lakes in the Badain Jaran Desert, exhibits significant annual and seasonal variations in its physical and chemical characteristics, unlike groundwater. The lake's hydrochemical composition is consistently Na-Cl-CO3-(SO4), indicating strong evaporation in the region. Stable isotope analysis reveals that groundwater serves as the primary recharge source for Lake Nuoertu, with evidence suggesting a mixed origin of modern and older water (pre-1952). Tritium dating of tufa springs around the lake estimates their age at 75–80 years, highlighting the complex recharge dynamics. The study utilized ion concentrations, total dissolved solids, stable isotopes, and tritium analysis to unravel these processes.
Observation of mega-dune evaporation after various rain events in the hinterland of Badain Jaran Desert, China
Local atmospheric precipitation does not significantly contribute to recharging the groundwater system in the hinterland of Badain Jaran Desert, China. This conclusion was drawn from a study analyzing evaporation on mega-dune surfaces following various rain events, categorized into conventional precipitation (CP), ordinary annual maximum (OAM), and extreme precipitation (EP). The research used long-term precipitation records, automatic weather station data, and eddy covariance system measurements to assess evaporation patterns. Results showed that CP and OAM evaporated within 1-3 days and 3-4 weeks, respectively, while EP required a prolonged period due to the upper dry sand layer's influence. These findings provide insight into the formation mechanisms of lakes in this unique desert region.
Origins of Groundwater Inferred from Isotopic Patterns of the Badain Jaran Desert, Northwestern China
Groundwater in the Badain Jaran Desert (BJD) originates from ancient climatic conditions with higher humidity and lower temperatures, distinct from modern precipitation. Isotopic analysis of δ D, δ 18 O, and d-excess reveals strong evaporation effects and no hydraulic connection to distant regions except Outer Mongolia. The study found that BJD groundwater has abnormally negative d-excess values (-17.5‰), differing significantly from local precipitation (5.7‰) and nearby water bodies, indicating limited modern recharge. Research involved comparing isotopic patterns across the BJD, Heihe River Basin, and surrounding areas to reconstruct past climatic conditions.
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