Volume 19 Issue 1
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Wang Wang, Jia-qi Chen, Jian-sheng Chen, Yi-tong Zhang. 2026: External groundwater recharge of Tianchi Lake in Changbai Mountain. Water Science and Engineering, 19(1): 47-55. doi: 10.1016/j.wse.2025.12.003
Citation: Wang Wang, Jia-qi Chen, Jian-sheng Chen, Yi-tong Zhang. 2026: External groundwater recharge of Tianchi Lake in Changbai Mountain. Water Science and Engineering, 19(1): 47-55. doi: 10.1016/j.wse.2025.12.003
shu

External groundwater recharge of Tianchi Lake in Changbai Mountain

doi: 10.1016/j.wse.2025.12.003

  • a. College of Oceanography, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China;

  • b. College of Information Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Changzhou 213200, China;

  • c. Water Science Research Institute, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China;

  • d. College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China

Funds:

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 61771183).

  • Received Date: 2024-09-18
  • Accepted Date: 2025-11-26
    • Available Online: 2026-03-28
    Abstract
  • Water sources in volcanic regions have long been a focal point in hydrogeology. Tianchi Lake of the Changbai Mountain in Northeast China, the world's highest volcanic lake, has historically faced water imbalance issues. This study offered a comprehensive analysis of the water sources of Tianchi Lake, examining water volume, hydrodynamics, hydrochemistry, and isotopic evidence. Flow simulations of the Changbai Mountain waterfall during the glacial period indicated that besides local precipitation stored within the mountain during the non-freezing period, other groundwater sources were involved. Additionally, the volume of spring water and the geological structures in the Tianchi Lake area suggested that even expanding the watershed boundary cannot fully account for water balance within the region. Comparative analysis of hydrogen and oxygen isotopes in groundwater and local precipitation within the Changbai Mountain region revealed that external water recharged Tianchi Lake via deep circulation, sustaining the stable flow of Tianchi Lake and its surrounding springs. This study provides valuable insights into the mechanisms and recharge processes of groundwater circulation in volcanic regions.

     

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