Spatial variations and controls on the hydrochemistry of surface waters across the Ili-Balkhash Basin, arid Central Asia

Climate variability influences both water quantity and quality in lakes and rivers, e.g., shifts in salinity caused by changes in the evaporation/precipitation ratio. However, knowledge about climate and human influences on water quality in some regions is scarce, which causes uncertainty when evaluating water resources and developing water management plans. We measured the chemical composition and stable isotope values (delta D and delta O-18) in water samples from the Ili-Balkhash Basin, arid Central Asia, to investigate factors that control hydrologic processes in the area, and explore how the arid environment influences local hydrochemistry and water resources. Isotope values in lake waters (-24.1 parts per thousand ioDi and -1.5 parts per thousand [delta O-18]) are enriched relative to river waters (-84.6 parts per thousand [delta D] and -12.4 parts per thousand [delta O-18]), indicating that lake waters experience intense evaporation. In the upstream Ili River, waters with lowest delta D and delta O-18 values are supplied mainly by glacial ice and snow melt, whereas lower reaches of the river are affected increasingly by evaporation and human water extraction. Waters of the Ili River and other small rivers that drain to Lake Balkhash are chemically similar, and of the Ca-HCO3 type. Gibbs diagrams indicate that mineral weathering is the key process that controls river water chemistry. On average, carbonate and silicate weathering contribute 55.1% and 26.7%, respectively, to the total dissolved ion load in the river waters, illustrating the strong control that regional geology exerts on streamwater chemistry. In contrast, lake waters are characterized as Na-Cl type, which results mainly from evaporation and some evaporite dissolution. Weathering in the area is controlled by climate, i.e. precipitation and temperature. Moreover, a negative correlation between lake water total dissolved solids and d-excess, and a systematic increase in chemical concentrations and stable isotope values downstream in the Ili River, reflect the fact that arid climate conditions promote evaporation and affect water quality. PCA analysis and mass balance calculation of water chemistry suggests that humans contribute only 6.6% of the major ion load to waters, which display increasing concentrations in the middle and downstream regions. There, effects of human-mediated weathering and transport of salts from agricultural irrigation are reinforced by higher temperatures and evaporation.

Automated summary

The study in arid environment revealed the impact of climate change and human activities on water quality in lakes and rivers. Lakes experience intense evaporation while rivers are mainly influenced by glacier melt, snow melt, and human water extraction. Additionally, different geological backgrounds result in variations in water chemistry composition.