Isotopic characteristics of precipitation, surface and ground waters in the Yinchuan plain, Northwest China

The isotopic characteristics of hydrogen and oxygen of various water bodies in the Yinchuan plain were investigated. A total of 131 water samples were collected and another 99 water samples collected by other scholars and the International Atomic Energy Agency were referred to in the study. The stable isotopic compositions of precipitation and lake waters are influenced by dry climate and strong evaporation of the area, and the slope of local meteoric water line and lake water line are smaller than that of global meteoric water line. The isotopic compositions of the Yellow River water are significantly lower than the weighted averages of local atmospheric precipitation and are controlled by the runoff of upstream areas. The isotopes of phreatic water suggest that the single phreatic water is predominantly recharged by the bedrock fissure water of Helan Mountain, while the phreatic water in multilayer structure area is recharged by multiple sources. The confined waters in the area may be recharged under cooler climate conditions than the present, which makes the heavy isotopes depleted. The H-3 contents of various water bodies are in the following order: the Yellow River water > multilayer phreatic water > single phreatic water > lake water > drainage ditch water > upper confined water > lower confined water. This is in accordance with the recharge, discharge and circulation conditions of the specific water bodies. The isotope compositions of waters in the Yinchuan plain are mainly affected by external water recharge rather than local precipitation. This study is meaningful and helpful in understanding the groundwater flow systems and water cycle in the area.