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doi: 10.26599/JGSE.2026.9280104
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doi: 10.26599/JGSE.2026.9280101
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doi: 10.26599/JGSE.2026.9280103
Abstract:
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2026, 14(3): 271-287.
doi: 10.26599/JGSE.2026.9280083
Abstract:
Karst landforms are renowned for their unique characteristics, and investigating karst development characteristics is of great significance for groundwater regulation and ecological management. This study aims to interpret karst distribution under different topographic conditions in a watershed using Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT). Taking the Chenqi small watershed in Southwest China as the study area, 10 ERT survey lines were deployed across three topographic settings (dip slopes, anti-dip slopes, and high-lying depressions). By combining 2D/3D ERT inversion, geological drilling, and outcrop verification, the subsurface karst distribution was revealed. The results show that ERT effectively detects karst features with high heterogeneity and discontinuity. Conduit-type karst appears in the middle section of both slopes, indicating groundwater migration pathways. Karst water is dominated by runoff on dip slopes, whereas infiltration dominates on anti-dip slopes; continuous low-resistivity aquicludes in high-lying depressions control local groundwater levels. The average karst zone thickness is 2.0–4.0 m, with a maximum of 12 m. These findings demonstrate a coupled relationship between karst structure and groundwater runoff under topographic differentiation, providing a quantitative reference for watershed-scale groundwater processes and practical value for karst water exploration, resource regulation, and slope stability assessment.
Karst landforms are renowned for their unique characteristics, and investigating karst development characteristics is of great significance for groundwater regulation and ecological management. This study aims to interpret karst distribution under different topographic conditions in a watershed using Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT). Taking the Chenqi small watershed in Southwest China as the study area, 10 ERT survey lines were deployed across three topographic settings (dip slopes, anti-dip slopes, and high-lying depressions). By combining 2D/3D ERT inversion, geological drilling, and outcrop verification, the subsurface karst distribution was revealed. The results show that ERT effectively detects karst features with high heterogeneity and discontinuity. Conduit-type karst appears in the middle section of both slopes, indicating groundwater migration pathways. Karst water is dominated by runoff on dip slopes, whereas infiltration dominates on anti-dip slopes; continuous low-resistivity aquicludes in high-lying depressions control local groundwater levels. The average karst zone thickness is 2.0–4.0 m, with a maximum of 12 m. These findings demonstrate a coupled relationship between karst structure and groundwater runoff under topographic differentiation, providing a quantitative reference for watershed-scale groundwater processes and practical value for karst water exploration, resource regulation, and slope stability assessment.
2026, 14(3): 288-306.
doi: 10.26599/JGSE.2026.9280086
Abstract:
Groundwater constitutes the primary freshwater resource in semi-arid regions, where low and erratic rainfall combined with high evapotranspiration limit effective recharge. Jaipur, a rapidly expanding metropolitan city in western India, is experiencing increasing groundwater stress due to the combined influence of climatic variability and anthropogenic pressures. While groundwater depletion in Rajasthan is well documented, the extent to which interannual climatic variability, particularly rainfall fluctuations, translates into measurable groundwater-level response in urban fractured hard-rock aquifer systems remains uncertain. This study evaluates groundwater-level dynamics (2013–2023) in relation to climatic variability and examines the apparent decoupling between climatic signals and groundwater response under combined hydrogeological and anthropogenic influences in Jaipur. Groundwater and gridded climatic datasets were analyzed using geospatial mapping, kriging-based spatial interpolation, and correlation-based statistical approaches. Pearson, Spearman, and Kendall correlation methods were employed to assess statistical relationships. Interannual groundwater variations were further analyzed to characterize temporal depletion patterns. In addition, event-based proxy analysis using extreme precipitation indices (R×1d and R×5d) was conducted to evaluate the influence of short-duration and cumulative rainfall events on groundwater response. Results indicate weak and spatially inconsistent relationships between climatic variables and groundwater levels, suggesting that groundwater response cannot be adequately explained by linear climatic relationships alone and is influenced by non-linear and lagged recharge processes. A strong inverse correlation between relative humidity and evapotranspiration (r = −0.9272, p < 0.0001) highlights the dominant role of atmospheric moisture conditions in regulating evapotranspiration fluxes, with implications for reduced effective recharge. These findings suggest that groundwater dynamics in the study area exhibit partial decoupling from climatic variability, likely driven by hydrogeological constraints and sustained anthropogenic pressures. This underscores the importance of adopting integrated groundwater management strategies that account for both climatic variability and anthropogenic pressures.
Groundwater constitutes the primary freshwater resource in semi-arid regions, where low and erratic rainfall combined with high evapotranspiration limit effective recharge. Jaipur, a rapidly expanding metropolitan city in western India, is experiencing increasing groundwater stress due to the combined influence of climatic variability and anthropogenic pressures. While groundwater depletion in Rajasthan is well documented, the extent to which interannual climatic variability, particularly rainfall fluctuations, translates into measurable groundwater-level response in urban fractured hard-rock aquifer systems remains uncertain. This study evaluates groundwater-level dynamics (2013–2023) in relation to climatic variability and examines the apparent decoupling between climatic signals and groundwater response under combined hydrogeological and anthropogenic influences in Jaipur. Groundwater and gridded climatic datasets were analyzed using geospatial mapping, kriging-based spatial interpolation, and correlation-based statistical approaches. Pearson, Spearman, and Kendall correlation methods were employed to assess statistical relationships. Interannual groundwater variations were further analyzed to characterize temporal depletion patterns. In addition, event-based proxy analysis using extreme precipitation indices (R×1d and R×5d) was conducted to evaluate the influence of short-duration and cumulative rainfall events on groundwater response. Results indicate weak and spatially inconsistent relationships between climatic variables and groundwater levels, suggesting that groundwater response cannot be adequately explained by linear climatic relationships alone and is influenced by non-linear and lagged recharge processes. A strong inverse correlation between relative humidity and evapotranspiration (r = −0.9272, p < 0.0001) highlights the dominant role of atmospheric moisture conditions in regulating evapotranspiration fluxes, with implications for reduced effective recharge. These findings suggest that groundwater dynamics in the study area exhibit partial decoupling from climatic variability, likely driven by hydrogeological constraints and sustained anthropogenic pressures. This underscores the importance of adopting integrated groundwater management strategies that account for both climatic variability and anthropogenic pressures.
2026, 14(3): 307-322.
doi: 10.26599/JGSE.2026.9280084
Abstract:
Multi-scale characterization of karst media is a fundamental prerequisite for accurate stability evaluation and collapse risk assessment in karst terrains, especially for the safety control of urban metro engineering. Taking the Huaxi South Parking Lot of Guiyang metro line 3 as a case study, this paper proposes an integrated framework for karst collapse risk assessment by coupling multi-scale geological characterization, hydrodynamic-mechanical coupling simulation, and spatial multi-factor analysis. A comprehensive dataset, including 339 borehole records, core CT scanning results, long-term hydrogeological monitoring data, and laboratory test results, was collected to conduct multi-scale characterization of karst media across macro, meso and micro scales, reveal the vertical zonation of karst structures, clarify the hydrodynamic triggering mechanism of karst collapse, determine the critical instability threshold, and reproduce the entire evolution process of collapse. The results show that negative-pressure suffusion induced by rapid groundwater level decline, with a critical pressure difference of ≤ −190 kPa, is the dominant trigger of karst collapse in the study area. The lowest stratum stability and highest collapse risk occur in the strata with an overburden thickness of 2–5 m and a karst cavity diameter of ≥ 3 m. The high-risk zones account for 2.3% of the total study area, and are mainly distributed in the southern part, while the overall site remains stable under normal hydrodynamic conditions. This study can provide theoretical support and technical reference for karst collapse risk prevention and control in urban metro engineering.
Multi-scale characterization of karst media is a fundamental prerequisite for accurate stability evaluation and collapse risk assessment in karst terrains, especially for the safety control of urban metro engineering. Taking the Huaxi South Parking Lot of Guiyang metro line 3 as a case study, this paper proposes an integrated framework for karst collapse risk assessment by coupling multi-scale geological characterization, hydrodynamic-mechanical coupling simulation, and spatial multi-factor analysis. A comprehensive dataset, including 339 borehole records, core CT scanning results, long-term hydrogeological monitoring data, and laboratory test results, was collected to conduct multi-scale characterization of karst media across macro, meso and micro scales, reveal the vertical zonation of karst structures, clarify the hydrodynamic triggering mechanism of karst collapse, determine the critical instability threshold, and reproduce the entire evolution process of collapse. The results show that negative-pressure suffusion induced by rapid groundwater level decline, with a critical pressure difference of ≤ −190 kPa, is the dominant trigger of karst collapse in the study area. The lowest stratum stability and highest collapse risk occur in the strata with an overburden thickness of 2–5 m and a karst cavity diameter of ≥ 3 m. The high-risk zones account for 2.3% of the total study area, and are mainly distributed in the southern part, while the overall site remains stable under normal hydrodynamic conditions. This study can provide theoretical support and technical reference for karst collapse risk prevention and control in urban metro engineering.
2026, 14(3): 323-341.
doi: 10.26599/JGSE.2026.9280085
Abstract:
A typical high-temperature metamorphic rock geothermal reservoir was newly discovered in the Tianzhen geothermal field in Datong City, China. However, due to the complex geological structure and thermal properties, the seepage heat transfer mechanism of metamorphic rock reservoirs is still unclear, seriously impeding the efficient development and sustainable utilization of geothermal resources. This study established a percolation-heat transfer model through tracer testing and numerical simulation to reveal the percolation mode and heat transfer mechanism of high-temperature metamorphic rock reservoirs during the reinjection process. We also predicted the distribution characteristics of various physical fields in the geothermal reservoir after the geothermal system has been in operation for 100 a, analyzed the influence of different reinjection schemes on seepage heat transfer in the geothermal reservoir, and proposed an optimization strategy for the reinjection scheme. The results show that: (1) The connectivity between production and injection wells is poor, and there are water-conducting fractures connecting the shallow and bottom layers; (2) The seepage channels through fractures guide the migration of the reinjected fluid and form a cold front surface with a protruding shape towards the mining well in the temperature field, resulting in temperature changes in the production well; (3) Seepage heat transfer in thermal reservoirs is greatly affected by the reinjection flow rate and the distance between production and reinjection wells, but less by the reinjection temperature. As the reinjection temperature drops, the flow rate increases, the well spacing decreases, and the temperature variation range of the production well becomes greater; (4) Under the current reinjection test conditions, the temperature of the mining well decreased by approximately 4°C after 100 a of geothermal reinjection operation, and a thermal breakthrough occurred at 78 a. Under the condition of maintaining a reinjection flow rate of 60 m3/h and a reinjection temperature of 80°C unchanged, the well spacing should be no less than 470 m to ensure that the well temperature does not cause a thermal breakthrough during the reinjection operation for 100 a. This research provides a theoretical basis and optimization methods for the efficient development of high-temperature metamorphic rock thermal reservoirs.
A typical high-temperature metamorphic rock geothermal reservoir was newly discovered in the Tianzhen geothermal field in Datong City, China. However, due to the complex geological structure and thermal properties, the seepage heat transfer mechanism of metamorphic rock reservoirs is still unclear, seriously impeding the efficient development and sustainable utilization of geothermal resources. This study established a percolation-heat transfer model through tracer testing and numerical simulation to reveal the percolation mode and heat transfer mechanism of high-temperature metamorphic rock reservoirs during the reinjection process. We also predicted the distribution characteristics of various physical fields in the geothermal reservoir after the geothermal system has been in operation for 100 a, analyzed the influence of different reinjection schemes on seepage heat transfer in the geothermal reservoir, and proposed an optimization strategy for the reinjection scheme. The results show that: (1) The connectivity between production and injection wells is poor, and there are water-conducting fractures connecting the shallow and bottom layers; (2) The seepage channels through fractures guide the migration of the reinjected fluid and form a cold front surface with a protruding shape towards the mining well in the temperature field, resulting in temperature changes in the production well; (3) Seepage heat transfer in thermal reservoirs is greatly affected by the reinjection flow rate and the distance between production and reinjection wells, but less by the reinjection temperature. As the reinjection temperature drops, the flow rate increases, the well spacing decreases, and the temperature variation range of the production well becomes greater; (4) Under the current reinjection test conditions, the temperature of the mining well decreased by approximately 4°C after 100 a of geothermal reinjection operation, and a thermal breakthrough occurred at 78 a. Under the condition of maintaining a reinjection flow rate of 60 m3/h and a reinjection temperature of 80°C unchanged, the well spacing should be no less than 470 m to ensure that the well temperature does not cause a thermal breakthrough during the reinjection operation for 100 a. This research provides a theoretical basis and optimization methods for the efficient development of high-temperature metamorphic rock thermal reservoirs.
2026, 14(3): 356-381.
doi: 10.26599/JGSE.2026.9280087
Abstract:
Petroleum products can contaminate groundwater through dissolution of their Water-Soluble Fractions (WSFs), yet the composition and dissolution behavior of WSFs from different refined products remain insufficiently understood. In this study, oil-water equilibrium WSFs of 25 refined petroleum products from the same refinery were generated using a slow-stirring method and analyzed for Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH), Volatile Petroleum Hydrocarbons (VPH), Extractable Petroleum Hydrocarbons (EPH), and Ooxygen-Containing Organic Compounds (OCOCs). The results showed that the dissolved organic concentrations of WSFs varied by 1–2 orders of magnitude among different product types. Gasoline, naphtha, and atmospheric residues produced WSFs with relatively high TOC and TPH concentrations, dominated by C6-C9 aromatic hydrocarbons. In contrast, kerosene, diesel, and most gasoline blending components exhibited much lower dissolved hydrocarbon concentrations. In several gasoline-related products, oxygenated additives such as Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) and Tert-Amyl Methyl Ether (TAME) were detected at high levels and dominated the dissolved organic composition, resulting in elevated OCOCs/TPH ratios. In addition, butane was identified as a characteristic dissolved compound in the WSF of alkylated oil. These results demonstrate pronounced differences in the chemical composition and distribution patterns of dissolved constituents among refined petroleum products.
Petroleum products can contaminate groundwater through dissolution of their Water-Soluble Fractions (WSFs), yet the composition and dissolution behavior of WSFs from different refined products remain insufficiently understood. In this study, oil-water equilibrium WSFs of 25 refined petroleum products from the same refinery were generated using a slow-stirring method and analyzed for Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH), Volatile Petroleum Hydrocarbons (VPH), Extractable Petroleum Hydrocarbons (EPH), and Ooxygen-Containing Organic Compounds (OCOCs). The results showed that the dissolved organic concentrations of WSFs varied by 1–2 orders of magnitude among different product types. Gasoline, naphtha, and atmospheric residues produced WSFs with relatively high TOC and TPH concentrations, dominated by C6-C9 aromatic hydrocarbons. In contrast, kerosene, diesel, and most gasoline blending components exhibited much lower dissolved hydrocarbon concentrations. In several gasoline-related products, oxygenated additives such as Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) and Tert-Amyl Methyl Ether (TAME) were detected at high levels and dominated the dissolved organic composition, resulting in elevated OCOCs/TPH ratios. In addition, butane was identified as a characteristic dissolved compound in the WSF of alkylated oil. These results demonstrate pronounced differences in the chemical composition and distribution patterns of dissolved constituents among refined petroleum products.
2026, 14(3): 382-398.
doi: 10.26599/JGSE.2026.9280088
Abstract:
Mathematical model-based accurate evaluation of the remediation process at organic pollution sites serves as an efficient approach to the management and remediation of contaminant source zones. Numerical and upscaled analytical solution models are effective mathematical methods for reproducing the Dense Nonaqueous Phase Liquid (DNAPL) remediation process. However, in the current design of pollutant removal schemes, effective mass transfer models for characterizing the elution behaviors of contaminants remain lacking. In this study, two mathematical methods integrated with improved mass transfer models were employed to simulate the multi-stage contaminant elution behaviors under two distinct scenarios: A mixed-source region subjected to continuous water flushing and a residual DNAPL source treated with shorter-duration pulse flushing of the ethanol solution. Both the improved numerical model and upscaled analytical solution model demonstrated enhanced accuracy, which was attributed to the incorporation of solubilization mechanisms into mass transfer processes and the adoption of a multi-source region division method. The Mean Absolute Errors (MAE) of the numerical simulation for the two scenarios were 20.68 mg/L and 6.93 mg/L, respectively, whereas those of the upscaled model were 33.29 mg/L and 8.60 mg/L, respectively. Comparing the two improved models, the numerical model exhibited higher accuracy, while the upscaled model was characterized by faster computation speed and fewer input parameters.
Mathematical model-based accurate evaluation of the remediation process at organic pollution sites serves as an efficient approach to the management and remediation of contaminant source zones. Numerical and upscaled analytical solution models are effective mathematical methods for reproducing the Dense Nonaqueous Phase Liquid (DNAPL) remediation process. However, in the current design of pollutant removal schemes, effective mass transfer models for characterizing the elution behaviors of contaminants remain lacking. In this study, two mathematical methods integrated with improved mass transfer models were employed to simulate the multi-stage contaminant elution behaviors under two distinct scenarios: A mixed-source region subjected to continuous water flushing and a residual DNAPL source treated with shorter-duration pulse flushing of the ethanol solution. Both the improved numerical model and upscaled analytical solution model demonstrated enhanced accuracy, which was attributed to the incorporation of solubilization mechanisms into mass transfer processes and the adoption of a multi-source region division method. The Mean Absolute Errors (MAE) of the numerical simulation for the two scenarios were 20.68 mg/L and 6.93 mg/L, respectively, whereas those of the upscaled model were 33.29 mg/L and 8.60 mg/L, respectively. Comparing the two improved models, the numerical model exhibited higher accuracy, while the upscaled model was characterized by faster computation speed and fewer input parameters.
2026, 14(3): 399-434.
doi: 10.26599/JGSE.2026.9280089
Abstract:
Heavy metals, including arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium, mercury, copper, nickel, and zinc, are common contaminants in global water resources. Their occurrence stems from both natural geogenic and anthropogenic sources, such as industrial, mining, or urban activities. Heavy metals can be found in groundwater due to geogenic mobilization and leaching from ore deposits. They can also be found in streams and lakes impacted by mine drainage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff, and urban stormwater. Elevated concentrations pose risks to human health and ecosystems, necessitating monitoring, remediation, and the safe management of generated residuals. A variety of technologies exist for heavy-metal removal. The selection and use of these technologies depend on contaminant concentration, speciation, and available resources. In this review article, the latest technologies for heavy-metal removal are presented and discussed. The availability and maturity of each technique, energy demand, management of generated residual, environmental impact, and recommended applications are discussed. Algal bioremediation and constructed wetlands are the most sustainable techniques due to their ecosystem benefits, carbon capture, and lowest energy consumption, while the most efficient industrial techniques are membrane technologies and ion-exchange systems due to their high metal selectivity and purity; however, the main restrictions are high cost and an energy-intensive nature. The most distinctive approach involves hybrid systems, which offer a more resilient and sustainable alternative by integrating complementary mechanisms that enhance flux stability, improve selectivity, and reduce energy consumption, such as the combination of Reverse Osmosis with Membrane Distillation (RO-MD) and Reverse Osmosis with Pressure Retarded Osmosis (RO-PRO). The hybrid approach, in various sequences, enhances efficiency, scalability, and ecological restoration.
Heavy metals, including arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium, mercury, copper, nickel, and zinc, are common contaminants in global water resources. Their occurrence stems from both natural geogenic and anthropogenic sources, such as industrial, mining, or urban activities. Heavy metals can be found in groundwater due to geogenic mobilization and leaching from ore deposits. They can also be found in streams and lakes impacted by mine drainage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff, and urban stormwater. Elevated concentrations pose risks to human health and ecosystems, necessitating monitoring, remediation, and the safe management of generated residuals. A variety of technologies exist for heavy-metal removal. The selection and use of these technologies depend on contaminant concentration, speciation, and available resources. In this review article, the latest technologies for heavy-metal removal are presented and discussed. The availability and maturity of each technique, energy demand, management of generated residual, environmental impact, and recommended applications are discussed. Algal bioremediation and constructed wetlands are the most sustainable techniques due to their ecosystem benefits, carbon capture, and lowest energy consumption, while the most efficient industrial techniques are membrane technologies and ion-exchange systems due to their high metal selectivity and purity; however, the main restrictions are high cost and an energy-intensive nature. The most distinctive approach involves hybrid systems, which offer a more resilient and sustainable alternative by integrating complementary mechanisms that enhance flux stability, improve selectivity, and reduce energy consumption, such as the combination of Reverse Osmosis with Membrane Distillation (RO-MD) and Reverse Osmosis with Pressure Retarded Osmosis (RO-PRO). The hybrid approach, in various sequences, enhances efficiency, scalability, and ecological restoration.
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Editor-in-chief1.9
Impact Factor(2025)
3.7
CiteScore 2025
Editor-in-ChiefLI Qing-hua
Sponsors
Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology (IHEG), CAGS
China Chapter, International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH-CC)
Commission on Hydrogeology, Geological Society of China(GSC-CH)
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