Nitrogen Accumulation in a Big Lake Affected by Groundwater Discharge in the Central Yangtze River Basin

Abstract

Nitrogen pollution is a major cause of lake eutrophication, garnering global concern for its detrimental impact on lake water quality. However, the intricate interplay between lakes and groundwater in the accumulation and release of nitrogen remains largely overlooked. Using Honghu Lake as a case study, a large lake in the Yangtze River Basin long plagued by nitrogen pollution, this study analyzed the temporal shifts in its water area from 1990 to 2021 using remote-sensing image classification algorithms. From 1990 to 2005, the natural water area of Hong Lake decreased by 72%. The transformation of much of this area into aquaculture zones and agricultural lands has led to a substantial influx of pollutants, culminating in the degradation of water quality. Despite efforts to restore the natural water area after the ban on aquaculture activities, the water quality of the lake remains compromised, indicating other pollution sources menacing the ecosystem of the lake. Field investigations conducted in 2011 and 2019 unvealed significantly higher concentrations of NH₄-N and NO₃-N in groundwater compared to lake water, with a discernible upward trajectory in pollutant levels over time. The ¹⁸O mass-balance model was employed to assess groundwater flow dynamics, revealing an estimated lacustrine groundwater discharge of 0.71 × 10⁶ m³/d, underscoring the substantial annual influx of pollutants into the lake via groundwater pathways. Through a comprehensive analysis of surface water and groundwater quality trends within the study area, this research provides novel evidence implicating groundwater as a formidable contributor to the persistent nitrogen pollution afflicting Honghu Lake.

Keywords

lake evolution / remote sensing / groundwater-lake interactions / stable isotopes / groundwater pollution / hydrogeology

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