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Volume 45 Issue 2
Apr.  2026
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Article Navigation >  CARSOLOGICA SINICA  > 2026  >  45(2): 271-281
TU Shiliang, ZHUANG Zhuohan, LIN Zhuobin, JIANG Shoujun, GONG Xing. Study on the structural characteristics of typical karst water systems in northwest Guangdong[J]. CARSOLOGICA SINICA, 2026, 45(2): 271-281. doi: 10.11932/karst20260201
Citation: TU Shiliang, ZHUANG Zhuohan, LIN Zhuobin, JIANG Shoujun, GONG Xing. Study on the structural characteristics of typical karst water systems in northwest Guangdong[J]. CARSOLOGICA SINICA, 2026, 45(2): 271-281. doi: 10.11932/karst20260201
shu

Study on the structural characteristics of typical karst water systems in northwest Guangdong

doi: 10.11932/karst20260201
  • 1.

    Guangdong Institute of Geological Survey, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510062, China

  • 2.

    Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China

  • Received Date: 2025-04-16
  • Accepted Date: 2025-10-28
  • Rev Recd Date: 2025-10-27
    Abstract
  • Karst water systems formed by carbonate dissolution comprise a complex multi-medium framework of pores, fractures, caves, and conduits. They are not only the principal reservoirs and conduits of groundwater supply, but are also closely linked to environmental and engineering-geological hazards such as karst collapse, drought, and karst rocky desertification. In northwestern Guangdong, karst groundwater is the primary source of domestic, agricultural, and industrial water. Against the backdrop of global climate change and intensifying extreme weather events, these systems are confronting severe challenges-including seasonal drought, underground river pollution, expanding rocky desertification, and frequent karst collapses-which significantly constrain regional sustainable development and ecological security. Consequently, there is an urgent imperative to gain deeper insights into the structure of karst aquifers, so as to guide the rational development of water resources and the protection of karst aquatic ecosystems.This study focuses on Yangshan county, Qingyuan City, Guangdong Province, where Carboniferous and Devonian limestones are extensively distributed, and both surface and subsurface karst features are well developed. The primary aquifers in the region include mountainous karst aquifers and Quaternary alluvial valley porous aquifers distributed along river corridors. The region is characterized by a subtropical monsoon climate, with an average annual temperature of 20 ℃ and a multi-year average precipitation of approximately1,800 mm (with about 75% occuring between April and September). The Lianjiang River flows west-to-east; the terrain along its banks consists mainly of mountains and hills (elevation of 25 to1,150 m), featuring peak-cluster depressions and peak-cluster valleys, with a high vegetation coverage rate.We established an integrated, multi-method framework to resolve the structure of the karst water systems: (1) Hydrogeological drilling and pumping tests in karst mountains on both banks of the Lianjiang River-Carboniferous borehole ZK1 (80 m) and Devonian borehole ZK2 (81 m)-to obtain the degree of karstification and hydrogeological parameters of different karst aquifers; (2) Periodic stage and discharge monitoring at multiple karst springs and underground-river outlets to differentiate karstification intensity among aquifers; (3) Field tracer tests conducted in representative Carboniferous and Devonian groundwater systems during the period of July to August 2023, with synchronous observations of hydrodynamics, to identify aquifer structural types and media parameters.Based on these surveys and monitoring datasets, we quantitatively analyzed discharge-recession curves, Tracer Breakthrough Curves (BTCs), and karst-media parameters. The main findings are as follows.(1) Devonian limestone (ZK2) intersected four karst caves (void height ranging from 1.1 to 3.6 m) and exhibited a hydraulic conductivity (K) of 22.17 m·d−1, which is significantly higher than that of the Carboniferous limestone (ZK1, K = 2.15 m·d−1), indicating more intense kartsification in the Devonian strata.Furthermore,the Devonian system also showed more outlets/springs (49 vs 30), higher wet-season mean discharge (1,099.45 L·s−1 vs 454.09 L·s−1), and better discharge stability (CVs of 1.26 and 1.35).(2) Karst systems across the area responded rapidly to rainfall. Carboniferous underground-river hydrographs were sharply peaked and quasi-symmetric, whereas Devonian hydrographs were sharply peaked but asymmetric. Recession behavior can be partitioned into three stages: conduit flow (fast; α = 10−2~10−1), cavern flow (intermediate; α = 10−3~10−2), and fracture flow (slow; α = 10−4~10−3). The Devonian fracture-flow fraction (68.2%) exceeded the Carboniferous conduit-flow fraction (56.6%), indicating stronger regulation and storage capacity of the Devonian period. (3) Tracer recovery in the Carboniferous aquifer was 42.32%, consistent with a "single-source, multiple-sinks" structure. The recovery rate of Devonian reached 60.58%, and BTCs displayed multi-peaks of tailings, indicating multiple flow paths and the presence of large karst pools (sumps). The conduit parameters further supported this point: The Devonian had a mean conduit diameter of 7.53 m, a dispersion coefficient of 6.43 m2·s−1, and a Reynolds number (Re) of 87,046, all exceeding the Carboniferous values (1.29 m, 2.30 m2·s−1, Re = 31,309), imdicating enhanced turbulent flow and solute dispersion.This study elucidates the structural disparities and hydrogeological behavior of Carboniferous and Devonian karst water systems in northwestern Guangdong. By supplementing key quantitative parameters, it provides a theoretical basis for regional karst hydrogeological studies. Given the high environmental vulnerability of local karst aquatic ecosystems, we propose the following measures: (1) Prioritizing the planning and conservation of karst water resources; (2) Strengthening land-use controls in recharge areas (e.g., restricting highly polluting agricultural and industrial activities); (3) Establishing an early warning mechanism for hydrochemical contamination.

     

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