Influence of the May-12 Wenchuan Earthquake on hydro geochemistry of the source spring at the Huanglong World Heritage Site: Evidences from high resolution and high precision monitoring of hydro geochemistry

The May-12 Wenchuan Earthquakein 2008 has not only huge injuries, casualties and economic losses but also serious impacts on the local eco-environment. Based on the high resolution and high precision monitoring results of hydro geochemistry obtained from the NSFC-supported project“Investigation on the mechanisms of anthropogenic and natural impacts on the decline of the travertine landscape at Huanglong the World Natural Heritage Site”, it was found that the great earthquake has remarkable influences on the hydro geochemistry of the Huanglong source spring, which recharges the Huanglong travertine-deposition stream. The influences mainly reflected in the increase in discharge, water temperature and electric conductivity as well as pCO2 of the spring, indicating the increase in fluxes of discharge, heat, calcium ion and CO2 towards the surface. However, the effect of the earthquake on the travertine landscape and CO2 release to the atmosphere remains to be assessed.