Analysis on the streamflow components of the typical inland river, Northwest China

Figures & data

Figure 1. Map showing the locations of sampling sites including geographical features in Xinjiang Autonomous Region. The Aksu River is located on the southern slopes of the Tianshan Mountains. The solid red star represents the hydrological station.

Table 1. Mean measurements of surface water and groundwater during different season in the Aksu River basin.

Kumalal	Sample	Altitude	TDS	δ^18O	δD	Toxkan	Sample	Altitude	TDS	δ^18O	δD
		(m)	(mg/l)	(‰)	(‰)			(m)	(mg/l)	(‰)	(‰)
	River water						River water
	R-Q1	1445	400	−9.88	−72.7		R-Q1	1960	400	−10.62	−72.06
	R-Q2	1445	385	−12.5	−83.35		R-Q2	1960	350	−11.3	−71.13
	R-Q3	1445	380	−11.6	−76.29		R-Q3	1960	300	−10.79	−69.65
	R-Q4	1445	410	−11.7	−73.89		R-Q4	1960	400	−10.67	−71.39
	Groundwater						Groundwater
	G-Q1	1780	700	−12.1	−84.1		G-Q1	2100	700	−12.57	−85.45
	G-Q2	1780	550	−14.2	−92.5		G-Q2	2100	590	−12.8	−88.13
	G-Q3	1780	770	−13.5	−90.35		G-Q3	2100	600	−12.8	−88.69
	G-Q4	1780	700	−12	−79.26		G-Q4	2100	700	−13	−90.3
	Precipitation						Precipitation
	P-Q1(snow)	1445	100	−22.2	−152.3		P-Q1	2100	100	−22.15	−152.3
	P-Q2	1445	130	−8.45	−66.45		P-Q2	2100	145	−5.5	−26.4
	P-Q3	1445	160	−9.89	−78.3		P-Q3	2100	140	−7.9	−61.45
	P-Q4(snow)	1445	100	−22.8	−160.2		P-Q4(snow)	2100	100	−22.8	−160.2
	Snowmelt						Snowmelt
	S-Q1	3157	150	−7.5	−59.56		S-Q1	3157	150	−7.5	−59.56
	Glaciermelt						Glaciermelt
	M-Q1	3780	90	−9.7	−53.7		M-Q1	6042	70	−10.6	−65.9
	M-Q2	3780	90	−10.5	−66.2		M-Q2	6042	70	−10.5	−66.2

Figure 2. Plots of δ¹⁸O versus δ² H of surface water samples collected from (a) the Kumalak River and (b) the Toxkan River.

Figure 3. Comparison of the altitude–δ¹⁸O relationship for the Kumalak and Toxkan rivers during the wet season.

Figure 4. River water δ¹⁸O and streamflow plots with time for Xiehela station in the Kumalak River sampled during 2012 to 2013.

Figure 5. River water δ¹⁸O at Xiehela station and Shaliguilanke station in the Aksu River basin during the whole of 2012.

Figure 6. Relationships between TDS–δ¹⁸O of river water, groundwater, glaciermelt water, snowmelt water and precipitation during three periods along the Aksu River basin.

Table 2. Estimated fractions of water sources as a result of hydrograph separation for the Kumalak River.

Study period	Estimated fractions (%)
	Groundwater			Snowmelt			Precipitation				Glaciermelt water
	TDS (mg/L)	δ^18O	Proportion (%)	TDS (mg/L)	δ^18O	Proportion (%)	TDS (mg/L)	δ^18O		Proportion (%)	TDS (mg/L)	δ^18O	Proportion (%)
Period 1	700	−12.1	45.5%	150	−7.5	52.5%	100		−22.15	2%	/	/	/
Period 2	555	−14.2	63.5%	/	/	/	130		−8.45	7.7%	90	−9.7	28.9%
Period 3	770	−13.5	40.1%	/	/	/	160		−9.89	24.9%	90	−10.5	35%
Entire year			54%			5%				10%			31%

Table 3. Estimated fractions of water sources as a result of hydrograph separation of the Toxkan River.

Study period	Estimated fractions (%)
	Groundwater			Snowmelt			Precipitation				Glaciermelt water
	TDS (mg/L)	δ^18O	Proportion (%)	TDS (mg/L)	δ^18O	Proportion (%)	TDS (mg/L)	δ^18O		Proportion (%)	TDS (mg/L)	δ^18O	Proportion (%)
Period 1	700	−12.57	45.9%	150	−7.5	48.7%	100		−22.15	5.4%	/	/	/
Period 2	590	−12.8	51.1%	/	/	/	145		−5.5	8.3%	90	−10.6	40.6%
Period 3	600	−12.8	38.8%	/	/	/	140		−7.9	24.6%	90	−10.6	36.7%
Entire year			46%			8.8%				10.2%			36%