Unravelling Groundwater–Precipitation Interactions in Karst Aquifers Under the Dual Pressures of Climate Variability and Human Disturbance

Linxian Huang; Zhizheng Liu; Shuang Li; Liting Xing; Hao Liang; Xiaonong Hu; Henghua Zhu

doi:10.1002/hyp.70454

journal article Feb 25, 2026

Unravelling Groundwater–Precipitation Interactions in Karst Aquifers Under the Dual Pressures of Climate Variability and Human Disturbance

Linxian Huang

Zhizheng Liu Shuang Li

Liting Xing Hao Liang

Xiaonong Hu Henghua Zhu

Hydrological Processes Vol. 40 No. 3 · Wiley

View at Publisher Save 10.1002/hyp.70454

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Karst aquifers exhibit complex groundwater–precipitation interactions shaped by climatic variability, internal structural heterogeneity and human disturbance. However, the mechanism by which climate‐driven recharge signals are transformed by karst flow architecture and simultaneously modulated by anthropogenic pressure across multiple timescales remains unclear. Herein, we investigated the coupled influence of climate variability and human disturbances on groundwater dynamics in a typical heterogeneous, fracture‐dominated karst aquifer in northern China. Three process‐oriented insights emerged: (1) Human disturbance (particularly spring irrigation) had a prominent influence on seasonal groundwater decline and exceeded climatic forcing during critical periods. (2) Groundwater levels (GWLs) exhibited rapid (~10 days), seasonal (~40–80 days) and quasi‐annual (~320 days) variability in response to precipitation (P), reflecting the interaction between fast preferential pathways and slow storage components. (3) Strong spatial heterogeneity was evident; urbanised discharge zones showed markedly reduced recharge transmission owing to surface sealing, whereas permeable recharge areas remained highly responsive to P inputs. Flow partitioning indicated a pronounced dual‐flow structure, with recharge zones exhibiting mixed behaviour and quick flow contributions of 31.2%–36.2%, whereas discharge zones were strongly dominated by slow flow (~87.4%), highlighting the buffering role of aquifer storage in smoothing climatic signals. Overall, these findings advance the process‐based understanding of how karst aquifers filter, store and transmit P signals under coupled climate–human forcing. These insights are transferable to other karst regions and support the diagnosis of the dominant factors controlling groundwater dynamics under global environmental change.

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Details

Published: Feb 25, 2026
Vol/Issue: 40(3)
License: View

Authors

L

Linxian Huang

School of Water Conservancy and Environment University of Jinan Jinan China

Z

Zhizheng Liu

Shandong Institute of Geological Survey Jinan China

S

Shuang Li

Shandong Institute of Geological Survey Jinan China

L

Liting Xing

School of Water Conservancy and Environment University of Jinan Jinan China

H

Hao Liang

Shandong Provincial Territorial Spatial Ecological Restoration Center Jinan China

X

Xiaonong Hu

School of Water Conservancy and Environment University of Jinan Jinan China

H

Henghua Zhu

Shandong Provincial Territorial Spatial Ecological Restoration Center Jinan China

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China Award: 42577088

Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province Award: ZR2024MD009

Cite This Article

Linxian Huang, Zhizheng Liu, Shuang Li, et al. (2026). Unravelling Groundwater–Precipitation Interactions in Karst Aquifers Under the Dual Pressures of Climate Variability and Human Disturbance. Hydrological Processes, 40(3). https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.70454

Unravelling Groundwater–Precipitation Interactions in Karst Aquifers Under the Dual Pressures of Climate Variability and Human Disturbance

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