Optical variations of dissolved organic matter due to surface water - groundwater interaction in alpine and arid...

The direction and quantity of surface water - groundwater interaction (SGI) in alpine-arid zones can be tracked using multiple tracers. However, few studies have examined whether the optical indices of dissolved organic matter (DOM) can also track SGI. This study used excitation-emission matrix spectroscopy combined with parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC) to reveal the optical variations in dissolved organic matter (DOM) in groundwater and surface water with various SGIs in the Datonghe watershed. The results showed that the absorbance spectral indices of DOM did not vary with SGI, whereas DOM fluorescence varied with SGI. PARAFAC indicated that groundwater predominantly recharged by precipitation had significantly lower humic-like (C2 and C3) fluorescence than groundwater predominantly recharged by riverine water. Since humic-like substances were more likely to be retained in the aqueous phase than protein-like substances, significantly fewer protein-like substances (C4) were introduced when surface water was recharged to groundwater. This suggests that C4 can be used as an effective indicator to identify the SGI process from surface water to groundwater. Based on the principal component analysis of DOM and hydrochemical indicators, it was concluded that traditional chemical tracers were significantly and positively correlated with humic-like substances C2 and C3. Given that C3 is more stable and persistent in the environment, it could be used to track SGI processes midstream of the watershed. The findings of this study will assist in accurately identifying the processes and mechanisms of SGI on a regional scale and provide a basis for future water resource management and the protection of water ecosystems.