Spatial and Temporal Evolution of Groundwater Chemistry of Baotu Karst Water System at Northern China
, Chengcheng Li 1, Chunfang Jiang 1, Wen Liu 2, Guangqi Lin 2, Xin Zhang 1, Jiancong Fang 1, Lijun Ma 1 and Xiubo Zhang 1Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Thank you for inviting me to review the manuscript titled “Spatial and Temporal Evolution of Groundwater Chemistry of Baotu Karst Water System at Northern China”. It represents the natural and anthropic processes response for the evolution of karst water quality using hydrogeochemical investigation, statistical analysis and geo-chemistry modeling. A case study of Baotu spring at jinan City was selected. The study objectives are clear; however, it’s recommended to:
- Compare the measured parameters with national and international regulations (EPA, WHO, etc.).
- Make appropriate suggestions for avoiding contamination from the unacceptable water quality parameters.
- Use statistical techniques such as PCA, cluster analysis, multivariate, etc. to appropriately represent the spatial and temporal evolution of groundwater chemistry.
- The caption of a Table is missed!!
Author Response
dear reviewers，
1.I will compare the data with international laws and regulations according to your suggestions, and further consider whether to add corresponding contents according to the comparison.
2.I will consider not showing some unnecessary water quality data in the article.
3.For mathematical statistics methods, I will discuss with others whether to add corresponding contents.
4.Table title has been added.
Thank you for your valuable advice.
Reviewer 2 Report
- The abstract should be pruned with the solution process. However, the significant conclusions of the paper must be briefly mentioned in the last paragraph of the abstract. Need modification.
- The motive of the work needs to mention at the end of the introduction properly.
- A working flowchart is needed for the full understanding of the method and solution process.
- Fig. 5 data reference needs to mention.
- Table 1 data reference needs to mention.
- 11 data reference needs to mention.
- Modify the ‘Conclusion’ section. It should be specific. Restate the hypothesis briefly and summarize the key findings throughout with further applications.
Author Response
Dear reviewer,
1.I will make appropriate adjustments to the summary and conclusion to make the article read more logically and clearly.
2.I will make appropriate changes at the end of the introduction.
3.I will further mention the chart data in the article to avoid readers looking back and forth in reading.
Thank you for your valuable suggestions. I will carefully revise the article.
Reviewer 3 Report
The manuscript “minerals-1570883” aims to investigate the natural and anthropic processes involved in the evolution of karst water of Baotu spring at jinan City using hydrogeochemical investigation, statistical analysis and geochemistry modeling.
The paper appears well-structured, however some changes must be applied to make the paper clearer.
I believe the manuscript should be published only after major revision. See comments below.
Figure 1.
Please report the lithologies also in the legend of the map.
Results and discussion
I suggest to insert a Total Ionic Salinity plot (TIS) and discuss the results. The authors can take inspiration from the following paper:
Li, Baoling, Xianfang Song, Lihu Yang, Dongxu Yao, and Yingchun Xu. "Insights onto Hydrologic and Hydro-Chemical Processes of Riparian Groundwater Using Environmental Tracers in the Highly Disturbed Shaying River Basin, China." Water 12, no. 7 (2020): 1939.
Apollaro, C., D. Di Curzio, I. Fuoco, A. Buccianti, E. Dinelli, G. Vespasiano, A. Castrignanò et al. "A multivariate non-parametric approach for estimating probability of exceeding the local natural background level of arsenic in the aquifers of Calabria region (Southern Italy)." Science of The Total Environment 806 (2022): 150345.
Table 1
Not all measured parameters (see Sampling and Methods section) are shown in the table and in the description of results. Please add information about dissolved oxygen and electrical conductivity (EC), discussing the data in the text.
Figure 5
The plot 5c is not clear. Please explain better the plot in the text. I suggest to represent it considering the molar ratios.
Figure 6
I suggest to represent it considering the molar ratios.
4.3.1. Variation of Karst Water Chemistry Along the Flow Path
“The chemical evolution of karst water were investigated along two main flowpath: 1) Flowpath I (the west - north flowpath), from the leakage area (Yufu river) to the dis-charge area; 2) Flowpath II (the south - north flowpath), from the south recharge area to the discharge area”
Please add the Flow paths in the map reported in Figure 1.
“According to the field tracer test by xxx et al., leakage of river water frequently…..”
The citation xxx et al., in not valid. Delete it.
Minerals saturation index
Please insert a number of sections, and if necessary renumbers the subsequent ones.
Insert the PHREEQC version and the used thermodynamic database.
“Tanking consider of the higher Cl- concentration and 2H and 18O isotopic value, it can be judged that the karst water is seriously affected by the leak re- charge of surface water”
Where these data are reported in this paper??
REFERENCES
Please check the references list. Some cited references were not reported in the text. Please check how the citation must be reported in the list.
Add the new paper in the references list:
Li, Baoling, Xianfang Song, Lihu Yang, Dongxu Yao, and Yingchun Xu. "Insights onto Hydrologic and Hydro-Chemical Processes of Riparian Groundwater Using Environmental Tracers in the Highly Disturbed Shaying River Basin, China." Water 12, no. 7 (2020): 1939.
Apollaro, C., D. Di Curzio, I. Fuoco, A. Buccianti, E. Dinelli, G. Vespasiano, A. Castrignanò et al. "A multivariate non-parametric approach for estimating probability of exceeding the local natural background level of arsenic in the aquifers of Calabria region (Southern Italy)." Science of The Total Environment 806 (2022): 150345.
NOTE:
- A spell check in all text is required. Typing errors have to be correct.
Author Response
Dear reviewer,
1.The runoff path and number of karst water have been added to the hydrogeological map to facilitate readers to find the spatial location of runoff.
2.The statistical data of karst water conductivity and dissolved oxygen have been added in Table 1 of the article.
3.I will adjust the clarity of the drawing again.
4.I have deleted some invalid citations.
5.References have been mentioned and cited in this paper.
6.Add the data processing software version number.
Thank you for your valuable suggestions. I will carefully revise the article.
Round 2
Reviewer 3 Report
Not all the comments proposed were taken into account. I propose them again:
Figure 1.
Please report the lithologies also in the legend of the map.
Results and discussion
I suggest to insert a Total Ionic Salinity plot (TIS) and discuss the results. The authors can take inspiration from the following paper:
Li, Baoling, Xianfang Song, Lihu Yang, Dongxu Yao, and Yingchun Xu. "Insights onto Hydrologic and Hydro-Chemical Processes of Riparian Groundwater Using Environmental Tracers in the Highly Disturbed Shaying River Basin, China." Water 12, no. 7 (2020): 1939.
Apollaro, C., D. Di Curzio, I. Fuoco, A. Buccianti, E. Dinelli, G. Vespasiano, A. Castrignanò et al. "A multivariate non-parametric approach for estimating probability of exceeding the local natural background level of arsenic in the aquifers of Calabria region (Southern Italy)." Science of The Total Environment 806 (2022): 150345.
Table 1
Not all measured parameters (see Sampling and Methods section) are shown in the table and in the description of results. Please add information about dissolved oxygen and electrical conductivity (EC), discussing the data in the text.
Figure 5
The plot 5c is not clear. Please explain better the plot in the text. I suggest to represent it considering the molar ratios.
Figure 6
I suggest to represent it considering the molar ratios.
4.3.1. Variation of Karst Water Chemistry Along the Flow Path
“The chemical evolution of karst water were investigated along two main flowpath: 1) Flowpath I (the west - north flowpath), from the leakage area (Yufu river) to the dis-charge area; 2) Flowpath II (the south - north flowpath), from the south recharge area to the discharge area”
Please add the Flow paths in the map reported in Figure 1.
“According to the field tracer test by xxx et al., leakage of river water frequently…..”
The citation xxx et al., in not valid. Delete it.
Minerals saturation index
Please insert a number of sections, and if necessary renumbers the subsequent ones.
Insert the PHREEQC version and the used thermodynamic database.
“Tanking consider of the higher Cl- concentration and 2H and 18O isotopic value, it can be judged that the karst water is seriously affected by the leak re- charge of surface water”
Where these data are reported in this paper??
REFERENCES
Please check the references list. Some cited references were not reported in the text. Please check how the citation must be reported in the list.
Add the new paper in the references list:
Li, Baoling, Xianfang Song, Lihu Yang, Dongxu Yao, and Yingchun Xu. "Insights onto Hydrologic and Hydro-Chemical Processes of Riparian Groundwater Using Environmental Tracers in the Highly Disturbed Shaying River Basin, China." Water 12, no. 7 (2020): 1939.
Apollaro, C., D. Di Curzio, I. Fuoco, A. Buccianti, E. Dinelli, G. Vespasiano, A. Castrignanò et al. "A multivariate non-parametric approach for estimating probability of exceeding the local natural background level of arsenic in the aquifers of Calabria region (Southern Italy)." Science of The Total Environment 806 (2022): 150345.
NOTE:
- A spell check in all text is required. Typing errors have to be correct.
Author Response
Dear reviewer，
Thank you for your suggestions. I will make the following modifications and reply to your valuable suggestions.
Comment 1:Figure 1.Please report the lithologies also in the legend of the map.
Response ：Thanks for the referee’s kind suggestion.The hydrological geological map in the formation in Cambrian, ordovician, carboniferous and Permian stratigraphic classification, to the whole formation lithology is not unified, cannot speak the whole system is divided into a kind of lithology, the Cambrian strata such as the description in the geological survey of details, see the second page of geological and hydrological geology background of the second paragraph.
Comment 2:Results and discussion.I suggest to insert a Total Ionic Salinity plot (TIS) and discuss the results. The authors can take inspiration from the following paper:
Li, Baoling, Xianfang Song, Lihu Yang, Dongxu Yao, and Yingchun Xu. "Insights onto Hydrologic and Hydro-Chemical Processes of Riparian Groundwater Using Environmental Tracers in the Highly Disturbed Shaying River Basin, China." Water 12, no. 7 (2020): 1939.
Apollaro, C., D. Di Curzio, I. Fuoco, A. Buccianti, E. Dinelli, G. Vespasiano, A. Castrignanò et al. "A multivariate non-parametric approach for estimating probability of exceeding the local natural background level of arsenic in the aquifers of Calabria region (Southern Italy)." Science of The Total Environment 806 (2022): 150345.
Response ：Thanks for the referee’s kind suggestion.It takes a lot of time to draw the Total Ionic Salinity plot (TIS). If I have time, I will add the graph and analyze it. I have downloaded and read the article you recommended and added it to the reference.
Comment 2:Table 1.Not all measured parameters (see Sampling and Methods section) are shown in the table and in the description of results. Please add information about dissolved oxygen and electrical conductivity (EC), discussing the data in the text.
Response ：Thanks for the referee’s kind suggestion.I have added dissolved oxygen and electrical conductivity (EC) to table 1, page 4 table 1.
Comment 3:Figure 5.The plot 5c is not clear. Please explain better the plot in the text. I suggest to represent it considering the molar ratios.
Response ：Thanks for the referee’s kind suggestion.I have redrawn Figure 5 and replaced the original figure, see Figure 5 on page 7.
Comment 4:Figure 6.I suggest to represent it considering the molar ratios.
Response ：Thanks for the referee’s kind suggestion.I will try to redraw it in terms of molar specific gravity, and compare it with the charge ratio, and choose alternating cation adsorption that reflects better.
Comment 5:4.3.1. Variation of Karst Water Chemistry Along the Flow Path
“The chemical evolution of karst water were investigated along two main flowpath: 1) Flowpath I (the west - north flowpath), from the leakage area (Yufu river) to the dis-charge area; 2) Flowpath II (the south - north flowpath), from the south recharge area to the discharge area”
Please add the Flow paths in the map reported in Figure 1.
Response ：Thanks for the referee’s kind suggestion.I have marked runoff in Figure 1 and numbered karst water sampling points.See Figure 1 on page 3.I have deleted invalid references in the article.
Comment 6:Minerals saturation index.Please insert a number of sections, and if necessary renumbers the subsequent ones.Insert the PHREEQC version and the used thermodynamic database.
“Tanking consider of the higher Cl- concentration and 2H and 18O isotopic value, it can be judged that the karst water is seriously affected by the leak re- charge of surface water”
Response ：Thanks for the referee’s kind suggestion.The PHREEQC version number has been added.“Tanking consider of the higher Cl- concentration and 2H and 18O isotopic value, it can be judged that the karst water is seriously affected by the leak re- charge of surface water” has been added to the bibliography and can be found in the bibliography (Ref. 34).
Round 3
Reviewer 3 Report
responses to comments have been given incompletely!
in particular, the work must be integrated with:
1)a real geological map, showing the lithologies and not the ages
2)insert a TIS salinity diagram!
to make a tis diagram take a maximum of 10 minutes! I think the authors have not read the recommended bibliography and have not understood how to make a tis!
3)In the diagrams of figure 5, the molar ratios must be reported and not the equivalents. and the diagrams are better discussed!
4)the recommended bibliography has not been included:
Li, Baoling, Xianfang Song, Lihu Yang, Dongxu Yao, and Yingchun Xu. "Insights onto Hydrologic and Hydro-Chemical Processes of Riparian Groundwater Using Environmental Tracers in the Highly Disturbed Shaying River Basin, China." Water 12, no. 7 (2020): 1939.
Apollaro, C., D. Di Curzio, I. Fuoco, A. Buccianti, E. Dinelli, G. Vespasiano, A. Castrignanò et al. "A multivariate non-parametric approach for estimating probability of exceeding the local natural background level of arsenic in the aquifers of Calabria region (Southern Italy)." Science of The Total Environment 806 (2022): 150345.
Author Response
Comment 1:a real geological map, showing the lithologies and not the ages.
Response ：Thanks for the referee’s kind suggestion.Lithology and geological dating symbols have been added to the hydrogeological map, as shown in Figure 1 on page 3.
Comment 2:insert a TIS salinity diagram!
Response ：Thanks for the referee’s kind suggestion.The total salinity diagram（TIS） has been added to figure 2 on page 5 and the corresponding analysis has been added to the last paragraph on page 4.
Comment 3:In the diagrams of figure 5, the molar ratios must be reported and not the equivalents，and the diagrams are better discussed!
Response ：Thanks for the referee’s kind suggestion.The mole ratio has been used in Figure 5, and the analysis has been partially modified, on page 7 of the article, as shown in Figure 5.
Comment 4:the recommended bibliography has not been included:
Li, Baoling, Xianfang Song, Lihu Yang, Dongxu Yao, and Yingchun Xu. "Insights onto Hydrologic and Hydro-Chemical Processes of Riparian Groundwater Using Environmental Tracers in the Highly Disturbed Shaying River Basin, China." Water 12, no. 7 (2020): 1939.
Apollaro, C., D. Di Curzio, I. Fuoco, A. Buccianti, E. Dinelli, G. Vespasiano, A. Castrignanò et al. "A multivariate non-parametric approach for estimating probability of exceeding the local natural background level of arsenic in the aquifers of Calabria region (Southern Italy)." Science of The Total Environment 806 (2022): 150345
Response ：Thanks for the referee’s kind suggestion.In recent days, I have read the article you recommended in detail and have benefited a lot from it and have included it in the references, see References 23 and 26.
