Research progress on structure and hydrological processes in the karst critical zone of southwest China

• Published in: Ying yong sheng tai xue bao Vol. 35; no. 4; p. 985
• Main Authors: Zhang, Jun, Chen, Hong-Song, Nie, Yun-Peng, Fu, Zhi-Yong, Lian, Jin-Jiao, Wang, Fa, Luo, Zi-Dong, Wang, Ke-Lin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Chinese
• Published: China 18.04.2024
• Subjects: China; Conservation of Water Resources - methods; Ecosystem; Environmental Monitoring; Groundwater; Hydrology; Rivers; Soil - chemistry; Water Movements; China; epikarst; stable isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen; permeability coefficient; rainfall-runoff threshold behavior; Karst critical zone; rock moisture
• ISSN: 1001-9332
• DOI: 10.13287/j.1001-9332.202404.020

The southwestern region of China is the largest exposed karst area in the world and serves as an important ecological security barrier for the upstream of Yangtze River and Pearl River. Different from the critical zone of non-karst areas, the epikarst, formed by an interwoven network of denudation pores, is the core area of karst critical zone. Water is the most active component that participates in internal material cycle and energy flow within the critical zone. We reviewed relevant research conducted in the southwestern region from three aspects: the characte-rization of critical zone structure, the hydrological processes of soil-epikarst system, and their model simulations. We further proposed potential research hotpots. The main approach involved multi-scale and multi-method integrated observations, as well as interdisciplinary collaboration. Precisely characterizing the eco-hydrological processes of the vegetation-soil-epikarst coupling system was a new trend in the future research. This review would pr