干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

Under an extremely arid condition, a PVC greenhouse was built on the top of Mogao Grottoes in gobi area. The results of 235-day constant extraction of condensed water on the greenhouse film and soil water content showed that 2.1 g/(m(2).d) groundwater moved up and exported into the soil, and a phreatic water evaporation existed in the extreme dry area where the groundwater is buried deeper than 200 m. After a prolonged export, the soil water content in the greenhouse was not lower but obviously higher than the original control ones. According to the monitored parameters including relative humidity and absolute humidity of soil, and temperature outside and inside the greenhouse, it was found that there is the available condition and mechanism for the upward movement of groundwater, and also it can be sure that the exported water was not from the soil and atmosphere outside the greenhouse. Phreatic water, an important source for soil water, interacts with atmosphere moisture via soil respiration. Soil salinity also has important effects on soil water movement and spatial-temporal heterogeneity. The extremely dry climate, terrestrial heat and change of upper soil temperature are the fundamental driving forces of water transportation and phreatic water evaporation in the Groundwater-Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Continuum (GSPAC) system.