Stable isotopes reveal the lake shrinkage and groundwater recharge to lakes in the Badain Jaran Desert, NW China

•An isotope mass balance model considering the lake evaporation was established.•10–20% (average of 15%) of the original lake water in the Middle Holocene remains.•The total groundwater recharge to lakes in the Badain Jaran Desert is 1.63 × 107 m3/yr.•The humidity and atmospheric vapor δa18O dominat...

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