Groundwater recharge and evapotranspiration were studied in a semi-arid wetland in Northwest China using diurnal water table fluctuations. The researchers monitored water levels at different depths to understand how rainfall and evapotranspiration affect groundwater. They found that shallow wells responded quickly to rain and showed daily water table fluctuations, while deeper wells only reacted to heavy rainfall. Groundwater recharge accounted for 52-63% of rainfall, with rates influenced by rainfall intensity and depth to water table. Evapotranspiration rates were higher in shallow wells compared to deeper ones, with factors like depth to water table and net radiation playing a role.