Abstract
Eastern Arabian Peninsula represents the main natural groundwater discharge area of the Arabian platform fossil aquifer system. In such settings, connections between aquifers could strongly affect the flow dynamics, water quality and availability as well as karst formation and landscape evolution. Geological structures such as folds and faults are central to aquifer connectivity, yet their role on groundwater flow is poorly understood. Herein, we perform mapping of exposed and buried structural features in the Qatar Peninsula using Landsat, Sentinel-2 and ALOS-PalSAR scenes, correlated with field, GPR and isotopic data to assess their role in aquifer connections and groundwater dynamics. Our results suggest that ENE-WSW oriented fold-related faults act as vertical conduits along which artesian upward leakages from the deep Aruma aquifer take place into the shallower main aquifer unit (i.e. Umm er Radhuma and Rus) in southern Qatar Peninsula. On the other hand, downward leakage from the freshwater lens in the Dammam aquifer take place in northern Qatar Peninsula. The deep, brackish, and gaseous-rich waters ascending along faults in south Qatar Peninsula, in addition to degrading the water quality in the main aquifer unit, enhance dissolution of carbonates and evaporites leading to strong karstification that produces abundant collapse features. Our findings suggest that structure controls can add significant complexity to recharge mechanisms and groundwater dynamics in fossil aquifers. Future large-scale radar subsurface mapping will be essential to resolve the variability of the water heads in such areas and its correlation to structural discontinuities.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 460-470 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Journal of Hydrology |
| Volume | 571 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Apr 2019 |
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Keywords
- Arid environments
- Eastern Arabian Peninsula
- Fractured carbonate aquifer
- Geological structures
- Groundwater mounding
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Water Science and Technology
Cite this
Groundwater dynamics in fossil fractured carbonate aquifers in Eastern Arabian Peninsula : A preliminary investigation. / Abotalib, Abotalib Z.; Heggy, Essam; Scabbia, Giovanni; Mazzoni, Annamaria.
In: Journal of Hydrology, Vol. 571, 01.04.2019, p. 460-470.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Groundwater dynamics in fossil fractured carbonate aquifers in Eastern Arabian Peninsula
T2 - A preliminary investigation
AU - Abotalib, Abotalib Z.
AU - Heggy, Essam
AU - Scabbia, Giovanni
AU - Mazzoni, Annamaria
PY - 2019/4/1
Y1 - 2019/4/1
N2 - Eastern Arabian Peninsula represents the main natural groundwater discharge area of the Arabian platform fossil aquifer system. In such settings, connections between aquifers could strongly affect the flow dynamics, water quality and availability as well as karst formation and landscape evolution. Geological structures such as folds and faults are central to aquifer connectivity, yet their role on groundwater flow is poorly understood. Herein, we perform mapping of exposed and buried structural features in the Qatar Peninsula using Landsat, Sentinel-2 and ALOS-PalSAR scenes, correlated with field, GPR and isotopic data to assess their role in aquifer connections and groundwater dynamics. Our results suggest that ENE-WSW oriented fold-related faults act as vertical conduits along which artesian upward leakages from the deep Aruma aquifer take place into the shallower main aquifer unit (i.e. Umm er Radhuma and Rus) in southern Qatar Peninsula. On the other hand, downward leakage from the freshwater lens in the Dammam aquifer take place in northern Qatar Peninsula. The deep, brackish, and gaseous-rich waters ascending along faults in south Qatar Peninsula, in addition to degrading the water quality in the main aquifer unit, enhance dissolution of carbonates and evaporites leading to strong karstification that produces abundant collapse features. Our findings suggest that structure controls can add significant complexity to recharge mechanisms and groundwater dynamics in fossil aquifers. Future large-scale radar subsurface mapping will be essential to resolve the variability of the water heads in such areas and its correlation to structural discontinuities.
AB - Eastern Arabian Peninsula represents the main natural groundwater discharge area of the Arabian platform fossil aquifer system. In such settings, connections between aquifers could strongly affect the flow dynamics, water quality and availability as well as karst formation and landscape evolution. Geological structures such as folds and faults are central to aquifer connectivity, yet their role on groundwater flow is poorly understood. Herein, we perform mapping of exposed and buried structural features in the Qatar Peninsula using Landsat, Sentinel-2 and ALOS-PalSAR scenes, correlated with field, GPR and isotopic data to assess their role in aquifer connections and groundwater dynamics. Our results suggest that ENE-WSW oriented fold-related faults act as vertical conduits along which artesian upward leakages from the deep Aruma aquifer take place into the shallower main aquifer unit (i.e. Umm er Radhuma and Rus) in southern Qatar Peninsula. On the other hand, downward leakage from the freshwater lens in the Dammam aquifer take place in northern Qatar Peninsula. The deep, brackish, and gaseous-rich waters ascending along faults in south Qatar Peninsula, in addition to degrading the water quality in the main aquifer unit, enhance dissolution of carbonates and evaporites leading to strong karstification that produces abundant collapse features. Our findings suggest that structure controls can add significant complexity to recharge mechanisms and groundwater dynamics in fossil aquifers. Future large-scale radar subsurface mapping will be essential to resolve the variability of the water heads in such areas and its correlation to structural discontinuities.
KW - Arid environments
KW - Eastern Arabian Peninsula
KW - Fractured carbonate aquifer
KW - Geological structures
KW - Groundwater mounding
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85061727159&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85061727159&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2019.02.013
DO - 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2019.02.013
M3 - Article
VL - 571
SP - 460
EP - 470
JO - Journal of Hydrology
JF - Journal of Hydrology
SN - 0022-1694
ER -