Groundwater is the main source for water supply in Jordan. Surface water is limited due to low precipitation rates. Studying groundwater vulnerability helps to protect this main source of depletion and degradation for...Groundwater is the main source for water supply in Jordan. Surface water is limited due to low precipitation rates. Studying groundwater vulnerability helps to protect this main source of depletion and degradation for present and coming generations. Different vulnerability indices were built taking into consideration the different environmental setting of the different areas for which these indices were established. Environmental and weather conditions are very important factors in determination groundwater vulnerability hence arid to semi arid areas conditions must be taken into account in applying different indices. The reason after selecting Azraq as a rest point is related directly to the availability of fresh water resources in the form of the wetland supported by many potential springs making Azraq a rich environment for economic activities. A modified DRASTIC vulnerability index was applied to Azraq basin area due to its special climate and wetland area conditions. The index takes the special landuse and the different groundwater depths into consideration and suggests a few measures to alleviate the vulnerability of the groundwater resources due to overexploitation and human activities changing the value of landuse. Azraq basin represents four different vulnerability classes, ranging from Low to very high vulnerability class. The lower vulnerability class areas are distributed in theareas with high depth to water table and low recharge areas with low human activities. The higher vulnerability classes are shown in the areas with high possibility of the pollutants to reach the groundwater. The modified DRASTIC index added the value of the human activity and the structural features in the area which give a more ease to pollutant to permit the aquifer.展开更多
Groundwater is considered to be the major water resource for many areas and the only source of water in some areas in Jordan. Some of Jordan groundwater resources are presently exploited at maximum capacity and in som...Groundwater is considered to be the major water resource for many areas and the only source of water in some areas in Jordan. Some of Jordan groundwater resources are presently exploited at maximum capacity and in some cases are exploited beyond there safe yield. One of the efficient ways to fight the deficit in groundwater resources is through recharging the water tables naturally or artificially. This research aimed to select the optimum sites for groundwater recharge in the Azraq Oasis area/Jordan through the use of GIS techniques. The selection criteria were based on slope, drainage density, lineament density within the study area. The adopted selection technique was the Boolean techniques (Multiplication) within a Raster GIS. Thirty five sites were selected within the study area with areas vary between 5.2 ha to 273.5 ha. The total area that has the potential for groundwater recharge is 1659.5 ha which represents ca. 3.55% of the study area.展开更多
The identification of potential sites for water harvesting is an important step towards maximizing water availability and land productivity in the arid and semi-arid areas. This research aimed to select the optimum si...The identification of potential sites for water harvesting is an important step towards maximizing water availability and land productivity in the arid and semi-arid areas. This research aimed to select the optimum sites for water harvesting in the Azraq basin of Jordan through the use of GIS techniques. The Azraq basin is characterized by flash floods that involve large quantities of runoff. The selection criteria in this research were based on six parameters identified based on an extensive literature review. Five experts were then asked to evaluate the importance of each criterion. The consistency ratio between the experts opinions was evaluated using the pairwise comparison method and a final weight was computed for each criterion. A water harvesting suitability map was then generated following the weighted linear combination (WLC) method. The sites that are not suitable for water harvesting within the study area were identified and eliminated following the Boolean method, and final water harvesting suitability map was generated. Finally, the findings of this research can be used to assist in the efficient planning of the water resources management to ensure a sustainable development of the water in Jordan and in other areas suffering from water shortages.展开更多
Until the early 1990s the Azraq basin in Jordan was covered by a huge wetland in the central parts representing a source of fresh water for all purposes. The presence of such wetland in the desert created a natural pa...Until the early 1990s the Azraq basin in Jordan was covered by a huge wetland in the central parts representing a source of fresh water for all purposes. The presence of such wetland in the desert created a natural pathway for migratory birds. Man made and natural impacts caused severe depletion of this basin and the oasis disappeared in the early 1990s. Under a GIS environment MAR layers were prepared for the Azraq basin. MAR mapping showed a very high and high potentials over 20.55% and 61.63% of the total basin area respectively;while the low potential areas represent only 4.03% of the total area.展开更多
Groundwater quality parameter (Ca<sup>2+</sup>, Mg<sup>2+</sup>, Na<sup>+</sup>, K<sup>+</sup>, Cl, SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2<span style="font-size:...Groundwater quality parameter (Ca<sup>2+</sup>, Mg<sup>2+</sup>, Na<sup>+</sup>, K<sup>+</sup>, Cl, SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2<span style="font-size:10px;white-space:normal;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;">−</span></span></sup>, HCO<sub>3</sub><sup><span style="font-size:10px;white-space:normal;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;">−</span></span></sup>, NO<sub>3</sub><span style="font-size:10px;white-space:normal;"><sup><span style="white-space:nowrap;">−</span></sup></span> , B, Fe, Sr, Mn, Al, Ba, SiO<sub>2</sub>, pH, and BTEX) relationships of 36 wells from the Harrana area and 24 wells from Azraq area are examined to classify the wells water quality. Statistical analyses of the quality parameters have been conducted. Factor analyses are applied to extract five factors from the water quality parameters of Area 1;Factor 1 accounts for more than 38% of the variance among water quality. Cations including B, Na<sup>+</sup>, Mg<sup>2+</sup>, and K<sup>+</sup> with anions including Cl<sup><span style="white-space:nowrap;">−</span></sup> and <span style="white-space:normal;">SO</span><sub style="white-space:normal;">4</sub><sup style="white-space:normal;">2<span style="white-space:nowrap;">−</span> </sup>were loaded significantly. It represents the variation in the geological formations penetrated by the wells. For Azraq wells, five factors were extracted. Factor 1 accounts for more than 50% of the variance in water quality. Six of water quality parameters were loaded on Factor 1. These parameters included cations represented by B, Na<sup>+</sup>, and Mg<sup>2+</sup> in addition to Cl<sup><span style="white-space:nowrap;">−</span></sup> and <span style="white-space:normal;">SO</span><sub style="white-space:normal;">4</sub><sup style="white-space:normal;">2<span style="white-space:nowrap;">−</span></sup> as anions. Cluster analysis classified the Harrana wells into three groups, i.e., cluster I included 26 wells with minimum mean concentrations of cations and anions, while cluster III included the wells with the highest concentrations in the water quality parameters. Cluster II included eight wells with intermediate concentrations between clusters I and II. The wells in the Azraq area are clustered into three groups, i.e., cluster I included seven wells with the lowest water quality, while cluster II includes 12 wells and shows the lowest concentrations of ions. Cluster III includes five wells with intermediate concentrations of ions.展开更多
Al Azraq Al Shamali (AZS) basaltic rocks were investigated aiming to understand their mineralogy, petrography and geochemistry features, and to achieve that a total of sixteen representative rock samples were selected...Al Azraq Al Shamali (AZS) basaltic rocks were investigated aiming to understand their mineralogy, petrography and geochemistry features, and to achieve that a total of sixteen representative rock samples were selected for both geochemical and petrographic analysis from several sites in the study area. Petrographic characteristics were analyzed by optical microscopy after preparation thin sections for representative rock samples, which show that all basalt samples have minerals comprising: olivine, plagioclase (labradorite), clinopyroxene (augite), opaque’s and some secondary minerals such as Iddingsite, however, the proportions of each mineral vary between samples. Normative mineralogy by using CIPW Norm showed that AZS basalt samples dominated by olivine, Diopside, and nepheline, and AZS basalt can be normatively classified as alkali olivine basalt. Some textures that may be evident on microscopic examination such as porphyritic, glomeroporphyritic, vesicular, intergranular, and ophitic to sub-ophitic texture. X-Ray Fluorescence was used for whole rock major elements analysis (SiO<sub>2</sub>, TiO<sub>2</sub>, Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, MnO, MgO, CaO, Na<sub>2</sub>O, K<sub>2</sub>O and P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> in wt%) and trace element (V, Cr, Co, Ni, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ce, Nd and Ba in ppm). Geochemical analysis reveal that the basalt is alkaline and includes into Sodic series. AZS basalt are produced under-saturated within intraplate continental environment. The normalized trace element diagrams suggest that the AZS product of the asthenosphere part of the mantle at >100 km depth. Furthermore, the data of studied samples suggest that these rocks evolved from a melt formed by low degrees of partial melting. Also the geochemical variation trends of (AZS) basaltic samples supposing that the composition of these basalt have been influenced by fractional crystallization, without clear evidences for crustal contamination.展开更多
Geophysical study and watershed hydrological delineation have been integrated at downstream of Alasra dam site Norh Azraq area to investigate their potential for artificial groundwater recharge. The total surface area...Geophysical study and watershed hydrological delineation have been integrated at downstream of Alasra dam site Norh Azraq area to investigate their potential for artificial groundwater recharge. The total surface area of the watershed was found to be about 195 square kilometers. The estimated annual runoff volumes for the Alasra watershed ranged between 1.2 and 1.8 MCM. Moreover, the interpretation of Ten Time Domain Electromagnetic (TDEM) soundings suggested three principal subsurface layers. The top surface layer has an intermediate resistivity (90 - 110 Ohm·m) with a thickness ranging from a few meters to around 50 m. This layer was interpreted as superficial deposits. The second subsurface layer with variably high resistivity values is composed of unsaturated massive basalt layer and probably belongs to Madhala Olivine Phyric Basalt Formation (MOB). The large variations in resistivity could be ascribed to the degree of water saturation (as a result of groundwater recharge from the nearby harvested water dam), or lithological variations (clay content) and/or due to structural control. The third subsurface layer has low resistivity values (·m to 40 Ω·m) and was found at a depth ranging from 120 to 150 m. This layer could represent a saturated basalt layer with high clay contents. The subsurface structures and major faults have been identified. Based on the results of this study, a combination of surface and subsurface artificial groundwater recharge techniques is highly recommended.展开更多
In this study the occurrence and ecology of plant assemblages are investigated, mainly for use as indicator plants of saline grounds in several locations in Jordan. High alkalinity and H2S-rich water tolerant species ...In this study the occurrence and ecology of plant assemblages are investigated, mainly for use as indicator plants of saline grounds in several locations in Jordan. High alkalinity and H2S-rich water tolerant species of plants are also discussed. Plants growing on salty grounds have distinct composition regarding their place in the taxonomic system. Plant assemblages and their degree of tolerance to salinity as in Karama area in the Jordan Valley are found to be distinct from that of Azraq Sabkha (Cental Jordan) with salt-tolerant flora. Karama area provides the living space for Mesembryanthemum on the saltiest ground, Suaeda further up on wetter surrounding and Salicornia succeeding on moist and less salty grounds. Drier places with rather salty grounds have bushes of Arthrocnemum, while slightly less salty places are preferred by Tamarix tetragyna. When Prosopis bushes appear, salt is only present periodically in the ground, as is also the case with Atriplex halimus and Capparis. In Azraq the former beach of a temporal lake is characterized by two species of Spergularia in its saltier parts and by Tamarix passerinoides. It was recognized that Tamarix, Phragmites, Chenopodium, and Inula represented alkaline water tolerant plants. The study concludes that the salt concentration in the ground is reflected in the composition of the flora growing on it. On the other hand, plants are also found vulnerable to fluctuation in the salt concentration of their environments with different resistance degrees. This makes them excellent bioindicators of salty environments.展开更多
文摘Groundwater is the main source for water supply in Jordan. Surface water is limited due to low precipitation rates. Studying groundwater vulnerability helps to protect this main source of depletion and degradation for present and coming generations. Different vulnerability indices were built taking into consideration the different environmental setting of the different areas for which these indices were established. Environmental and weather conditions are very important factors in determination groundwater vulnerability hence arid to semi arid areas conditions must be taken into account in applying different indices. The reason after selecting Azraq as a rest point is related directly to the availability of fresh water resources in the form of the wetland supported by many potential springs making Azraq a rich environment for economic activities. A modified DRASTIC vulnerability index was applied to Azraq basin area due to its special climate and wetland area conditions. The index takes the special landuse and the different groundwater depths into consideration and suggests a few measures to alleviate the vulnerability of the groundwater resources due to overexploitation and human activities changing the value of landuse. Azraq basin represents four different vulnerability classes, ranging from Low to very high vulnerability class. The lower vulnerability class areas are distributed in theareas with high depth to water table and low recharge areas with low human activities. The higher vulnerability classes are shown in the areas with high possibility of the pollutants to reach the groundwater. The modified DRASTIC index added the value of the human activity and the structural features in the area which give a more ease to pollutant to permit the aquifer.
文摘Groundwater is considered to be the major water resource for many areas and the only source of water in some areas in Jordan. Some of Jordan groundwater resources are presently exploited at maximum capacity and in some cases are exploited beyond there safe yield. One of the efficient ways to fight the deficit in groundwater resources is through recharging the water tables naturally or artificially. This research aimed to select the optimum sites for groundwater recharge in the Azraq Oasis area/Jordan through the use of GIS techniques. The selection criteria were based on slope, drainage density, lineament density within the study area. The adopted selection technique was the Boolean techniques (Multiplication) within a Raster GIS. Thirty five sites were selected within the study area with areas vary between 5.2 ha to 273.5 ha. The total area that has the potential for groundwater recharge is 1659.5 ha which represents ca. 3.55% of the study area.
文摘The identification of potential sites for water harvesting is an important step towards maximizing water availability and land productivity in the arid and semi-arid areas. This research aimed to select the optimum sites for water harvesting in the Azraq basin of Jordan through the use of GIS techniques. The Azraq basin is characterized by flash floods that involve large quantities of runoff. The selection criteria in this research were based on six parameters identified based on an extensive literature review. Five experts were then asked to evaluate the importance of each criterion. The consistency ratio between the experts opinions was evaluated using the pairwise comparison method and a final weight was computed for each criterion. A water harvesting suitability map was then generated following the weighted linear combination (WLC) method. The sites that are not suitable for water harvesting within the study area were identified and eliminated following the Boolean method, and final water harvesting suitability map was generated. Finally, the findings of this research can be used to assist in the efficient planning of the water resources management to ensure a sustainable development of the water in Jordan and in other areas suffering from water shortages.
文摘Until the early 1990s the Azraq basin in Jordan was covered by a huge wetland in the central parts representing a source of fresh water for all purposes. The presence of such wetland in the desert created a natural pathway for migratory birds. Man made and natural impacts caused severe depletion of this basin and the oasis disappeared in the early 1990s. Under a GIS environment MAR layers were prepared for the Azraq basin. MAR mapping showed a very high and high potentials over 20.55% and 61.63% of the total basin area respectively;while the low potential areas represent only 4.03% of the total area.
文摘Groundwater quality parameter (Ca<sup>2+</sup>, Mg<sup>2+</sup>, Na<sup>+</sup>, K<sup>+</sup>, Cl, SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2<span style="font-size:10px;white-space:normal;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;">−</span></span></sup>, HCO<sub>3</sub><sup><span style="font-size:10px;white-space:normal;"><span style="white-space:nowrap;">−</span></span></sup>, NO<sub>3</sub><span style="font-size:10px;white-space:normal;"><sup><span style="white-space:nowrap;">−</span></sup></span> , B, Fe, Sr, Mn, Al, Ba, SiO<sub>2</sub>, pH, and BTEX) relationships of 36 wells from the Harrana area and 24 wells from Azraq area are examined to classify the wells water quality. Statistical analyses of the quality parameters have been conducted. Factor analyses are applied to extract five factors from the water quality parameters of Area 1;Factor 1 accounts for more than 38% of the variance among water quality. Cations including B, Na<sup>+</sup>, Mg<sup>2+</sup>, and K<sup>+</sup> with anions including Cl<sup><span style="white-space:nowrap;">−</span></sup> and <span style="white-space:normal;">SO</span><sub style="white-space:normal;">4</sub><sup style="white-space:normal;">2<span style="white-space:nowrap;">−</span> </sup>were loaded significantly. It represents the variation in the geological formations penetrated by the wells. For Azraq wells, five factors were extracted. Factor 1 accounts for more than 50% of the variance in water quality. Six of water quality parameters were loaded on Factor 1. These parameters included cations represented by B, Na<sup>+</sup>, and Mg<sup>2+</sup> in addition to Cl<sup><span style="white-space:nowrap;">−</span></sup> and <span style="white-space:normal;">SO</span><sub style="white-space:normal;">4</sub><sup style="white-space:normal;">2<span style="white-space:nowrap;">−</span></sup> as anions. Cluster analysis classified the Harrana wells into three groups, i.e., cluster I included 26 wells with minimum mean concentrations of cations and anions, while cluster III included the wells with the highest concentrations in the water quality parameters. Cluster II included eight wells with intermediate concentrations between clusters I and II. The wells in the Azraq area are clustered into three groups, i.e., cluster I included seven wells with the lowest water quality, while cluster II includes 12 wells and shows the lowest concentrations of ions. Cluster III includes five wells with intermediate concentrations of ions.
文摘Al Azraq Al Shamali (AZS) basaltic rocks were investigated aiming to understand their mineralogy, petrography and geochemistry features, and to achieve that a total of sixteen representative rock samples were selected for both geochemical and petrographic analysis from several sites in the study area. Petrographic characteristics were analyzed by optical microscopy after preparation thin sections for representative rock samples, which show that all basalt samples have minerals comprising: olivine, plagioclase (labradorite), clinopyroxene (augite), opaque’s and some secondary minerals such as Iddingsite, however, the proportions of each mineral vary between samples. Normative mineralogy by using CIPW Norm showed that AZS basalt samples dominated by olivine, Diopside, and nepheline, and AZS basalt can be normatively classified as alkali olivine basalt. Some textures that may be evident on microscopic examination such as porphyritic, glomeroporphyritic, vesicular, intergranular, and ophitic to sub-ophitic texture. X-Ray Fluorescence was used for whole rock major elements analysis (SiO<sub>2</sub>, TiO<sub>2</sub>, Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, MnO, MgO, CaO, Na<sub>2</sub>O, K<sub>2</sub>O and P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> in wt%) and trace element (V, Cr, Co, Ni, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ce, Nd and Ba in ppm). Geochemical analysis reveal that the basalt is alkaline and includes into Sodic series. AZS basalt are produced under-saturated within intraplate continental environment. The normalized trace element diagrams suggest that the AZS product of the asthenosphere part of the mantle at >100 km depth. Furthermore, the data of studied samples suggest that these rocks evolved from a melt formed by low degrees of partial melting. Also the geochemical variation trends of (AZS) basaltic samples supposing that the composition of these basalt have been influenced by fractional crystallization, without clear evidences for crustal contamination.
文摘Geophysical study and watershed hydrological delineation have been integrated at downstream of Alasra dam site Norh Azraq area to investigate their potential for artificial groundwater recharge. The total surface area of the watershed was found to be about 195 square kilometers. The estimated annual runoff volumes for the Alasra watershed ranged between 1.2 and 1.8 MCM. Moreover, the interpretation of Ten Time Domain Electromagnetic (TDEM) soundings suggested three principal subsurface layers. The top surface layer has an intermediate resistivity (90 - 110 Ohm·m) with a thickness ranging from a few meters to around 50 m. This layer was interpreted as superficial deposits. The second subsurface layer with variably high resistivity values is composed of unsaturated massive basalt layer and probably belongs to Madhala Olivine Phyric Basalt Formation (MOB). The large variations in resistivity could be ascribed to the degree of water saturation (as a result of groundwater recharge from the nearby harvested water dam), or lithological variations (clay content) and/or due to structural control. The third subsurface layer has low resistivity values (·m to 40 Ω·m) and was found at a depth ranging from 120 to 150 m. This layer could represent a saturated basalt layer with high clay contents. The subsurface structures and major faults have been identified. Based on the results of this study, a combination of surface and subsurface artificial groundwater recharge techniques is highly recommended.
文摘In this study the occurrence and ecology of plant assemblages are investigated, mainly for use as indicator plants of saline grounds in several locations in Jordan. High alkalinity and H2S-rich water tolerant species of plants are also discussed. Plants growing on salty grounds have distinct composition regarding their place in the taxonomic system. Plant assemblages and their degree of tolerance to salinity as in Karama area in the Jordan Valley are found to be distinct from that of Azraq Sabkha (Cental Jordan) with salt-tolerant flora. Karama area provides the living space for Mesembryanthemum on the saltiest ground, Suaeda further up on wetter surrounding and Salicornia succeeding on moist and less salty grounds. Drier places with rather salty grounds have bushes of Arthrocnemum, while slightly less salty places are preferred by Tamarix tetragyna. When Prosopis bushes appear, salt is only present periodically in the ground, as is also the case with Atriplex halimus and Capparis. In Azraq the former beach of a temporal lake is characterized by two species of Spergularia in its saltier parts and by Tamarix passerinoides. It was recognized that Tamarix, Phragmites, Chenopodium, and Inula represented alkaline water tolerant plants. The study concludes that the salt concentration in the ground is reflected in the composition of the flora growing on it. On the other hand, plants are also found vulnerable to fluctuation in the salt concentration of their environments with different resistance degrees. This makes them excellent bioindicators of salty environments.
