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Combination of remote sensing, GIS and palaeohydrologic remarks for promoting the exploitation of water resources in the Sahara: cases from the Red Sea Coast, Egypt

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Abstract

The current work presents an integrated approach to maximize groundwater exploitation under Sahara conditions. The approach includes investigation of palaeohydrology, remote sensing data, field verification and geophysical datasets (gravity, aeromagnetic and geoloelectrical data). Results reveal the existence of palaeohydrologic remarks such as; palaeodriange, terraces, tufas, gorges and alluvial fans. The hydrogeological investigation reflects that the Quaternary groundwater existed under free water table conditions with water depths range between 5.06 and 50 m from the ground, while the Miocene aquifer has water depths vary between 22 m (of shallow wells) and 108 m (of deep wells). The study illustrates the presence of the tectonic fallen zones (TFZ) where the Precambrian rocks show throw down blocks associated with a set of faults and covered by thick sedimentary succession. The TFZ, with their faults (NW–SE and NE–SW), are attributed to the regional Red Sea rift, where these faults can provide groundwater recharge opportunities. The groundwater occurrences in the TFZ indicate saturation thickness ranges between 75 and 175 m for Miocene aquifer and between 50 and 180 m for Nubian sandstone aquifer. A total of 22 basins were analyzed where their morphometric parameters indicate the possibility of groundwater accumulations. The obtained stable isotopes compositions of hydrogen (δD %) and oxygen (δ18O %) reveal that aquifers were recharged throughout the previous wetter climate with reasonable contributions during intervening arid periods. Due to the continued and urgent need for water in the Sahara, the obtained results can be utilized to develop applied recommendations for future groundwater exploration.

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Acknowledgements

The author is very grateful for Orascom Company particularly Engineer Ashraf Helal who provided the technical reports of many groundwater wells in Abu Shaar area. Also, deep thanks to Professor Dr. Hussein Hosny Mahmoud (Geophysical exploration Department, Desert Research Center) for his full support in providing data about geophysical studies and for his valuable advises through the preparing of this study.

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  1. Geology Department, Desert Research Centre, El Matariya, P.O. Box 11753, Cairo, Egypt

    Mohamed Yousif

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Yousif, M. Combination of remote sensing, GIS and palaeohydrologic remarks for promoting the exploitation of water resources in the Sahara: cases from the Red Sea Coast, Egypt. Environ Earth Sci 79, 222 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-020-08977-6

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