Structural Controls on Groundwater Flow in Basement Terrains: Geophysical, Remote Sensing, and Field Investigations in Sinai
Type
ArticleAuthors
Mohamed, LameesSultan, Mohamed
Saad, Ahmed Mohamed

Zaki, Abotalib
Sauck, William
Soliman, Farouk
Yan, Eugene
Elkadiri, Racha
Abouelmagd, Abdou

KAUST Department
Water Desalination and Reuse Research Center (WDRC)Date
2015-07-09Online Publication Date
2015-07-09Print Publication Date
2015-09Permanent link to this record
http://hdl.handle.net/10754/594091
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
An integrated [very low frequency (VLF) electromagnetic, magnetic, remote sensing, field, and geographic information system (GIS)] study was conducted over the basement complex in southern Sinai (Feiran watershed) for a better understanding of the structural controls on the groundwater flow. The increase in satellite-based radar backscattering values following a large precipitation event (34 mm on 17–18 January 2010) was used to identify water-bearing features, here interpreted as preferred pathways for surface water infiltration. Findings include: (1) spatial analysis in a GIS environment revealed that the distribution of the water-bearing features (conductive features) corresponds to that of fractures, faults, shear zones, dike swarms, and wadi networks; (2) using VLF (43 profiles), magnetic (7 profiles) techniques, and field observations, the majority (85 %) of the investigated conductive features were determined to be preferred pathways for groundwater flow; (3) northwest–southeast- to north–south-trending conductive features that intersect the groundwater flow (southeast to northwest) at low angles capture groundwater flow, whereas northeast–southwest to east–west features that intersect the flow at high angles impound groundwater upstream and could provide potential productive well locations; and (4) similar findings are observed in central Sinai: east–west-trending dextral shear zones (Themed and Sinai Hinge Belt) impede south to north groundwater flow as evidenced by the significant drop in hydraulic head (from 467 to 248 m above mean sea level) across shear zones and by reorientation of regional flow (south–north to southwest–northeast). The adopted integrated methodologies could be readily applied to similar highly fractured basement arid terrains elsewhere. © 2015 Springer Science+Business Media DordrechtCitation
Mohamed L, Sultan M, Ahmed M, Zaki A, Sauck W, et al. (2015) Structural Controls on Groundwater Flow in Basement Terrains: Geophysical, Remote Sensing, and Field Investigations in Sinai. Surveys in Geophysics 36: 717–742. Available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10712-015-9331-5.Sponsors
European Space Agency[11920]North Atlantic Treaty Organization[SFP 982614]
Publisher
Springer NatureJournal
Surveys in Geophysicsae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1007/s10712-015-9331-5