Proterozoic basement aquifers are the primary source of water supply for the local populations in the Aseer (also spelled “Asir” or “Assir”) province located in the southwest of Saudi Arabia (SA) since high evaporation rates and low rainfall are experienced in the region. Groundwater assets are receiving a lot of attention as a result of the growing need for water due to increased urbanization, population, and agricultural expansion. People have been pushed to seek groundwater from less reliable sources, such as fracture bedrocks. This study is centered on identifying the essential contributing parameters utilizing an integrated multi-criteria analysis and geospatial tools to map groundwater potential zones (GWPZs). The outcome of the GWPZs map was divided into five categories, ranging from very high to negligible potential. The results concluded that 57% of the investigated area (southwestern parts) showed moderate to very high potentials, attributed to Wadi deposits, low topography, good water quality, and presence of porosity and permeability. In contrast, the remaining 43% (northeastern and southeastern parts) showed negligible aquifer potential zones. The computed GWPZs were validated using dug well sites in moderate to very high aquifer potentials. Total dissolved solids (TDS) and nitrate (NO32−) concentrations were highest and lowest in aquifers, mainly in negligible and moderate to very high potential zones, respectively. The results were promising and highlighted that such integrated analysis is decisive and can be implemented in any region facing similar groundwater expectations and management.
Exploring alternative freshwater resources other than those surrounding the Nile is critical to disperse Egypt’s population to other uninhabited desert areas. This study aims to locate groundwater potential zones (GWPZs) in the water-scarce desert between the Qina and Safga-Bir Queh regions to build groundwater wells, thereby attracting and supporting people’s demand for water, food, and urban development. Multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) and analytical hierarchical process (AHP) techniques based on remote sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) were used to map GWPZs. The outcome of the GWPZs map was divided into six different classes. High and very-high aquifer recharge potentials were localized in the middle and western parts, spanning 19.3% and 17% (16.4% and 15.7%) by MCE (AHP). Low and very low aquifer recharge potentials were distributed randomly in the eastern part over an area of 29% and 14.3% (26.9% and 6.1%) by MCE (AHP). Validation has been undertaken between the collected Total Dissolved Solid (TDS) and with the calculated GWPZs, indicating that the highest and lowest TDS concentrations of most aquifers are correlated with low to very low and high to very high aquifer potential, respectively. The study is promising and can be applied anywhere with similar setups for groundwater prospect and management.
Abha city is distinguished by urbanization, infrastructure, deepening watercourses, and changes in runoff flow which encourage flash floods in the urban zones of many villages in the region. AlMahalah village is prone to flash flooding due to its geographic location near the outlet of convergence streams of significant flow. The Geographic Information System (GIS), Remote Sensing (RS), Water Modeling System (WMS), and Hydrologic Engineering Center-Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) were used to assess the effects of flash floods on AlMahala village. Precipitation data from 1978 to 2020 was statistically processed and analysed to provide more information about flash flood hazards. With a 3-h lag time in both watersheds, the higher peak discharge in Wadi Abha than in Wadi Al Akkas indicates that flooding was a primary concern in Wadi Abha. With an average yearly rainfall of 520 mm, the hydrograph simulation from 1 to 5 April 2020 would contribute to the junction (outlet) point of AlMahala village with a peak discharge rate of 474.14 m3/s. The vegetation cover increased by 243 km2 in 2020 compared to 2016. The HEC-RAS model was used to calculate the water depth, velocity, and elevation of the water surface with and without dam installation. The study provides the administration with practical and reasonable procedures for avoiding flash flood destruction in urban areas.
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