Mapping Paleohydrologic Features in the Arid Areas of Saudi Arabia Using Remote-Sensing Data

Abstract

At present, the Arabian Peninsula is one of the driest regions on Earth; however, this area experienced heavy rainfall in the past thousand years. During this period, catchments received substantial amounts of surface water and sustained vast networks of streams and paleolakes, which are currently inactive. The Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) Phased Array Type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR) data reveal paleohydrologic features buried under shallow aeolian deposits in many areas of the ad-Dawasir, Sahba, Rimah/Batin, and as-Sirhan wadis. Optical remote-sensing data support that the middle of the trans-peninsula Wadi Rimah/Batin, which extends for ~1200 km from the Arabian Shield to Kuwait and covers ~200,000 km2, is dammed by linear sand dunes formed by changes in climate conditions. Integrating Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI), Geo-Eye, Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) digital elevation model, and ALOS/PALSAR data allowed for the characterization of paleodrainage reversals and diversions shaped by structural and volcanic activity. Evidence of streams abruptly shifting from one catchment to another is preserved in Wadi ad-Dawasir along the fault trace. Volcanic activity in the past few thousand years in northern Saudi Arabia has also changed the slope of the land and reversed drainage systems. Relics of earlier drainage directions are well maintained as paleoslopes and wide upstream patterns. This study found that paleohydrologic activity in Saudi Arabia is impacted by changes in climate and by structural and volcanic activity, resulting in changes to stream direction and activity. Overall, the integration of radar and optical remote-sensing data is significant for deciphering past hydrologic activity and for predicting potential water resource areas.

Multispectral and RADAR images integration for geologic, geomorphic, and structural investigation in southwestern Arabian Shield, Al Qunfudhah area, Saudi Arabia

“…The eastern part of the study area is situated in more elevated terrain, in which most of the drainage system is structurally controlled [11,45]. Most of the wadis receive plausible rainfall precipitation, reflected in the occurrence of vegetation shown in green colour (Figure 7(a)).…”

“…The ALOS/PALSAR images ( Figure 10) in grey scale probes the sand covers and display the near-surface views, which allowed better visualization of the unrecognized rocks that are masked by sand (dark tone). The fine-grained sediments appear in dark colour within the ALOS/PALSAR image, in contrast with the bed rocks and the rough sediments [20,45].…”

“…The image fusion and combination is a technique that merges images from various data sources to obtain further information than can be individually viewed from any of them alone [1,[43][44][45]. Data merge was performed by utilizing a hue, saturation, and value (HSV) sharpening transformation technique of Envi 5.…”

Holocene sediment distribution in the Al Wajh platform lagoon (northern Red Sea, Saudi Arabia), a modern analogue for large rift basin carbonate platforms

“…1A), wadis and local sabkhas with microbial mats (Chalastani et al ., 2020). The main wadi system of the hinterland drains into the Red Sea north of the Al Wajh platform (Abdelkareem et al ., 2020). It transports siliciclastic sediments from the hinterland to the shelf during rare but intense rain events causing flash floods (Rasul et al ., 2015).…”

“…Dashed lines (white) mark the three main channels (I to III) connecting the lagoon with the Red Sea. Yellow arrows show the main drainage paths in the Al Wajh area (Abdelkareem et al ., 2020), while orange arrows mark smaller, local wadis. Inset box: overview map of Red Sea region, including surrounding states.…”