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Structural Controls on Groundwater Flow in Basement Terrains: Geophysical, Remote Sensing, and Field Investigations in Sinai

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Abstract

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.

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Acknowledgments

This research is supported by the NATO Science for Peace grant (SFP 982614) awarded to Western Michigan University, and by the Earth Sciences Remote Sensing facility at Western Michigan University. We also acknowledge the support of ESA data grant 11920 for the provision of the ENVISAT radar scenes. We thank Dr. Khaled Mamoun from Suez Canal University and our field guides Mohamed El Shaeir and Mohamed Mansour for facilitating field work in Sinai, and our colleagues (Kyle Chouinard and Malgorzata Krawczyk) at the Earth Sciences Remote Sensing facility for their inputs and for their helpful discussions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geosciences, Western Michigan University, 1903 West Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI, 49008, USA

    Lamees Mohamed, Mohamed Sultan, Mohamed Ahmed, Abotalib Zaki, William Sauck & Racha Elkadiri

  2. Department of Geology, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35516, Egypt

    Lamees Mohamed

  3. Department of Geology, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, 41522, Egypt

    Mohamed Ahmed, Farouk Soliman & Abdou Abouelmagd

  4. Environmental Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, 60439, USA

    Eugene Yan

  5. Earth System Observation and Modeling, Water Desalination and Reuse Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    Abdou Abouelmagd

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  1. Lamees Mohamed
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  2. Mohamed Sultan
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Correspondence to Mohamed Sultan.

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Mohamed, L., Sultan, M., Ahmed, M. et al. Structural Controls on Groundwater Flow in Basement Terrains: Geophysical, Remote Sensing, and Field Investigations in Sinai. Surv Geophys 36, 717–742 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10712-015-9331-5

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