Abstract
The groundwater of major karst systems and submarine springs in the coastal limestone aquifer of Syria has been investigated using chemical and isotopic techniques. The δ18O values of groundwater range from −6.8 to −5.05‰, while those for submarine springs vary from −6.34 to +1.08‰ (eastern Mediterranean seawater samples have a mean of +1.7‰). Groundwater originates from the direct infiltration of atmospheric water. Stable isotopes show that the elevation of the recharge zones feeding the Banyas area (400–600 m a.s.l.) is higher than that feeding the Amrit area (100–300 m a.s.l.). The 18Oextracted (18O content of the seawater contribution) for the major submarine springs suggests a mean recharge area elevation of 600–700 m a.s.l., and lower than 400 m a.s.l. for the spring close to Amrit. Based on the measured velocity and the percentage of fresh water at the submarine springs outlet, the estimated discharge rate is 350 million m3/year. The tritium concentrations in groundwater (1.6–5.9 TU) are low and very close to the current rainfall values (2.9–5.6 TU). Adopting a model with exponential time distribution, the mean turnover time of groundwater in the Al-sen spring was evaluated to be 60 years. A value of about 3.7 billion m3 was obtained for the maximum groundwater reservoir size.
Résumé
L’eau souterraine des principaux systèmes karstiques et sources sous-marines de l’aquifère calcaire côtier en Syrie a été étudiée grâce à des techniques chimiques et isotopiques. Les valeurs de δ18O sont comprises entre -6.8 et -5.05‰ pour l’eau souterraine, alors que celles des sources sous-marines varient entre -6.34 et +1.08‰ (les échantillons d’eau de mer de l’Est de la Méditerranée présentent une moyenne de +1.7‰). L’eau souterraine provient de l’infiltration directe de la pluie. L’étude des isotopes stables montre que l’altitude des zones de recharge alimentant la région de Banyas (400–600m au dessus du niveau moyen de la mer, a.s.l) est plus élevée que celle de la zone alimentant la région d’Amrit (100-300m a.s.l). L’étude du 18O extracted (la teneur en 18O de la contribution de l’eau de mer) suggère, pour les principales sources sous-marines, une zone de recharge d’altitude moyenne de l’ordre de 600–700m a.s.l et inférieure à 400m pour la source proche d’Amrit. A partir de la vitesse mesurée et du pourcentage d’eau douce à la sortie des sources sous-marines, le débit est estimé à 350 million m3/an. Les concentrations en tritium dans l’eau souterraine (1.6-5.9 UT) sont basses et très proches de celles de la pluie actuelle (2.9-5.6 UT). A partir d’un modèle de distribution exponentielle dans le temps, la durée moyenne de renouvellement de l’eau souterraine pour la source de Al-sen a été évaluée à 60 ans. La taille maximum du réservoir d’eau souterraine a pu être estimée à environ 3.7 billion m3.
Resumen
Se ha investigado el agua subterránea de sistemas kársticos principales y manantiales submarinos en el acuífero costero de calizas de Siria usando técnicas químicas e isotópicas. Los valores δ18O de agua subterránea varían de -6.8 a -5.05‰, mientras que los valores en manantiales submarinos varían de -6.34 a +1.08‰ (las muestras de agua de mar del Mediterráneo tienen una media de + 1.7‰). El agua subterránea se deriva de la infiltración directa de agua atmosférica. Los isótopos estables muestran que zonas de recarga que alimentan el área Banyas (400-600 m.s.n.m.) se encuentran a mayor altura que la zona de recarga que alimenta el área Amrit (100-300 m.s.n.m.). El valor 18Oextraido (contenido 18O de la contribución de agua de mar) para los manantiales submarinos principales sugiere una elevación media para el área de recarga de 600-700 m.s.n.m. y menor que 400 m.s.n.m. para el manantial cercano a Amrit. En base a la medición de velocidad y el porcentaje de agua fresca en la desembocadura de los manantiales submarinos se estimó una tasa de recarga de 350 millones m3/año. Las concentraciones de tritio en agua subterránea (1.6-5.9 UT) son bajas y muy cercanas a los valores de lluvia actual (2.9-5.6 UT). Se evaluó el tiempo de retorno del agua subterránea en el manantial Al-sen adoptando un modelo con distribución de tiempo exponencial obteniendo un valor de 60 años. Se obtuvo un valor de aproximadamente 3.7 billones de m3 para el tamaño máximo del reservorio de aguas subterráneas.
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Acknowledgements
The author would like to thank I. Othman, Director General of AECS for use of their facilities during this study. I am also grateful to M. Geyh, M. Bakalowicz, W.R. Agha and S. Rammah for their helpful comments and useful discussion. The author thanks R. Naser, Head of the Geology Department at the AECS, and the staff of the laboratories for their cooperation in performing the isotopic and chemical analyses. The work was financially supported in part by the Supreme Council of Sciences (Res-Pro, No. 9. /2001).
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Charideh, A., Rahman, A. Environmental isotopic and hydrochemical study of water in the karst aquifer and submarine springs of the Syrian coast. Hydrogeol J 15, 351–364 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-006-0072-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-006-0072-x