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Earth Fissures in Wadi Najran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

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Abstract

The formation of earth fissures due to groundwater depletion has been reported in many places in North America, Europe, and Asia. Najran Basin is in the southern part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and agricultural activities and other groundwater uses have caused significant groundwater depletion there. The basin recently experienced a sudden appearance of numerous earth fissures. An interdisciplinary study consisting of an evaluation of land-use changes, and hydrological, hydrogeological, and geophysical investigations was conducted to determine the reason for the formation of the earth fissures. The hydrological analysis strongly revealed that the groundwater level is decreasing with time. Groundwater depletion would lead to the accumulation of subsurface stress, causing soil hydro-consolidation which creates the ideal condition for the formation of earth fissures. Electrical resistivity, data indicated that there are anomalies in the profiles, which are most probably due to the presence of subsurface topography, another key factor for the formation of the earth fissures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geological Hazards Department, Applied Geology Sector, Saudi Geological Survey, P.O. Box 54141, Jeddah, 21514, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    Ahmed M. Youssef & Yasser A. Zabramawi

  2. Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt

    Ahmed M. Youssef

  3. Geological and Environmental Engineering Department, Faculty of Earth Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    Abdullah A. Sabtan

  4. Geological Engineering Program, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO, 65409-0660, USA

    Norbert H. Maerz

Authors
  1. Ahmed M. Youssef
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  2. Abdullah A. Sabtan
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  3. Norbert H. Maerz
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  4. Yasser A. Zabramawi
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Correspondence to Ahmed M. Youssef.

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Youssef, A.M., Sabtan, A.A., Maerz, N.H. et al. Earth Fissures in Wadi Najran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Nat Hazards 71, 2013–2027 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-013-0991-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-013-0991-5

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