Abstract
The most productive lands in the coastal area of Saudi Gulf of Aqaba lie in Wadi Humeidah, where irrigation relies predominantly on groundwater. Crop yields have been lately reduced due to increased salinity of groundwater and have led to abandonment of some wells adjacent to the Gulf area. Geophysical and geochemical investigations were combined to assess seawater-contaminated zones in the shallow coastal groundwater aquifer and to identify subsurface geologic formation. The prevalence of Ca2+, Na+, Cl– and SO 2–4 suggests that weathering of surrounding rocks is potentially the major source of ions. Characterization of aquifer conditions up to a depth of 60 m showed that the groundwater aquifer is composed of three zones with vertically different resistivity values. The surface layer with resistivity of 30–1000 ohm-m, represents the alluvial sand and gravel. The second layer with lower resistivity values ranging from 0.6 to 70 ohm-m, indicates saline-to-brackish-to-slightly fresh water saturated rocks. The third layer extending up to a depth of 60 m is dominated by resistivity values of several hundred to several thousand ohm-meters, reflecting the basement rocks. While the groundwater is generally brackish, the salinity content varied spatially with TDS values that decreased in the northeast direction. The variations in TDS are related to multiple sources and primarily dependent on dissolution of saltbearing sediments, exploitation rate, over-irrigation with salty water, aquifer-bearing strata and the location of wells. Groundwater aquifers in the vicinity of the coastline were found to have been impacted by saline water. The central east area has a type of groundwater that is relatively less brackish.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Al-Agha, M.R. and El-Nakhal, H.A., 2004, Hydrochemical facies of groundwater in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 49, 359–371.
Al-Taani, A.A., 2014, Trend Analysis in Water Quality of Al-Wehda Dam, NW Jordan. Environmental Assessment and Monitoring. DOI: 10.1007/s10661-014-3850-2
Al-Taani, A.A., Batayneh, A., Mogren, S., Nazzal, N., Ghrefat, H., Zaman, H., and Elawadi, E., 2013, Groundwater Quality of Coastal Aquifer Systems in the Eastern Coast of the Gulf of Aqaba, Saudi Arabia. Journal of Applied Science and Agriculture, 8, 768–778.
American Public Health Association (APHA 4110B), 1998, Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater (20th Edition). Washington, D.C., 1220 p.
Assaf, G. and Kessler, J., 1976, Climate and energy in the Gulf of Aqaba (Elat). Monthly Weather Review, 104, 381–385.
Batayneh, A.T., 2006, Use of electrical resistivity methods for detecting subsurface fresh and saline water and delineating their interfacial configuration: A case study of the eastern Dead Sea coastal aquifers, Jordan. Hydrogeology Journal, 14, 1277–1283.
Batayneh, A.T., 2007, Resistivity mapping of subsurface formations in the eastern Gulf of Aqaba coast in Jordan using geoelectrical techniques: geological and hydrogeological implications. Earth Sciences Research Journal, 11, 97–107.
Batayneh, A.T., 2013, The estimation of Dar-Zarrouk parameters in the exploration of quality affecting the Gulf of Aqaba coastal aquifer system. Journal of Coastal Conservation, 17, 623–635.
Batayneh, A.T. and Al-Diabat, A.A., 2002, Application of 2D electrical tomography technique for investigating landslides along Amman-Dead Sea highway, Jordan. Environmental Geology, 42, 399–403.
Batayneh, A.T. and Barjous, M.O., 2005, Resistivity surveys near a waste-disposal site in Qasr Tuba area of central Jordan. Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment, 64, 285–291.
Batayneh, A.T., Elawadi, E.A., and Al-Arifi, N.S., 2010, Use of geoelectrical technique for detecting subsurface fresh and saline water: a case study of the eastern Gulf of Aqaba coastal aquifer, Jordan. Journal of Coastal Research, 26, 1079–1084.
Batayneh, A.T., Haddadin, G.S., and Toubasi, U.M., 1999, Using the head-on resistivity method for shallow rock fracture investigations, Ajlun, Jordan. Journal of Environmental & Engineering Geophysics, 4, 179–184.
Batayneh, A., Ghrefat, H., Mogren, S., Laboun, A., Qaisy, S., Zumlot, T., Zaman, H., and Elawadi, E., 2012b, Assessment of the physicochemical parameters and heavy metals toxicity: application to groundwater quality in unconsolidated shallow aquifer system. Research Journal of Environmental Toxicology, 6, 169–183.
Batayneh, A., Laboun, A., Qaisy, S., Ghrefat, H., Zumlot, T., Zaman, H., Elawadi, E., Mogren, S., and Al-Qudah, K., 2012a, Assessing groundwater quality of the shallow alluvial aquifer system in the Midyan Basin, northwestern Saudi Arabia. Arab Gulf Journal of Scientific Research, 30, 7–13.
Batayneh, A., Zaman, H., Zumlot, T., Ghrefat, H., Mogren, S., Nazzal, Y., Elawadi, E., Qaisy, S., Bahkaly, I., and Al-Taani, A., 2013, Hydrochemical facies and ionic ratios of the coastal groundwater aquifer of Saudi Gulf of Aqaba: implication for seawater intrusion. Journal of Coastal Research, 30, 75–87.
Cartwright, I., Weaver, T.R., Fulton, S., Nichol, C., Reid, M., and Cheng, X., 2004, Hydrogeochemical and isotopic constraints on the origins of dryland salinity, Murray Basin, Victoria, Australia. Applied Geochemistry, 19, 1233–1254.
Choudhury, K., Saha, D.K., and Chakraborty, P., 2001, Geophysical study for saline water intrusion in a coastal alluvial terrain. Journal of Geophysics, 46, 189–200.
Clark, M., 1986, Explanatory notes to the geologic map of the Al Bad’ Quadrangle Sheet (28A). Geoscience Map Series GM-81A, C, scale 1:250,000, with text. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabian Deputy Ministry for Mineral Resources, 46 p.
Cruz, J.V. and Silva, M.O., 2000, Groundwater salinization in Pico Island, Azores, Portugal: origin and mechanisms. Environmental Geology, 39, 1181–1189.
Edwards B.D. and K.R. Evans, 2002, Saltwater intrusion in Los Angeles area coastal aquifers: the marine connection. Fact Sheet (FS-02-030), U.S. Geological Survey.
Fahmy, M., 2003, Water quality in the Red Sea coastal waters (Egypt): Analysis of spatial and temporal variability. Chemistry and Ecology, 19, 67–77.
Freeze, R.A. and Cherry, J.A., 1979, Groundwater. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, 604 p.
Hall, J.K., 1975, Bathymetric chart of the Straits of Tiran. Israel Journal Earth Sciences, 24, 69–72.
Howard, K.W.F. and Lloyd, J.W., 1983, Major ion characterization of coastal saline ground waters. Groundwater, 21, 429–437.
Hughes, G.W. and Johnson, R.S., 2005, Lithostratigraphy of the Red Sea region. GeoArabia, 10, 49–126.
Hughes, G.W., Perincek, D., Abu-Bshait, A., and Jarad, A., 1999, Aspects of Midyan geology, Saudi Arabian Red Sea. Saudi Aramco Journal Technology, Winter 1999/2000, 12–42.
Kim, J.H., Kim, R.H., Lee, J., and Chang, H.W., 2003, Hydrogeochemical characterization of major factors affecting the quality of shallow groundwater in the coastal area at Kimje in South Korea. Environmental Geology, 44, 478–489.
Kim, K.Y., Park, Y.S., Kim, G.P., and Park, K.H., 2009, Dynamic freshwater-saline water interaction in the coastal zone of Jeju Island, South Korea. Hydrogeology Journal, 17, 617–629.
Lee, J.Y., 2011, Environmental issues of groundwater in Korea: Implications for sustainable use. Environmental Conservation, 38, 64–74.
Lee, J.Y. and Song, S.H., 2007, Evaluation of groundwater quality in coastal areas: implications for sustainable agriculture. Environmental Geology, 52, 1231–1242.
Loke, M.H. and Barker, R.D., 1996, Rapid least-squares inversion of apparent resistivity pseudosection by a quasi-Newton method. Geophysical Prospecting, 44, 131–152.
Maillard, C. and Soliman, G., 1986, Hydrography of the Red Sea and exchange with Indian Ocean in summer. Oceanologica Acta, 9, 249–269.
Melloul, A. and Collin, M., 2006, Hydrogeological changes in coastal aquifers due to sea level rise. Ocean and Coastal Management, 49, 281–297.
Mondal, N.C., Singh, V.P., Singh, V.S., and Saxena, V.K., 2010, Determining the interaction between groundwater and saline water through groundwater major ion chemistry. Journal of Hydrology, 388, 100–111.
Mondal, N.C., Singh, V.S., Saxena, V.K., and Prasad, R.K., 2008, Improvement of groundwater quality due to fresh water ingress in Potharlanka Island, Krishna delta, India. Environmental Geology, 55, 595–603.
Morcos, S.A., 1970, Physical and chemical oceanography of the Red Sea. Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review, 8, 73–202.
Nwankwoala, H. and Udom, G., 2011, Hydrochemical facies and ionic ratios of groundwater in Port Harcourt, Southern Nigeria. Research Journal of Chemical Sciences, 1, 87–101.
Park, S.C., Yun, S.T., Chae, G.T., Yoo, I.S., Shin, K.S., Heo, C.H., and Lee, S.K., 2005, Regional hydrochemical study on salinization of coastal aquifers, western coastal area of South Korea. Journal of Hydrology, 313, 182–194.
Piper, A., 1944, A graphic procedure in the geochemical interpretation of water-analysis. Transactions-American Geophysical Union, 25, 914–928.
Silva-Filho, E.V., Sobral Barcellos, R., Emblanch, C., Blavoux, B., Maria Sella, S., Daniel, M., Simler, R., and Cesar Wasserman, J., 2009, Groundwater chemical characterization of a Rio de Janeiro coastal aquifer, SE-Brazil. Journal of South American Earth Sciences, 27, 100–108.
Stoessel, R.K., 1997, Delineating the chemical composition of the salinity source for the saline ground waters: an example from eastcentral Concordia Parish, Louisiana. Ground Water, 35, 409–417.
Tellam, J.H. and Lloyd, J.W., 1986. Problems in the recognition of seawater intrusion by chemical means: an example of apparent chemical equivalence. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, 19, 389–398.
Ward, S.H., 1990, Resistivity and induced polarization methods. In: Ward, S.H. (ed.), Geotechnical and Environmental Geophysics, Vol. 1: Review and Tutorial. Society of Exploration Geophysicists, Special Publication, 5, 147–189.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Batayneh, A.T., Al-Taani, A.A. Integrated resistivity and water chemistry for evaluation of groundwater quality of the Gulf of Aqaba coastal area in Saudi Arabia. Geosci J 20, 403–413 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12303-015-0053-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12303-015-0053-y