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Papers by atif foufou

Research paper thumbnail of Hydrodynamic Modeling of the Albian Aquifer of the Plain of Ain Oussera (Semi-Arid Area, Algeria)

Energy Procedia, Jul 1, 2017

District heating networks are commonly addressed in the literature as one of the most effective s... more District heating networks are commonly addressed in the literature as one of the most effective solutions for decreasing the greenhouse gas emissions from the building sector. These systems require high investments which are returned through the heat sales. Due to the changed climate conditions and building renovation policies, heat demand in the future could decrease, prolonging the investment return period. The main scope of this paper is to assess the feasibility of using the heat demand-outdoor temperature function for heat demand forecast. The district of Alvalade, located in Lisbon (Portugal), was used as a case study. The district is consisted of 665 buildings that vary in both construction period and typology. Three weather scenarios (low, medium, high) and three district renovation scenarios were developed (shallow, intermediate, deep). To estimate the error, obtained heat demand values were compared with results from a dynamic heat demand model, previously developed and validated by the authors. The results showed that when only weather change is considered, the margin of error could be acceptable for some applications (the error in annual demand was lower than 20% for all weather scenarios considered). However, after introducing renovation scenarios, the error value increased up to 59.5% (depending on the weather and renovation scenarios combination considered). The value of slope coefficient increased on average within the range of 3.8% up to 8% per decade, that corresponds to the decrease in the number of heating hours of 22-139h during the heating season (depending on the combination of weather and renovation scenarios considered). On the other hand, function intercept increased for 7.8-12.7% per decade (depending on the coupled scenarios). The values suggested could be used to modify the function parameters for the scenarios considered, and improve the accuracy of heat demand estimations.

Research paper thumbnail of Assessment and Mapping of Groundwater Quality for Irrigation and Drinking in a Semi-Arid Area in Algeria

Journal of Ecological Engineering, Sep 1, 2021

Water resources are a major concern in dry or semi-dry countries. They are crucial to the develop... more Water resources are a major concern in dry or semi-dry countries. They are crucial to the development of human, economic and social activities [Ragab et al., 2002b; Williams., 1999; Misra., 2014; Wang et al. 2017]. Algeria has adopted a new policy to protect and safeguard water resources [Negm et al., 2020; Qadir et al., 2007], as population and urbanization increases, industrial units and farm land have resulted in the degradation of groundwater and surface water quality, combined with a very significant decline in the groundwater resources, the only water reserves for the supply of populations. It is critical to understand the groundwater quality because it is a key mark of its suitability for human consumption, agriculture, and/or industry. In recent years, there has been a worldwide increasing concern for water quality. Several studies [Khan et al., 2020; Rao et al., 2012; Babiker et al., 2007] were conducted to assess the quality of groundwater. Groundwater chemistry has been used as an instrument for evaluating the quality of water for human use and irrigation. [Srinivasamoorthy

Research paper thumbnail of Fluoride-bearing groundwater in the complex terminal aquifer (a case study in Hassi Messaoud area, southern Algeria): hydrochemical characterization and spatial distribution assessed by indicator kriging

Sustainable Water Resources Management, Jun 8, 2020

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the human consumption of water containing a hig... more According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the human consumption of water containing a high concentration of fluoride (> 1.5 mg/l) can increase significantly many health problems such as dental and skeletal fluorosis. This study investigates fluoride abundance, origin, and its spatial distribution in groundwater from Complex Terminal (CT) aquifer in Hassi Messaoud area (Southern Algeria) where the CT water constitutes the main source of drinking water with a high daily intake. Available water wells were sampled and analysed on their major physico-chemical parameters including fluoride content. Hydrochemical characterization was constrained using the Durov diagram together with a PCA statistical treatment. The saturation indices were computed and used to track fluoride origin. The spatial distribution of fluoride in the studied aquifer was mapped by indicator kriging (IK). The results show that fluoride content ranges from 1.6 to 2.9 mg/l (average = 2.1 ± 0.4 mg/l) exceeding WHO drinking water standards. The Durov diagram, PCA and SI indicate that water acquires mineralization principally by leaching of evaporite minerals. Furthermore, SI evidences that fluoride concentration in water increases with CaCO 3 precipitation leading to CaF 2 dissolution. IK spatial distribution allows estimating the probability of not exceeding (2.1 mg/l) critical threshold. The cross-validation displays good performance of IK estimation (mean error = 0.05; mean standard error = 0.09). The obtained map shows a low to moderate probability of not exceeding the selected threshold in the whole aquifer. Therefore, the use of CT water for human consumption poses a risk to public health. These results can be used in water management framework and for selecting an ideal position to drill new boreholes for drinking water.

Research paper thumbnail of Glauconite-bearing sedimentary phosphorites from the Tébessa region (eastern Algeria): Evidence of REE enrichment and geochemical constraints on their origin

Journal of African Earth Sciences, Sep 1, 2018

Highlights 1. Evidence of substantial REE enrichments in glauconite grains comparing to coexistin... more Highlights 1. Evidence of substantial REE enrichments in glauconite grains comparing to coexisting particles (∑REE > 1000 ppm) 2. Glauconite-bearing phosphorites show high Ca and P contents and are also enriched in Fe, Al, K and Si indicating glauconitization of preexisting pellets 3. REE-signature of glauconite grains emphasizes their allochthonous character (remobilization and reworked grains) 4. The higher REE content of the southern phosphorites recorded in whole rock analyses is linked to the abundance of glauconite grains

Research paper thumbnail of Assessment of Groundwater Pollution Vulnerability, Hazard and Risk in a Semi-Arid Region

Journal of Ecological Engineering, Nov 1, 2021

The Mio-plio-quaternary aquifer of the Djelfa Syncline is part of a region in Algeria which is ch... more The Mio-plio-quaternary aquifer of the Djelfa Syncline is part of a region in Algeria which is characterized by the lack of surface water resources and located in a semi-arid climate. Since alluvial aquifers, and among them our aquifer, are the most vulnerable because of thier direct exposure to the pollution caused by the infiltrated pollutants, this work focused on the assessement of groundwater pollution vulnerability, hazard and risk. Thus, several methods were used; for this purpose, such as the DRASTIC and WQI methods mapped using a GIS. The results obtained clearly show a low to moderate vulnerability. The DRASTIC model and its validation based on the correlation with WQI revealed a low correlation (WQ I vs D I : 0.221). Since the vulnerability model does not match with the groundwater quality, pollution risk was assessed by combining vulnerabilty and hazard (i.e, water quality). The risk map illustrated three levels ranging from low to high risk. This map should be helpful in decision making and groundwater management through avoiding high risk areas.

Research paper thumbnail of Assessment of groundwater pollution vulnerability and modelling of the Kanye Wellfield in SE Botswana—a GIS approach

Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, 2004

Botswana is a semi-arid country with limited recharge to groundwater resources. Groundwater howev... more Botswana is a semi-arid country with limited recharge to groundwater resources. Groundwater however is a major source of water for domestic, industrial and agricultural uses. There is therefore the need to ensure that the groundwater resources are of drinking quality, by protecting them against pollution sources such as landfills, pit latrines, industries, agricultural pesticides and waste. In this study a preliminary assessment of vulnerability of groundwater to pollution in Kanye well field in SE Botswana is undertaken. In order to assess the vulnerability of this aquifer to pollution, soils types, mapped geology and information from 82 boreholes were input into a GIS system to classify pollution vulnerability using Theissen polygons of the study area. Results indicate that 58% of the well field area is highly or very highly vulnerable to pollution, 34% is moderately vulnerable to pollution, and only 9% has low vulnerability. Estimates of the aquifer media characteristics in areas with only a few observations or few geological logs were considered to have higher uncertainty than areas with many observations. However, the use of the polynomial estimator enabled consideration of simple uncertainty for the aquifer media characteristics and pollution vulnerability modelling process.

Research paper thumbnail of Drought assessment and monitoring using meteorological indices in a semi-arid region

Energy Procedia, Jul 1, 2017

District heating networks are commonly addressed in the literature as one of the most effective s... more District heating networks are commonly addressed in the literature as one of the most effective solutions for decreasing the greenhouse gas emissions from the building sector. These systems require high investments which are returned through the heat sales. Due to the changed climate conditions and building renovation policies, heat demand in the future could decrease, prolonging the investment return period. The main scope of this paper is to assess the feasibility of using the heat demand-outdoor temperature function for heat demand forecast. The district of Alvalade, located in Lisbon (Portugal), was used as a case study. The district is consisted of 665 buildings that vary in both construction period and typology. Three weather scenarios (low, medium, high) and three district renovation scenarios were developed (shallow, intermediate, deep). To estimate the error, obtained heat demand values were compared with results from a dynamic heat demand model, previously developed and validated by the authors. The results showed that when only weather change is considered, the margin of error could be acceptable for some applications (the error in annual demand was lower than 20% for all weather scenarios considered). However, after introducing renovation scenarios, the error value increased up to 59.5% (depending on the weather and renovation scenarios combination considered). The value of slope coefficient increased on average within the range of 3.8% up to 8% per decade, that corresponds to the decrease in the number of heating hours of 22-139h during the heating season (depending on the combination of weather and renovation scenarios considered). On the other hand, function intercept increased for 7.8-12.7% per decade (depending on the coupled scenarios). The values suggested could be used to modify the function parameters for the scenarios considered, and improve the accuracy of heat demand estimations.

Research paper thumbnail of Spatial and Temporal Assessment of Drought Hazard, Vulnerability and Risk in Three Different Climatic Zones in Algeria Using Two Commonly Used Meteorological Indices

Sustainability

Drought is considered a natural hazard and has become a recurrent phenomenon in Algeria since the... more Drought is considered a natural hazard and has become a recurrent phenomenon in Algeria since the 1970s. Algeria is characterized by three different climates, namely, sub-humid, semi-arid and arid climates. In this study, we aimed to spatiotemporally assess drought hazard, vulnerability and risk in the three climates of three sub-basins, namely, the Seybouse Maritime, Wadi Djelfa-Hadjia and Wadi M’Zi sub-basins. To this end, the standardized precipitation index (SPI) and the reconnaissance drought index (RDI) were used to evaluate drought physical characteristics on a 12-month timescale, based on precipitation and temperature monthly data covering the period of 1979–2019. High values of the coefficient of determination (R2) (0.76–0.99) confirmed by low values of the root-mean-square error (RMSE) (0.08–0.49) proved that the drought indices displayed a high correlation. Drought hazard and vulnerability were evaluated based on physical characteristics and socioeconomic aspects, respect...

Research paper thumbnail of The Algerian Glauconite-bearing Phosphorites: REE Variation and Insights on the Depositional Environment

HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), May 8, 2017

Research paper thumbnail of Modélisation de l'écoulement des eaux souterraines de la plaine d’Ain Oussera (Algérie)

Université Kasdi Merbah Ouargla, Oct 16, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of Assessment and Mapping of Groundwater Quality for Irrigation and Drinking in a Semi-Arid Area in Algeria

Journal of Ecological Engineering, 2021

Water resources are a major concern in dry or semi-dry countries. They are crucial to the develop... more Water resources are a major concern in dry or semi-dry countries. They are crucial to the development of human, economic and social activities [Ragab et al., 2002b; Williams., 1999; Misra., 2014; Wang et al. 2017]. Algeria has adopted a new policy to protect and safeguard water resources [Negm et al., 2020; Qadir et al., 2007], as population and urbanization increases, industrial units and farm land have resulted in the degradation of groundwater and surface water quality, combined with a very significant decline in the groundwater resources, the only water reserves for the supply of populations. It is critical to understand the groundwater quality because it is a key mark of its suitability for human consumption, agriculture, and/or industry. In recent years, there has been a worldwide increasing concern for water quality. Several studies [Khan et al., 2020; Rao et al., 2012; Babiker et al., 2007] were conducted to assess the quality of groundwater. Groundwater chemistry has been used as an instrument for evaluating the quality of water for human use and irrigation. [Srinivasamoorthy

Research paper thumbnail of Fluoride-bearing groundwater in the complex terminal aquifer (a case study in Hassi Messaoud area, southern Algeria): hydrochemical characterization and spatial distribution assessed by indicator kriging

Sustainable Water Resources Management, 2020

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the human consumption of water containing a hig... more According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the human consumption of water containing a high concentration of fluoride (> 1.5 mg/l) can increase significantly many health problems such as dental and skeletal fluorosis. This study investigates fluoride abundance, origin, and its spatial distribution in groundwater from Complex Terminal (CT) aquifer in Hassi Messaoud area (Southern Algeria) where the CT water constitutes the main source of drinking water with a high daily intake. Available water wells were sampled and analysed on their major physico-chemical parameters including fluoride content. Hydrochemical characterization was constrained using the Durov diagram together with a PCA statistical treatment. The saturation indices were computed and used to track fluoride origin. The spatial distribution of fluoride in the studied aquifer was mapped by indicator kriging (IK). The results show that fluoride content ranges from 1.6 to 2.9 mg/l (average = 2.1 ± 0.4 mg/l) exceeding WHO drinking water standards. The Durov diagram, PCA and SI indicate that water acquires mineralization principally by leaching of evaporite minerals. Furthermore, SI evidences that fluoride concentration in water increases with CaCO 3 precipitation leading to CaF 2 dissolution. IK spatial distribution allows estimating the probability of not exceeding (2.1 mg/l) critical threshold. The cross-validation displays good performance of IK estimation (mean error = 0.05; mean standard error = 0.09). The obtained map shows a low to moderate probability of not exceeding the selected threshold in the whole aquifer. Therefore, the use of CT water for human consumption poses a risk to public health. These results can be used in water management framework and for selecting an ideal position to drill new boreholes for drinking water.

Research paper thumbnail of Comprehensive REE + Y and sensitive redox trace elements of Algerian phosphorites (Tébessa, eastern Algeria): A geochemical study and depositional environments tracking

Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 2019

This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the ad... more This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.

Research paper thumbnail of Glauconite-bearing sedimentary phosphorites from the Tébessa region (eastern Algeria): Evidence of REE enrichment and geochemical constraints on their origin

Journal of African Earth Sciences, 2018

Highlights 1. Evidence of substantial REE enrichments in glauconite grains comparing to coexistin... more Highlights 1. Evidence of substantial REE enrichments in glauconite grains comparing to coexisting particles (∑REE > 1000 ppm) 2. Glauconite-bearing phosphorites show high Ca and P contents and are also enriched in Fe, Al, K and Si indicating glauconitization of preexisting pellets 3. REE-signature of glauconite grains emphasizes their allochthonous character (remobilization and reworked grains) 4. The higher REE content of the southern phosphorites recorded in whole rock analyses is linked to the abundance of glauconite grains

Research paper thumbnail of Water pollution diagnosis and risk assessment of Wadi Zied plain aquifer caused by the leachates of Annaba landfill (N-E Algeria)

Energy Procedia, 2017

District heating networks are commonly addressed in the literature as one of the most effective s... more District heating networks are commonly addressed in the literature as one of the most effective solutions for decreasing the greenhouse gas emissions from the building sector. These systems require high investments which are returned through the heat sales. Due to the changed climate conditions and building renovation policies, heat demand in the future could decrease, prolonging the investment return period. The main scope of this paper is to assess the feasibility of using the heat demand-outdoor temperature function for heat demand forecast. The district of Alvalade, located in Lisbon (Portugal), was used as a case study. The district is consisted of 665 buildings that vary in both construction period and typology. Three weather scenarios (low, medium, high) and three district renovation scenarios were developed (shallow, intermediate, deep). To estimate the error, obtained heat demand values were compared with results from a dynamic heat demand model, previously developed and validated by the authors. The results showed that when only weather change is considered, the margin of error could be acceptable for some applications (the error in annual demand was lower than 20% for all weather scenarios considered). However, after introducing renovation scenarios, the error value increased up to 59.5% (depending on the weather and renovation scenarios combination considered). The value of slope coefficient increased on average within the range of 3.8% up to 8% per decade, that corresponds to the decrease in the number of heating hours of 22-139h during the heating season (depending on the combination of weather and renovation scenarios considered). On the other hand, function intercept increased for 7.8-12.7% per decade (depending on the coupled scenarios). The values suggested could be used to modify the function parameters for the scenarios considered, and improve the accuracy of heat demand estimations.

Research paper thumbnail of Hydrodynamic Modeling of the Albian Aquifer of the Plain of Ain Oussera (Semi-Arid Area, Algeria)

Energy Procedia, 2017

District heating networks are commonly addressed in the literature as one of the most effective s... more District heating networks are commonly addressed in the literature as one of the most effective solutions for decreasing the greenhouse gas emissions from the building sector. These systems require high investments which are returned through the heat sales. Due to the changed climate conditions and building renovation policies, heat demand in the future could decrease, prolonging the investment return period. The main scope of this paper is to assess the feasibility of using the heat demand-outdoor temperature function for heat demand forecast. The district of Alvalade, located in Lisbon (Portugal), was used as a case study. The district is consisted of 665 buildings that vary in both construction period and typology. Three weather scenarios (low, medium, high) and three district renovation scenarios were developed (shallow, intermediate, deep). To estimate the error, obtained heat demand values were compared with results from a dynamic heat demand model, previously developed and validated by the authors. The results showed that when only weather change is considered, the margin of error could be acceptable for some applications (the error in annual demand was lower than 20% for all weather scenarios considered). However, after introducing renovation scenarios, the error value increased up to 59.5% (depending on the weather and renovation scenarios combination considered). The value of slope coefficient increased on average within the range of 3.8% up to 8% per decade, that corresponds to the decrease in the number of heating hours of 22-139h during the heating season (depending on the combination of weather and renovation scenarios considered). On the other hand, function intercept increased for 7.8-12.7% per decade (depending on the coupled scenarios). The values suggested could be used to modify the function parameters for the scenarios considered, and improve the accuracy of heat demand estimations.

Research paper thumbnail of Drought assessment and monitoring using meteorological indices in a semi-arid region

Energy Procedia, 2017

District heating networks are commonly addressed in the literature as one of the most effective s... more District heating networks are commonly addressed in the literature as one of the most effective solutions for decreasing the greenhouse gas emissions from the building sector. These systems require high investments which are returned through the heat sales. Due to the changed climate conditions and building renovation policies, heat demand in the future could decrease, prolonging the investment return period. The main scope of this paper is to assess the feasibility of using the heat demand-outdoor temperature function for heat demand forecast. The district of Alvalade, located in Lisbon (Portugal), was used as a case study. The district is consisted of 665 buildings that vary in both construction period and typology. Three weather scenarios (low, medium, high) and three district renovation scenarios were developed (shallow, intermediate, deep). To estimate the error, obtained heat demand values were compared with results from a dynamic heat demand model, previously developed and validated by the authors. The results showed that when only weather change is considered, the margin of error could be acceptable for some applications (the error in annual demand was lower than 20% for all weather scenarios considered). However, after introducing renovation scenarios, the error value increased up to 59.5% (depending on the weather and renovation scenarios combination considered). The value of slope coefficient increased on average within the range of 3.8% up to 8% per decade, that corresponds to the decrease in the number of heating hours of 22-139h during the heating season (depending on the combination of weather and renovation scenarios considered). On the other hand, function intercept increased for 7.8-12.7% per decade (depending on the coupled scenarios). The values suggested could be used to modify the function parameters for the scenarios considered, and improve the accuracy of heat demand estimations.

Research paper thumbnail of Preliminary Data of REE in Algerian Phosphorites: A Comparative Study and Paleo-redox Insights

Procedia Engineering, 2016

This study deals with the preliminary data of rare earth elements (REE) obtained on northeastern ... more This study deals with the preliminary data of rare earth elements (REE) obtained on northeastern Algerian phosphorites from the Tébessa region. These phosphorites are located in two different basins: the northern basin represented by Dj. El Kouif, Dj. Dyr and Tazbant showings and the southern basin with the giant Dj. Onk phosphate deposit. The host sedimentary formation is Late Paleocene to Early Eocene. Twenty-six (26) samples from the four (4) localities were collected and analyzed for their REE contents using the ICP-MS technique. Phosphates from the southern basin (Dj. Onk deposit) show ∑REE contents ranging from 174.41 and 906.39 ppm (average ∑REE = 623.01 ppm), while the northern phosphorites have lower ∑REE contents (from 125.45 to 472.44 ppm; average = 265.57 ppm). PAAS-normalized REE patterns and binary Box plot of (Sm/Pr)N vs (Sm/Yb)N show HREE enrichments for samples from the northern localities while most samples from the southern basin are HREE depleted. Normalized (La/Yb)N vs (La/Sm)N plot shows that (La/Sm)N ratios of all samples are similar to those of modern seawater (from 0.83 to 1.55). However, the (La/Yb)N ratios of the two basins are significantly higher (from 0.67 to 1.18), which indicates an early diagenesis. The Ce/Ce* vs Pr/Pr* diagram shows that the observed Ce anomaly was not affected by diagenesis and more likely represents a proxy for redox conditions. The obtained results substantiate that the northern phosphorites were formed in more oxic environment with more pronounced negative Ce anomalies, whereas the southern phosphorites have lower Ce anomalies. Northern phosphorites are different from those from the south probably because the northern basin was more connected to an open sea as did the Sra Ouartan basin in northern Tunisia. These results have also been confirmed by statistical method studies, such as factorial discriminate analysis.

Research paper thumbnail of Hydrodynamic Modeling of the Albian Aquifer of the Plain of Ain Oussera (Semi-Arid Area, Algeria)

Energy Procedia, Jul 1, 2017

District heating networks are commonly addressed in the literature as one of the most effective s... more District heating networks are commonly addressed in the literature as one of the most effective solutions for decreasing the greenhouse gas emissions from the building sector. These systems require high investments which are returned through the heat sales. Due to the changed climate conditions and building renovation policies, heat demand in the future could decrease, prolonging the investment return period. The main scope of this paper is to assess the feasibility of using the heat demand-outdoor temperature function for heat demand forecast. The district of Alvalade, located in Lisbon (Portugal), was used as a case study. The district is consisted of 665 buildings that vary in both construction period and typology. Three weather scenarios (low, medium, high) and three district renovation scenarios were developed (shallow, intermediate, deep). To estimate the error, obtained heat demand values were compared with results from a dynamic heat demand model, previously developed and validated by the authors. The results showed that when only weather change is considered, the margin of error could be acceptable for some applications (the error in annual demand was lower than 20% for all weather scenarios considered). However, after introducing renovation scenarios, the error value increased up to 59.5% (depending on the weather and renovation scenarios combination considered). The value of slope coefficient increased on average within the range of 3.8% up to 8% per decade, that corresponds to the decrease in the number of heating hours of 22-139h during the heating season (depending on the combination of weather and renovation scenarios considered). On the other hand, function intercept increased for 7.8-12.7% per decade (depending on the coupled scenarios). The values suggested could be used to modify the function parameters for the scenarios considered, and improve the accuracy of heat demand estimations.

Research paper thumbnail of Assessment and Mapping of Groundwater Quality for Irrigation and Drinking in a Semi-Arid Area in Algeria

Journal of Ecological Engineering, Sep 1, 2021

Water resources are a major concern in dry or semi-dry countries. They are crucial to the develop... more Water resources are a major concern in dry or semi-dry countries. They are crucial to the development of human, economic and social activities [Ragab et al., 2002b; Williams., 1999; Misra., 2014; Wang et al. 2017]. Algeria has adopted a new policy to protect and safeguard water resources [Negm et al., 2020; Qadir et al., 2007], as population and urbanization increases, industrial units and farm land have resulted in the degradation of groundwater and surface water quality, combined with a very significant decline in the groundwater resources, the only water reserves for the supply of populations. It is critical to understand the groundwater quality because it is a key mark of its suitability for human consumption, agriculture, and/or industry. In recent years, there has been a worldwide increasing concern for water quality. Several studies [Khan et al., 2020; Rao et al., 2012; Babiker et al., 2007] were conducted to assess the quality of groundwater. Groundwater chemistry has been used as an instrument for evaluating the quality of water for human use and irrigation. [Srinivasamoorthy

Research paper thumbnail of Fluoride-bearing groundwater in the complex terminal aquifer (a case study in Hassi Messaoud area, southern Algeria): hydrochemical characterization and spatial distribution assessed by indicator kriging

Sustainable Water Resources Management, Jun 8, 2020

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the human consumption of water containing a hig... more According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the human consumption of water containing a high concentration of fluoride (> 1.5 mg/l) can increase significantly many health problems such as dental and skeletal fluorosis. This study investigates fluoride abundance, origin, and its spatial distribution in groundwater from Complex Terminal (CT) aquifer in Hassi Messaoud area (Southern Algeria) where the CT water constitutes the main source of drinking water with a high daily intake. Available water wells were sampled and analysed on their major physico-chemical parameters including fluoride content. Hydrochemical characterization was constrained using the Durov diagram together with a PCA statistical treatment. The saturation indices were computed and used to track fluoride origin. The spatial distribution of fluoride in the studied aquifer was mapped by indicator kriging (IK). The results show that fluoride content ranges from 1.6 to 2.9 mg/l (average = 2.1 ± 0.4 mg/l) exceeding WHO drinking water standards. The Durov diagram, PCA and SI indicate that water acquires mineralization principally by leaching of evaporite minerals. Furthermore, SI evidences that fluoride concentration in water increases with CaCO 3 precipitation leading to CaF 2 dissolution. IK spatial distribution allows estimating the probability of not exceeding (2.1 mg/l) critical threshold. The cross-validation displays good performance of IK estimation (mean error = 0.05; mean standard error = 0.09). The obtained map shows a low to moderate probability of not exceeding the selected threshold in the whole aquifer. Therefore, the use of CT water for human consumption poses a risk to public health. These results can be used in water management framework and for selecting an ideal position to drill new boreholes for drinking water.

Research paper thumbnail of Glauconite-bearing sedimentary phosphorites from the Tébessa region (eastern Algeria): Evidence of REE enrichment and geochemical constraints on their origin

Journal of African Earth Sciences, Sep 1, 2018

Highlights 1. Evidence of substantial REE enrichments in glauconite grains comparing to coexistin... more Highlights 1. Evidence of substantial REE enrichments in glauconite grains comparing to coexisting particles (∑REE > 1000 ppm) 2. Glauconite-bearing phosphorites show high Ca and P contents and are also enriched in Fe, Al, K and Si indicating glauconitization of preexisting pellets 3. REE-signature of glauconite grains emphasizes their allochthonous character (remobilization and reworked grains) 4. The higher REE content of the southern phosphorites recorded in whole rock analyses is linked to the abundance of glauconite grains

Research paper thumbnail of Assessment of Groundwater Pollution Vulnerability, Hazard and Risk in a Semi-Arid Region

Journal of Ecological Engineering, Nov 1, 2021

The Mio-plio-quaternary aquifer of the Djelfa Syncline is part of a region in Algeria which is ch... more The Mio-plio-quaternary aquifer of the Djelfa Syncline is part of a region in Algeria which is characterized by the lack of surface water resources and located in a semi-arid climate. Since alluvial aquifers, and among them our aquifer, are the most vulnerable because of thier direct exposure to the pollution caused by the infiltrated pollutants, this work focused on the assessement of groundwater pollution vulnerability, hazard and risk. Thus, several methods were used; for this purpose, such as the DRASTIC and WQI methods mapped using a GIS. The results obtained clearly show a low to moderate vulnerability. The DRASTIC model and its validation based on the correlation with WQI revealed a low correlation (WQ I vs D I : 0.221). Since the vulnerability model does not match with the groundwater quality, pollution risk was assessed by combining vulnerabilty and hazard (i.e, water quality). The risk map illustrated three levels ranging from low to high risk. This map should be helpful in decision making and groundwater management through avoiding high risk areas.

Research paper thumbnail of Assessment of groundwater pollution vulnerability and modelling of the Kanye Wellfield in SE Botswana—a GIS approach

Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, 2004

Botswana is a semi-arid country with limited recharge to groundwater resources. Groundwater howev... more Botswana is a semi-arid country with limited recharge to groundwater resources. Groundwater however is a major source of water for domestic, industrial and agricultural uses. There is therefore the need to ensure that the groundwater resources are of drinking quality, by protecting them against pollution sources such as landfills, pit latrines, industries, agricultural pesticides and waste. In this study a preliminary assessment of vulnerability of groundwater to pollution in Kanye well field in SE Botswana is undertaken. In order to assess the vulnerability of this aquifer to pollution, soils types, mapped geology and information from 82 boreholes were input into a GIS system to classify pollution vulnerability using Theissen polygons of the study area. Results indicate that 58% of the well field area is highly or very highly vulnerable to pollution, 34% is moderately vulnerable to pollution, and only 9% has low vulnerability. Estimates of the aquifer media characteristics in areas with only a few observations or few geological logs were considered to have higher uncertainty than areas with many observations. However, the use of the polynomial estimator enabled consideration of simple uncertainty for the aquifer media characteristics and pollution vulnerability modelling process.

Research paper thumbnail of Drought assessment and monitoring using meteorological indices in a semi-arid region

Energy Procedia, Jul 1, 2017

District heating networks are commonly addressed in the literature as one of the most effective s... more District heating networks are commonly addressed in the literature as one of the most effective solutions for decreasing the greenhouse gas emissions from the building sector. These systems require high investments which are returned through the heat sales. Due to the changed climate conditions and building renovation policies, heat demand in the future could decrease, prolonging the investment return period. The main scope of this paper is to assess the feasibility of using the heat demand-outdoor temperature function for heat demand forecast. The district of Alvalade, located in Lisbon (Portugal), was used as a case study. The district is consisted of 665 buildings that vary in both construction period and typology. Three weather scenarios (low, medium, high) and three district renovation scenarios were developed (shallow, intermediate, deep). To estimate the error, obtained heat demand values were compared with results from a dynamic heat demand model, previously developed and validated by the authors. The results showed that when only weather change is considered, the margin of error could be acceptable for some applications (the error in annual demand was lower than 20% for all weather scenarios considered). However, after introducing renovation scenarios, the error value increased up to 59.5% (depending on the weather and renovation scenarios combination considered). The value of slope coefficient increased on average within the range of 3.8% up to 8% per decade, that corresponds to the decrease in the number of heating hours of 22-139h during the heating season (depending on the combination of weather and renovation scenarios considered). On the other hand, function intercept increased for 7.8-12.7% per decade (depending on the coupled scenarios). The values suggested could be used to modify the function parameters for the scenarios considered, and improve the accuracy of heat demand estimations.

Research paper thumbnail of Spatial and Temporal Assessment of Drought Hazard, Vulnerability and Risk in Three Different Climatic Zones in Algeria Using Two Commonly Used Meteorological Indices

Sustainability

Drought is considered a natural hazard and has become a recurrent phenomenon in Algeria since the... more Drought is considered a natural hazard and has become a recurrent phenomenon in Algeria since the 1970s. Algeria is characterized by three different climates, namely, sub-humid, semi-arid and arid climates. In this study, we aimed to spatiotemporally assess drought hazard, vulnerability and risk in the three climates of three sub-basins, namely, the Seybouse Maritime, Wadi Djelfa-Hadjia and Wadi M’Zi sub-basins. To this end, the standardized precipitation index (SPI) and the reconnaissance drought index (RDI) were used to evaluate drought physical characteristics on a 12-month timescale, based on precipitation and temperature monthly data covering the period of 1979–2019. High values of the coefficient of determination (R2) (0.76–0.99) confirmed by low values of the root-mean-square error (RMSE) (0.08–0.49) proved that the drought indices displayed a high correlation. Drought hazard and vulnerability were evaluated based on physical characteristics and socioeconomic aspects, respect...

Research paper thumbnail of The Algerian Glauconite-bearing Phosphorites: REE Variation and Insights on the Depositional Environment

HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), May 8, 2017

Research paper thumbnail of Modélisation de l'écoulement des eaux souterraines de la plaine d’Ain Oussera (Algérie)

Université Kasdi Merbah Ouargla, Oct 16, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of Assessment and Mapping of Groundwater Quality for Irrigation and Drinking in a Semi-Arid Area in Algeria

Journal of Ecological Engineering, 2021

Water resources are a major concern in dry or semi-dry countries. They are crucial to the develop... more Water resources are a major concern in dry or semi-dry countries. They are crucial to the development of human, economic and social activities [Ragab et al., 2002b; Williams., 1999; Misra., 2014; Wang et al. 2017]. Algeria has adopted a new policy to protect and safeguard water resources [Negm et al., 2020; Qadir et al., 2007], as population and urbanization increases, industrial units and farm land have resulted in the degradation of groundwater and surface water quality, combined with a very significant decline in the groundwater resources, the only water reserves for the supply of populations. It is critical to understand the groundwater quality because it is a key mark of its suitability for human consumption, agriculture, and/or industry. In recent years, there has been a worldwide increasing concern for water quality. Several studies [Khan et al., 2020; Rao et al., 2012; Babiker et al., 2007] were conducted to assess the quality of groundwater. Groundwater chemistry has been used as an instrument for evaluating the quality of water for human use and irrigation. [Srinivasamoorthy

Research paper thumbnail of Fluoride-bearing groundwater in the complex terminal aquifer (a case study in Hassi Messaoud area, southern Algeria): hydrochemical characterization and spatial distribution assessed by indicator kriging

Sustainable Water Resources Management, 2020

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the human consumption of water containing a hig... more According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the human consumption of water containing a high concentration of fluoride (> 1.5 mg/l) can increase significantly many health problems such as dental and skeletal fluorosis. This study investigates fluoride abundance, origin, and its spatial distribution in groundwater from Complex Terminal (CT) aquifer in Hassi Messaoud area (Southern Algeria) where the CT water constitutes the main source of drinking water with a high daily intake. Available water wells were sampled and analysed on their major physico-chemical parameters including fluoride content. Hydrochemical characterization was constrained using the Durov diagram together with a PCA statistical treatment. The saturation indices were computed and used to track fluoride origin. The spatial distribution of fluoride in the studied aquifer was mapped by indicator kriging (IK). The results show that fluoride content ranges from 1.6 to 2.9 mg/l (average = 2.1 ± 0.4 mg/l) exceeding WHO drinking water standards. The Durov diagram, PCA and SI indicate that water acquires mineralization principally by leaching of evaporite minerals. Furthermore, SI evidences that fluoride concentration in water increases with CaCO 3 precipitation leading to CaF 2 dissolution. IK spatial distribution allows estimating the probability of not exceeding (2.1 mg/l) critical threshold. The cross-validation displays good performance of IK estimation (mean error = 0.05; mean standard error = 0.09). The obtained map shows a low to moderate probability of not exceeding the selected threshold in the whole aquifer. Therefore, the use of CT water for human consumption poses a risk to public health. These results can be used in water management framework and for selecting an ideal position to drill new boreholes for drinking water.

Research paper thumbnail of Comprehensive REE + Y and sensitive redox trace elements of Algerian phosphorites (Tébessa, eastern Algeria): A geochemical study and depositional environments tracking

Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 2019

This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the ad... more This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.

Research paper thumbnail of Glauconite-bearing sedimentary phosphorites from the Tébessa region (eastern Algeria): Evidence of REE enrichment and geochemical constraints on their origin

Journal of African Earth Sciences, 2018

Highlights 1. Evidence of substantial REE enrichments in glauconite grains comparing to coexistin... more Highlights 1. Evidence of substantial REE enrichments in glauconite grains comparing to coexisting particles (∑REE > 1000 ppm) 2. Glauconite-bearing phosphorites show high Ca and P contents and are also enriched in Fe, Al, K and Si indicating glauconitization of preexisting pellets 3. REE-signature of glauconite grains emphasizes their allochthonous character (remobilization and reworked grains) 4. The higher REE content of the southern phosphorites recorded in whole rock analyses is linked to the abundance of glauconite grains

Research paper thumbnail of Water pollution diagnosis and risk assessment of Wadi Zied plain aquifer caused by the leachates of Annaba landfill (N-E Algeria)

Energy Procedia, 2017

District heating networks are commonly addressed in the literature as one of the most effective s... more District heating networks are commonly addressed in the literature as one of the most effective solutions for decreasing the greenhouse gas emissions from the building sector. These systems require high investments which are returned through the heat sales. Due to the changed climate conditions and building renovation policies, heat demand in the future could decrease, prolonging the investment return period. The main scope of this paper is to assess the feasibility of using the heat demand-outdoor temperature function for heat demand forecast. The district of Alvalade, located in Lisbon (Portugal), was used as a case study. The district is consisted of 665 buildings that vary in both construction period and typology. Three weather scenarios (low, medium, high) and three district renovation scenarios were developed (shallow, intermediate, deep). To estimate the error, obtained heat demand values were compared with results from a dynamic heat demand model, previously developed and validated by the authors. The results showed that when only weather change is considered, the margin of error could be acceptable for some applications (the error in annual demand was lower than 20% for all weather scenarios considered). However, after introducing renovation scenarios, the error value increased up to 59.5% (depending on the weather and renovation scenarios combination considered). The value of slope coefficient increased on average within the range of 3.8% up to 8% per decade, that corresponds to the decrease in the number of heating hours of 22-139h during the heating season (depending on the combination of weather and renovation scenarios considered). On the other hand, function intercept increased for 7.8-12.7% per decade (depending on the coupled scenarios). The values suggested could be used to modify the function parameters for the scenarios considered, and improve the accuracy of heat demand estimations.

Research paper thumbnail of Hydrodynamic Modeling of the Albian Aquifer of the Plain of Ain Oussera (Semi-Arid Area, Algeria)

Energy Procedia, 2017

District heating networks are commonly addressed in the literature as one of the most effective s... more District heating networks are commonly addressed in the literature as one of the most effective solutions for decreasing the greenhouse gas emissions from the building sector. These systems require high investments which are returned through the heat sales. Due to the changed climate conditions and building renovation policies, heat demand in the future could decrease, prolonging the investment return period. The main scope of this paper is to assess the feasibility of using the heat demand-outdoor temperature function for heat demand forecast. The district of Alvalade, located in Lisbon (Portugal), was used as a case study. The district is consisted of 665 buildings that vary in both construction period and typology. Three weather scenarios (low, medium, high) and three district renovation scenarios were developed (shallow, intermediate, deep). To estimate the error, obtained heat demand values were compared with results from a dynamic heat demand model, previously developed and validated by the authors. The results showed that when only weather change is considered, the margin of error could be acceptable for some applications (the error in annual demand was lower than 20% for all weather scenarios considered). However, after introducing renovation scenarios, the error value increased up to 59.5% (depending on the weather and renovation scenarios combination considered). The value of slope coefficient increased on average within the range of 3.8% up to 8% per decade, that corresponds to the decrease in the number of heating hours of 22-139h during the heating season (depending on the combination of weather and renovation scenarios considered). On the other hand, function intercept increased for 7.8-12.7% per decade (depending on the coupled scenarios). The values suggested could be used to modify the function parameters for the scenarios considered, and improve the accuracy of heat demand estimations.

Research paper thumbnail of Drought assessment and monitoring using meteorological indices in a semi-arid region

Energy Procedia, 2017

District heating networks are commonly addressed in the literature as one of the most effective s... more District heating networks are commonly addressed in the literature as one of the most effective solutions for decreasing the greenhouse gas emissions from the building sector. These systems require high investments which are returned through the heat sales. Due to the changed climate conditions and building renovation policies, heat demand in the future could decrease, prolonging the investment return period. The main scope of this paper is to assess the feasibility of using the heat demand-outdoor temperature function for heat demand forecast. The district of Alvalade, located in Lisbon (Portugal), was used as a case study. The district is consisted of 665 buildings that vary in both construction period and typology. Three weather scenarios (low, medium, high) and three district renovation scenarios were developed (shallow, intermediate, deep). To estimate the error, obtained heat demand values were compared with results from a dynamic heat demand model, previously developed and validated by the authors. The results showed that when only weather change is considered, the margin of error could be acceptable for some applications (the error in annual demand was lower than 20% for all weather scenarios considered). However, after introducing renovation scenarios, the error value increased up to 59.5% (depending on the weather and renovation scenarios combination considered). The value of slope coefficient increased on average within the range of 3.8% up to 8% per decade, that corresponds to the decrease in the number of heating hours of 22-139h during the heating season (depending on the combination of weather and renovation scenarios considered). On the other hand, function intercept increased for 7.8-12.7% per decade (depending on the coupled scenarios). The values suggested could be used to modify the function parameters for the scenarios considered, and improve the accuracy of heat demand estimations.

Research paper thumbnail of Preliminary Data of REE in Algerian Phosphorites: A Comparative Study and Paleo-redox Insights

Procedia Engineering, 2016

This study deals with the preliminary data of rare earth elements (REE) obtained on northeastern ... more This study deals with the preliminary data of rare earth elements (REE) obtained on northeastern Algerian phosphorites from the Tébessa region. These phosphorites are located in two different basins: the northern basin represented by Dj. El Kouif, Dj. Dyr and Tazbant showings and the southern basin with the giant Dj. Onk phosphate deposit. The host sedimentary formation is Late Paleocene to Early Eocene. Twenty-six (26) samples from the four (4) localities were collected and analyzed for their REE contents using the ICP-MS technique. Phosphates from the southern basin (Dj. Onk deposit) show ∑REE contents ranging from 174.41 and 906.39 ppm (average ∑REE = 623.01 ppm), while the northern phosphorites have lower ∑REE contents (from 125.45 to 472.44 ppm; average = 265.57 ppm). PAAS-normalized REE patterns and binary Box plot of (Sm/Pr)N vs (Sm/Yb)N show HREE enrichments for samples from the northern localities while most samples from the southern basin are HREE depleted. Normalized (La/Yb)N vs (La/Sm)N plot shows that (La/Sm)N ratios of all samples are similar to those of modern seawater (from 0.83 to 1.55). However, the (La/Yb)N ratios of the two basins are significantly higher (from 0.67 to 1.18), which indicates an early diagenesis. The Ce/Ce* vs Pr/Pr* diagram shows that the observed Ce anomaly was not affected by diagenesis and more likely represents a proxy for redox conditions. The obtained results substantiate that the northern phosphorites were formed in more oxic environment with more pronounced negative Ce anomalies, whereas the southern phosphorites have lower Ce anomalies. Northern phosphorites are different from those from the south probably because the northern basin was more connected to an open sea as did the Sra Ouartan basin in northern Tunisia. These results have also been confirmed by statistical method studies, such as factorial discriminate analysis.