The complex karst dynamics of the Lisan Peninsula revealed by 25 years of DInSAR observations. Dead Sea, Jordan (original) (raw)
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Karst system developed in salt layers of the Lisan Peninsula, Dead Sea, Jordan
Environmental …, 2007
CITATIONS 27 READS 174 4 authors, including: Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects: Dead Sea subsidence and sinkholes View project The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file. All in-text references underlined in blue are added to the original document and are linked to publications on ResearchGate, letting you access and read them immediately.
Karstification and related problems, examples from Iraq
Iraqi Bull. Geol. Min, 2007
Karstification is a common phenomenon in different parts of Iraq, where large areas are involved, causing severe damages to infrastructures and occasionally life losses. The main Karstified rocks are limestone and gypsum. The latter is restricted to the Fat`ha Formation, which covers considerable parts of Iraq, especially in the Al-Jazira vicinity. Whereas, the former is exposed in different formations that are exposed almost every where. Among the involved formations are Euphrates, Anah, Dammam, Ratgah, Pilaspi, Aqra -Bekhme, Qamchuqa… etc. Among Quaternary deposits, the gypcrete is another potential deposits that are highly karstified after being in contact, shortly, by water. The gypcrete also covers considerable parts in Iraq. Beside the economic lost caused due to karstification, some death causalities are also recorded. Moreover, in the Western Desert, karstification plays big role in miss leading the stratigraphic position of different horizons within different Jurassic and Cretaceous formations, making them in very complex situation, although they are in horizontal (not folded) position.
2021
Karst groundwater systems are characterized by the presence of multiple porosity types. Of these, subsurface conduits that facilitate concentrated, heterogeneous flow are challenging to resolve geologically and geophysically. This is especially the case in evaporite karst systems, such as those present on the shores of the Dead Sea, where rapid geomorphological changes are linked to a fall in base level by over 35 m since 1967. Here we combine field observations, remote-sensing analysis, and multiple geophysical surveying methods (shear wave reflection seismics, electrical resistivity tomography, ERT, self-potential, SP, and groundpenetrating radar, GPR) to investigate the nature of subsurface groundwater flow and its interaction with hypersaline Dead Sea water on the rapidly retreating eastern shoreline, near Ghor Al-Haditha in Jordan. Remote-sensing data highlight links between the evolution of surface stream channels fed by groundwater springs and the development of surface subsidence patterns over a 25-year period. ERT and SP data from the head of one groundwater-fed channel adjacent to the former lakeshore show anomalies that point to concentrated, multidirectional water flow in conduits located in the shallow subsurface (< 25 m depth). ERT surveys further inland show anomalies that are coincident with the axis of a major depression and that we interpret as representing subsurface water flow. Low-frequency GPR surveys reveal the limit between unsaturated and saturated zones (< 30 m depth) surrounding the main depression area. Shear wave seismic reflection data nearly 1 km further inland reveal buried paleochannels within alluvial fan deposits, which we interpret as pathways for groundwater flow from the main wadi in the area towards the springs feeding the surface streams. Finally, simulations of density-driven flow of hypersaline and under-Published by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union. 3352 D. Al-Halbouni et al.: Dynamics of hydrological and geomorphological processes at the eastern Dead Sea saturated groundwaters in response to base-level fall perform realistically if they include the generation of karst conduits near the shoreline. The combined approaches lead to a refined conceptual model of the hydrological and geomorphological processes developed at this part of the Dead Sea, whereby matrix flow through the superficial aquifer inland transitions to conduit flow nearer the shore where evaporite deposits are encountered. These conduits play a key role in the development of springs, stream channels and subsidence across the study area.
Collapse and subsidence associated with salt karstification along the Dead Sea
Carbonates and Evaporites, 2001
Two types ofsinkholes are observed along the Dead Sea shore, Israel. The first is associated with vadose dissolution in Mount Sedom salt diapir. The second is associated with dissolution under the watertable along the retreating Dead Sea shore. The Dead Sea level is falling dramatically, mainly because of human activity. Simultaneously, the lake shores suffer tremendous impact since the late 1980s: The ground is collapsing and subsiding in hundreds of points along the lake, with people, roads and property being swallowed in the more catastrophic events. The collapse is believed to result from dissolution of salt by aggressive groundwater, following the retreat of Dead Sea level and the groundwater halocline. Geological evidence suggests that a previous major lake level fall occurred naturally-2000 BCE. This may provide a new explanation for a curious historical-geological phrase in the book of Genesis, suggested to record formation of collapse sinkholes which occurred in response to the historic falling lake level, associated with climatic desiccation. with recent environmental changes within the rift valley. In addition, past and present hazard to society is evaluated. We also combine field evidence of Holocene Dead Sea level