scholarly journals Experimental Measurement of Diffusive Extinction Depth and Soil Moisture Gradients in a Dune Sand Aquifer in Western Saudi Arabia: Assessment of Evaporation Loss for Design of an MAR System

Water ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 6967-6982 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iqra Mughal ◽  
Khan Jadoon ◽  
P. Mai ◽  
Samir Al-Mashharawi ◽  
Thomas Missimer
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Experimental Measurement ◽  
Dune Sand ◽  
Evaporation Loss ◽  
Sand Aquifer ◽  
Extinction Depth

scholarly journals Sources and causes of dissolved iron in water from a dune-sand aquifer near Coos Bay and North Bend, Oregon

1992 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilbert C. Bortleson ◽  
M.A. Jones ◽  
J.R. Evans ◽  
P.P. Hearn
Keyword(s):  
Dune Sand ◽  
Dissolved Iron ◽  
Sand Aquifer ◽  
Coos Bay

scholarly journals Aerosol optical depth trend over the Middle East

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Klingmüller ◽  
A. Pozzer ◽  
S. Metzger ◽  
G. Stenchikov ◽  
J. Lelieveld
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Aerosol Optical Depth ◽  
Optical Depth ◽  
Surface Wind ◽  
Surface Wind Speed ◽  
Surface Winds ◽  
Anthropogenic Aerosol ◽  
Dust Emissions

Abstract. We use the combined Dark Target/Deep Blue aerosol optical depth (AOD) satellite product of the Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) collection 6 to study trends over the Middle East between 2000 and 2015. Our analysis corroborates a previously identified positive AOD trend over large parts of the Middle East during the period 2001 to 2012. We relate the annual AOD to precipitation, soil moisture and surface winds to identify regions where these attributes are directly related to the AOD over Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Iran. Regarding precipitation and soil moisture, a relatively small area in and surrounding Iraq turns out to be of prime importance for the AOD over these countries. Regarding surface wind speed, the African Red Sea coastal area is relevant for the Saudi Arabian AOD. Using multiple linear regression we show that AOD trends and interannual variability can be attributed to soil moisture, precipitation and surface winds, being the main factors controlling the dust cycle. Our results confirm the dust driven AOD trends and variability, supported by a decreasing MODIS-derived Ångström exponent and a decreasing AERONET-derived fine mode fraction that accompany the AOD increase over Saudi Arabia. The positive AOD trend relates to a negative soil moisture trend. As a lower soil moisture translates into enhanced dust emissions, it is not needed to assume growing anthropogenic aerosol and aerosol precursor emissions to explain the observations. Instead, our results suggest that increasing temperature and decreasing relative humidity in the last decade have promoted soil drying, leading to increased dust emissions and AOD; consequently an AOD increase is expected due to climate change.

scholarly journals Moisture and Salinity Drive the Vegetation Composition of Wadi Hargan, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 587
Author(s):  
Ahmed M. Abd-ElGawad ◽  
Abdulaziz M. Assaeed ◽  
Saud L. Al-Rowaily ◽  
Basharat M. Dar ◽  
Jahangir A. Malik
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Invasive Plant ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
Soil Analysis ◽  
Importance Value ◽  
Conservation Action ◽  
Human Interference ◽  
Rhazya Stricta

Wetlands are represented in Saudi Arabia in the form of mangrove, sabkha, and wadi (valleys) systems, and these habitats are considered as a sanctuary for biodiversity. The present study aimed to identify different vegetation groups in a wetland site in Wadi Hargan near Alqurainah, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and to relate different plant communities and plant diversity to soil moisture, salinity, and other soil properties. Floristic analysis and vegetation structure were investigated within 15 stands along the wadi and were subjected to correlation analysis with soil factors via multivariate analysis. The floristic survey revealed the presence of 111 plant species belonging to 39 families. The most represented families were Asteraceae, Poaceae, Brassicaceae, Caryophyllaceae, and Papilionaceae, which accounted for the largest proportion (55.4%) of the total species. The therophytes were the dominant life form, where they were represented by 46.9% of the total number of species. The application of cluster analysis (TWINSPAN) to the importance value of each species based on the relative cover and density led to the recognition of four plant communities: (A) Phragmites australis—Tamarix nilotica community, (B) Zygophyllum coccineum—Acacia gerrardii community, (C) Lycium shawii—Zygophyllum coccineum community, and (D) Rhazya stricta community. The soil analysis and correlation test revealed significant variations in the content of salinity, moisture, CO3, Cl, SO4, Ca, Mg, and Na among the plant communities. It can be concluded that soil moisture and salinity factors were the fundamental driving forces for plant community structure in the studied wadi. The wadi was moderately grazed, mainly by camels; thereby, the invasive plant Rhazya stricta dominated the central region of the wadi. Also, human interference was observed at the end of the wadi, where some weeds sprouted such as Malva parviflora. The presence of those two rare wetland species, Adiantum capillus-veneris and Ficus salicifolia, in the study area, showed the unique properties of the studied wadi and necessitate an urgent biodiversity conservation action to protect its natural vegetation from overgrazing and human interference.

scholarly journals Aerosol optical depth trend over the Middle East

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 5063-5073 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus Klingmüller ◽  
Andrea Pozzer ◽  
Swen Metzger ◽  
Georgiy L. Stenchikov ◽  
Jos Lelieveld
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Aerosol Optical Depth ◽  
Optical Depth ◽  
Surface Wind ◽  
Surface Wind Speed ◽  
Surface Winds ◽  
Anthropogenic Aerosol ◽  
Dust Emissions

Abstract. We use the combined Dark Target/Deep Blue aerosol optical depth (AOD) satellite product of the moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) collection 6 to study trends over the Middle East between 2000 and 2015. Our analysis corroborates a previously identified positive AOD trend over large parts of the Middle East during the period 2001 to 2012. We relate the annual AOD to precipitation, soil moisture and surface winds to identify regions where these attributes are directly related to the AOD over Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Iran. Regarding precipitation and soil moisture, a relatively small area in and surrounding Iraq turns out to be of prime importance for the AOD over these countries. Regarding surface wind speed, the African Red Sea coastal area is relevant for the Saudi Arabian AOD. Using multiple linear regression we show that AOD trends and interannual variability can be attributed to soil moisture, precipitation and surface winds, being the main factors controlling the dust cycle. Our results confirm the dust driven AOD trends and variability, supported by a decreasing MODIS-derived Ångström exponent and a decreasing AERONET-derived fine mode fraction that accompany the AOD increase over Saudi Arabia. The positive AOD trend relates to a negative soil moisture trend. As a lower soil moisture translates into enhanced dust emissions, it is not needed to assume growing anthropogenic aerosol and aerosol precursor emissions to explain the observations. Instead, our results suggest that increasing temperature and decreasing relative humidity in the last decade have promoted soil drying, leading to increased dust emissions and AOD; consequently an AOD increase is expected due to climate change.

Utilization of Local Material in the Construction of an Embankment for Recharging Groundwater Aquifer with Treated Wastewater Effluents

1999 ◽  
Vol 40 (7) ◽  
pp. 25-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Aiban ◽  
A. M. Ishaq ◽  
M. S. Al-Suwaiyan
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Treated Wastewater ◽  
Dune Sand ◽  
Sand Filter ◽  
Groundwater Aquifers ◽  
Local Material ◽  
Groundwater Aquifer ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Wastewater Effluents

Water is certainly the most precious and valuable resource of the physical environment for all living creatures. It is now well established that in many agricultural regions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the water table has been depleted dramatically. If the current level of agricultural production is to be maintained, other sources of agricultural water must be found. There is at least a billion cubic metres of secondary municipal effluent wasted annually. Thus, utilization of these wastewater effluents to recharge groundwater aquifers and reuse them at least for agricultural purposes becomes a viable proposition. In the study reported herein, treated wastewater will be used to recharge aquifers using spreading basins. The basin consists of a dune sand filter confined, from all sides, by an embankment of compacted sand/marl material. A field site has been constructed in Al-Aziziyah in eastern Saudi Arabia. The sand filter is constructed from clean dune sand, has an area of 25 × 25 m, and has an effective height of approximately 7.0 m. The stability and permeability of the embankment were of primary importance, and its construction had been precisely controlled. The materials used in the construction are locally available. The characteristics of the materials, the construction procedures, and the stability analysis are presented in detail.

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