Quantity and location of groundwater recharge in the Sacramento Mountains,south-central New Mexico (USA), and their relation to the adjacent Roswell Artesian Basin

The Sacramento Mountains and the adjacent Roswell Artesian Basin, in south-central New Mexico (USA), comprise a regional hydrologic system, wherein recharge in the mountains ultimately supplies water to the confined basin aquifer. Geologic, hydrologic, geochemical, and climatologic data were used to delineate the area of recharge in the southern Sacramento Mountains. The water-table fluctuation and chloride mass-balance methods were used to quantify recharge over a range of spatial and temporal scales. Extrapolation of the quantitative recharge estimates to the entire Sacramento Mountains region allowed comparison with previous recharge estimates for the northern Sacramento Mountains and the Roswell Artesian Basin. Recharge in the Sacramento Mountains is estimated to range from 159.86?×?10⁶ to 209.42?×?10⁶ m³/year. Both the location of recharge and range in estimates is consistent with previous work that suggests that ~75 % of the recharge to the confined aquifer in the Roswell Artesian Basin has moved downgradient through the Yeso Formation from distal recharge areas in the Sacramento Mountains. A smaller recharge component is derived from infiltration of streamflow beneath the major drainages that cross the Pecos Slope, but in the southern Sacramento Mountains much of this water is ultimately derived from spring discharge. Direct recharge across the Pecos Slope between the mountains and the confined basin aquifer is much smaller than either of the other two components.     

Heat flow and lithospheric thermal regime in the Northeast German Basin

New values of surface heat flow are reported for 13 deep borehole locations in the Northeast German Basin (NEGB) ranging from 68 to 91 mW m^− 2 with a mean of 77 ± 3 mW m^− 2. The values are derived from continuous temperature logs, measured thermal conductivity, and log-derived radiogenic heat production. The heat-flow values are supposed free of effects from surface palaeoclimatic temperature variations, from regional as well as local fluid flow and from thermal refraction in the vicinity of salt structures and thus represent unperturbed crustal heat flow. Two-D numerical lithospheric thermal models are developed for a 500 km section along the DEKORP-BASIN 9601 deep seismic line across the basin with a north-eastward extension across the Tornquist Zone. A detailed conceptual model of crustal structure and composition, thermal conductivity, and heat production distribution is developed. Different boundary conditions for the thickness of thermal lithosphere were used to fit surface heat flow. The best fit is achieved with a thickness of thermal lithosphere of about 75 km beneath the NEGB. This estimate is corroborated by seismological studies and somewhat less than typical for stabilized Phanerozoic lithosphere. Modelled Moho temperatures in the basin are about 800 °C; heat flow from the mantle is about 35 to 40 mW m^− 2. In the southernmost part of the section, beneath the Harz Mountains, higher Moho temperatures up to 900 to 1000 °C are shown. While the relatively high level of surface heat flow in the NEGB obviously is of longer wave length and related to lithosphere thickness, changes in crustal structure and composition are responsible for short-wave-length anomalies.     

The water balance for the Basin of the Valley of Mexico and implications for future water consumption

The Basin of the Valley of Mexico is a closed basin of 9600?km2, where average annual precipitation (1980–85) is 746?mm (226.7?m3/s). Calculated actual evapotranspiration is 72–79% of the precipitation. The surrounding mountain ranges of the Sierra de Las Cruces, Sierra Nevada, and Sierra Chichinautzin are the main recharge areas for the enclosed Basin, in decreasing order. Calculated recharge rate is a maximum of 19?m3/s in the Metropolitan Zone, whereas a recent estimate of the groundwater exploitation rate indicates that 51.35?m3/s is being withdrawn from the Basin aquifer systems, resulting in a deficit of more than 30?m3/s. Taking into account infiltration processes by leaking water-supply systems, the calculated deficit is reduced to 20.5?m3/s. Overexploitation of the natural aquifer systems is also indicated by an average annual decline of 1?m of the potentiometric levels of the shallow groundwater systems. Possible solutions include: (1) the use of surface runoff water (unused amount in 1995?:?17.6?m3/s) for consumption purposes, which is currently pumped to areas outside the Basin; (2) an increased number and capacity of treatment plants; (3) the renovation of the leaky water-distribution network; (4) the reinjection of treated water; and (5) possible exploitation of deep regional aquifer systems.     

Groundwater flow in an ‘underfit’ carbonate aquifer in a semiarid climate: application of environmental tracers to the Salt Basin,New Mexico (USA)

The Salt Basin is a semiarid hydrologically closed drainage basin in southern New Mexico, USA. The aquifers in the basin consist largely of Permian limestone and dolomite. Groundwater flows from the high elevations (～2,500 m) of the Sacramento Mountains south into the Salt Lakes, which are saline playas. The aquifer is ‘underfit’ in the sense that depths to groundwater are great (～300 m), implying that the aquifer could transmit much more water than it does. In this study, it is speculated that this characteristic is a result of a geologically recent reduction in recharge due to warming and drying at the end of the last glacial period. Water use is currently limited, but the basin has been proposed for large-scale groundwater extraction and export projects. Wells in the basin are of limited utility for hydraulic testing; therefore, the study focused on environmental tracers (major-ion geochemistry, stable isotopes of O, H, and C, and ¹⁴C dating) for basin analysis. The groundwater evolves from a Ca–HCO₃ type water into a Ca–Mg (Na) – HCO₃–Mg (Cl) water as it flows toward the center of the basin due to dedolomitization driven by gypsum dissolution. Carbon-14 ages corrected for dedolomitization ranged from less than 1,000 years in the recharge area to 19,000 years near the basin center. Stable isotopes are consistent with the presence of glacial-period recharge that is much less evaporated than modern. This supports the hypothesis that the underfit nature of the aquifer is a result of a geologically recent reduction in recharge.     

Aquifer Storage Recovery (ASR) of chlorinated municipal drinking water in a confined aquifer

About 1.02 × 10⁶ m³ of chlorinated municipal drinking water was injected into a confined aquifer, 94–137 m below Roseville, California, between December 2005 and April 2006. The water was stored in the aquifer for 438 days, and 2.64 × 10⁶ m³ of water were extracted between July 2007 and February 2008. On the basis of Cl⁻ data, 35% of the injected water was recovered and 65% of the injected water and associated disinfection by-products (DBPs) remained in the aquifer at the end of extraction. About 46.3 kg of total trihalomethanes (TTHM) entered the aquifer with the injected water and 37.6 kg of TTHM were extracted. As much as 44 kg of TTHMs remained in the aquifer at the end of extraction because of incomplete recovery of injected water and formation of THMs within the aquifer by reactions with free-chlorine in the injected water. Well-bore velocity log data collected from the Aquifer Storage Recovery (ASR) well show as much as 60% of the injected water entered the aquifer through a 9 m thick, high-permeability layer within the confined aquifer near the top of the screened interval. Model simulations of ground-water flow near the ASR well indicate that (1) aquifer heterogeneity allowed injected water to move rapidly through the aquifer to nearby monitoring wells, (2) aquifer heterogeneity caused injected water to move further than expected assuming uniform aquifer properties, and (3) physical clogging of high-permeability layers is the probable cause for the observed change in the distribution of borehole flow. Aquifer heterogeneity also enhanced mixing of native anoxic ground water with oxic injected water, promoting removal of THMs primarily through sorption. A 3 to 4-fold reduction in TTHM concentrations was observed in the furthest monitoring well 427 m downgradient from the ASR well, and similar magnitude reductions were observed in depth-dependent water samples collected from the upper part of the screened interval in the ASR well near the end of the extraction phase. Haloacetic acids (HAAs) were completely sorbed or degraded within 10 months of injection.     

Heat flow and thermal modeling of the Yinggehai Basin, South China Sea

Geothermal gradients are estimated to vary from 31 to 43 °C/km in the Yinggehai Basin based on 99 temperature data sets compiled from oil well data. Thirty-seven thermal conductivity measurements on core samples were made and the effects of porosity and water saturation were corrected. Thermal conductivities of mudstone and sandstone range from 1.2 to 2.7 W/m K, with a mean of 2.0±0.5 W/m K after approximate correction. Heat flow at six sites in the Yinggehai Basin range from 69 to 86 mW/m², with a mean value of 79±7 mW/m². Thick sediments and high sedimentation rates resulted in a considerable radiogenic contribution, but also depressed the heat flow. Measurements indicate the radiogenic heat production in the sediment is 1.28 μW/m³, which contributes 20% to the surface heat flow. After subtracting radiogenic heat contribution of the sediment, and sedimentation correction, the average basal heat flow from basement is about 86 mW/m².Three stages of extension are recognized in the subsidence history, and a kinematic model is used to study the thermal evolution of the basin since the Cenozoic era. Model results show that the peak value of basal heat flow was getting higher and higher through the Cenozoic. The maximum basal heat flow increased from 65 mW/m² in the first stage to 75 mW/m² in the second stage, and then 90 mW/m² in the third stage. The present temperature field of the lithosphere of the Yinggehai Basin, which is still transient, is the result of the multistage extension, but was primarily associated with the Pliocene extension.     

Hydrogeology of the Kabul Basin (Afghanistan), part I: aquifers and hydrology

Shallow groundwater represents the main source for water supply in Kabul, Afghanistan. Detailed information on the hydrogeology of the Kabul Basin is therefore needed to improve the current supply situation and to develop a sustainable framework for future groundwater use. The basin is situated at the intersection of three major fault systems of partially translational and extensional character. It comprises three interconnected aquifers, 20–70 m thick, consisting of coarse sandy to gravely detritus originating from the surrounding mountains. The aquifers were deposited by three rivers flowing through the basin. The coarse aquifer material implies a high permeability. Deeper parts are affected by cementation of pore spaces, resulting in formation of semi-diagenetic conglomerates, causing decreased well yields. Usually the aquifers are covered by low-permeability loess which acts as an important protection layer. The main groundwater recharge occurs after the snowmelt from direct infiltration from the rivers. The steadily rising population is estimated to consume 30–40 million m³ groundwater per year which is contrasted by an estimated recharge of 20–45 million m³/a in wet years. The 2000–2005 drought has prevented significant recharge resulting in intense overexploitation indicated by falling groundwater levels.     

Quantification of water exchange between a hill reservoir and groundwater using hydrological and isotopic modelling (El Gouazine, Tunisia)

Stable isotope compositions (¹⁸O and ²H), determined for underground and surface waters from the watershed of a hill reservoir and downstream from the reservoir, suggest that (i) the reservoir water, which is more or less evaporated, represents a mixture between surface waters (rainfall, runoff) and the upstream alluvial groundwater meteoric in origin; (ii) the downstream alluvial groundwater have a stable isotope composition of a previously infiltrated reservoir water. The ¹⁸O isotope enrichment modelling of the mixed reservoir water shows that an input flux of 50 m³ day⁻¹ is balanced by an output flux of 300 m³ day⁻¹ when the reservoir water level is above 4.5 m, and by an output flux of 170 m³ day⁻¹ when water levels are lower. The contribution of hill reservoirs to local groundwater movements must be considered in any regional scale hydrological investigations of areas that contain hill reservoirs. To cite this article: O. Grünberger et al., C. R. Geoscience 336 (2004).

Résumé

La composition isotopique (¹⁸O et ²H) d'eaux souterraines et superficielles, déterminée pour le bassin versant d'une retenue collinaire et sa partie aval, suggère (i) que l'eau de la retenue, qui est plus ou moins évaporée, représente un mélange entre les eaux de surface (pluie, ruissellement) et la nappe alluviale amont d'origine météorique et (ii) que la nappe alluviale aval a la composition isotopique d'une eau de la retenue anciennement infiltrée. La modélisation de l'enrichissement en isotope ¹⁸O pour l'eau mélangée de la retenue montre qu'un flux entrant de 50 m³ j⁻¹ est compensé par un flux sortant de 300 m³ j⁻¹, lorsque le niveau d'eau de la retenue est supérieur à 4,5 m, et par un flux sortant de 170 m³ j⁻¹ en dessous. La contribution des lacs collinaires aux écoulements souterrains doit être prise en compte pour de futures études hydrologiques à l'échelle régionale. Pour citer cet article : O. Grünberger et al., C. R. Geoscience 336 (2004).     

Groundwater budget for the upper and middle parts of the River Gash Basin, eastern Sudan

The River Gash Basin is filled by the Quaternary alluvial deposits, unconformably overlying the basement rocks. The alluvial deposits are composed mainly of unconsolidated layers of gravel, sand, silt, and clays. The aquifer is unconfined and is laterally bounded by the impermeable Neogene clays. The methods used in this study include the carry out of pumping tests and the analysis of well inventory data in addition to the river discharge rates and other meteorological data. The average annual discharge of the River Gash is estimated to be 1,056?×?10⁶ m³ at El Gera gage station (upstream) and 587?×?10⁶ m³ at Salam-Alikum gage station (downstream). The annual loss mounts up to 40% of the total discharge. The water loss is attributed to infiltration and evapotranspiration. The present study proofs that the hydraulic conductivity ranges from 36 to 105 m/day, whereas the transmissivity ranges from 328 to 1,677 m²/day. The monitoring of groundwater level measurements indicates that the water table rises during the rainy season by 9 m in the upstream and 6 m in the midstream areas. The storage capacity of the upper and middle parts of the River Gash Basin is calculated as 502?×?10⁶ m³. The groundwater input reach 386.11?×?10⁶ m³/year, while the groundwater output is calculated as 365.98?×?10⁶ m³/year. The estimated difference between the input and output water quantities in the upper and middle parts of the River Gash Basin demonstrates a positive groundwater budget by about 20?×?10⁶ m³/year     

Groundwater flow in a transboundary fault-dominated aquifer and the importance of regional modeling: the case of the city of Querétaro,Mexico

The city of Querétaro, located near the political boundary of the Mexican states of Querétaro and Guanajuato, relies on groundwater as it sole water supply. Groundwater extraction in the city increased from 21?×?10⁶ m³/yr in 1970 to 104?×?10⁶ m³/yr in 2010, with an associated drawdown of 100 m in some parts of the aquifer. A three-dimensional numerical groundwater-flow model has been developed that represents the historical evolution of the aquifer’s potentiometric levels and is used to simulate the effect of two scenarios: (1) a 40 % reduction in the extraction rate from public water supply wells in early 2011 (thus reducing the extraction to 62?×?10⁶ m³/yr), and (2) a further reduction in 2021 to 1?×?10⁶ m³/yr. The modeling results project a temporary recovery of the potentiometric levels after the 40 % reduction of early 2011, but a return to 2010 levels by 2020. If scenario 2 is implemented in 2021, the aquifer will take nearly 30 years to recover to the simulated levels of 1995. The model also shows that the wells located in the city of Querétaro started to extract water from part of the aquifer beneath the State of Guanajuato in the late 1970s, thus showing that the administrative boundaries used in Mexico to study and develop water resources are inappropriate, and consideration should be given to physical boundaries instead. A regional approach to studying aquifers is needed in order to adequately understand groundwater flow dynamics.     

Hydrochemical characteristics of groundwater in the Kingston Basin,Kingston, Jamaica

The Kingston Basin in Jamaica is an important hydrologic basin in terms of both domestic and industrial sector. The Kingston hydrologic basin covers an area of approximately 258 km² of which 111 km² underlain by an alluvium aquifer, 34 km² by a limestone aquifer and the remainder underlain by low permeability rocks with insignificant groundwater resources. Rapid development in recent years has led to an increased demand for water, which is increasingly being fulfilled by groundwater abstraction. A detailed knowledge of the water quality can enhance understanding of the hydrochemical system, promoting sustainable development and effective management of groundwater resources. To achieve this, a hydrochemical investigation was carried out in the Kingston Basin. Results showed that the water is Na–Ca–Cl–HCO₃ and Na–Ca–HCO₃ type with higher concentrations of nitrate, sodium and chloride as the leading causes of contamination in most of the wells. High concentrations of nitrate correlate with wells from areas of high population density and could be attributed to anthropogenic causes, mainly involving improper sewage treatment methodologies or leaking sewer lines. Jamaica, owing to its island nature, has the continuous problem of saline water intrusion, and this is reflected in the higher levels of chloride, sodium and conductivity in the water samples collected from the wells. The wells studied show higher concentrations of chloride ranging from around 10.2 mg/l in wells located approximately (4931.45 m) from the coast to around 234 mg/l in the well located near to the coast. The conductivity values also closely correlate with the chloride levels found in the wells.     

Hydrogeological and hydrochemical framework of regional aquifer system in Kali-Ganga sub-basin, India

 The central Ganga Basin is one of the major groundwater reservoirs in India. The Kali-Ganga sub-basin is a micro watershed of the central Ganga Basin, containing a number of productive aquifers. A detailed hydrogeological investigation was carried out, which reveals the occurrence of a single-tier aquifer system down to 163 m bgl (metres below ground level), but at places it is interleaved with clay layers; thus imparting it a two-to three-tier aquifer system. These aquifers are unconfined to confined in disposition. The transmissivity, storage coefficient and hydraulic conductivity are determined as 2178 m²/day, 1.12×10^–5 and 120 m/day, respectively. The groundwater of the basin is fresh, of an alkali-bicarbonate type and is suitable for irrigation and domestic use. However, in certain areas, extensive agricultural activities, and domestic and industrial effluents have caused some deterioration of groundwater quality. This study contains data of where the concentration of Fe, Pb, Cd, Cr and Ni are higher than the permissible limits, which may be hazardous to public health. Received: 2 March 2000 · Accepted: 3 July 2000     

长江流域地下水资源特征与开发利用现状

为提升对长江流域水文地质和地下水资源的认知程度,突破以往单独从地表水或地下水角度进行评价的局限性,长江流域水文地质调查工程以地球系统科学理论和水循环理论为指导,充分考虑地表水与地下水的转化关系,将水文地质单元和地表水流域有机结合,划分长江流域地下水评价单元,建立典型地下水资源评价模型,开展了新一轮长江流域地下水资源评价。评价结果表明:(1)长江流域水循环要素时空分布不均,降水以中游最多,并由东南向西北递减;地表径流主要集中在夏季,且长江北岸比南岸集中程度更高;蒸散发量总体上呈现东部高于西部的特征,最大值集中在长江中游一带;长江流域地下水位总体保持稳定,丰枯季水位变化总体不大,一般小于2 m;长三角超采区的地下水漏斗面积已明显减小,相关环境地质问题得到了有效控制。(2)2020年长江流域的地下水资源总量2421.70亿m~3/a,其中山丘区地下水资源量2092.79亿m~3/a,平原区地下水资源量331.35亿m~3/a;地下水储存量较2019年整体略有增加趋势,其中四川盆地最为明显,共增加23.72亿m~3。(3)长江流域的水质上游优于下游,优质地下水主要分布在赣南地区和大别山南麓一带,部分地区水质较差的主要原因是原生劣质水的广泛分布。长江流域地下水开发利用水平整体很低,局部地区由于过往不合理的开发所引发的环境地质问题已得到缓解,岩溶塌陷、地面沉降等问题得到了较好控制。建议适当开发利用赣南地区和大别山南麓一带优质的基岩裂隙水。     

87Sr/86Sr ratio: a natural tracer to monitor groundwater flow paths during artificial recharge in the Bangkok area, Thailand

The aquifer system in the Thon Buri sedimentary basin below the deltaic flood plain of the Chao Phraya River, central Thailand, has been exploited for public water supply for the capital Bangkok since the early 1920s. Groundwater withdrawal, currently 1.4 million m³/d, has resulted in a maximum decline in hydraulic head of up to 40 m. This has induced land subsidence of as much as 1.7 m (1940–1992) in the eastern suburbs of the metropolis. Artificial injection of purified water within an area-wide network of recharge wells could constitute a remedy to slow the water level depression within the sedimentary basin, and thus the subsidence. This requires a prior shutdown of water withdrawal. The flow paths of the injected water can be traced by changes in the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of the groundwater and injected water mixture within the three main aquifers in the basin that are used for public supply. The ratios, monitored at five monitoring stations within the cone of depression, have been constant over 3 years. Injection of the calculated cone volume of 5.2?×?10⁹ m³ would take at least 10 years, depending on the injection pressure and the number and position of wells.     

Microtremor survey in Talchir, India to ascertain its basin characteristics in terms of predominant frequency by Nakamura's ratio technique

The Talchir Basin, one of India's oldest basins, has been a subject of interest because of its rich coal deposits. The maximum thickness of the basin is about 1500 m. Beyond the basin is the hard metamorphic rocks of Precambrian age. The ambient noise survey data have been analyzed for the Talchir Basin using Nakamura's technique of horizontal–vertical-spectral-ratio (HVSR) to ascertain the basin structure in terms of the predominant frequency. The predominant frequency varies from 0.25 Hz to 7.8 Hz but a major portion of the basin comes under the range of 0.3 Hz–2.4 Hz while on the metamorphic rocks it is as high as 7.8 Hz. The variation in predominant frequency shows a good correlation with the sediment thickness of the basin. The results have been compared with the previous studies by other researchers and it shows consistency with the northerly dip of the basin. The present study has also been compared with the results of the synthetic seismogram that was performed for the Talchir Basin. The predominant frequency obtained from HVSR technique complements well with the frequency at which the peak response spectra ratio is observed. The present study of the predominant frequency identifies quite well the characteristics of Talchir Basin and is in good agreement with the synthetic ground motion modeling of the region.     

西藏阿里地区泽错大型盐湖锂（硼）矿床的发现及开发利用前景

2016—2018年中国地质调查局天津地质调查中心联合西藏自治区地质矿产勘查开发局第五地质大队组建盐湖调查队伍,针对西藏羌塘盆地西段泽错盐湖开展调查评价工作,探获大型锂(硼)矿产地1处。泽错湖表水体长16.3 km,宽3.3～11.3 km,湖表面积113.8 km2。湖水深度变化较大,四周水较浅,逐渐向中间变深,最深处达44 m,湖水平均深度为24 m,湖面海拔4940 m。泽错盐湖位于藏北羌塘—三江复合板块内,矿区第四纪地层可划分为更新统湖积,全新统现代湖水,全新统冲洪积,全新统冲积和全新统湖积。湖盆可划分基岩裂隙水层、亚砂土孔隙含水层、亚黏土孔隙含水层和湖表卤水4个水文地质单元。经计算直接补充到湖盆表面的大气降水量为1.081×107m3/a,地表水补给湖水量为8.262×107m3/a,地下水补给量为2.052×107m3/a,泽错年补给水量为11.395×107m3/a左右。自然蒸发为泽错湖盆的主要排泄方式,泽错湖水年蒸发量为12.745×107m3/a,年均水量变化值为1.35×107m3/a,地表水补给湖水带入的总盐量为7.8×104t/a。泽错湖盆卤水中主要成盐元素有Cl-、Na+、SO42-、K+、CO32-、HCO3-、B2O3、Mg2+、Li+等,平均矿化度41.57 g/L,pH值为9.31,泽错湖水为高矿化度盐水,水化学类型为硫酸钠亚型。泽错盐湖LiCl平均品位为376.02 mg/L,LiCl资源量为102.68×104t,远景规模达到大型;B2O3平均品位为840 mg/L,B2O3资源量为229.38×104t,远景规模达到大型。在综合分析锂、硼资源需求、提锂技术、盐田建设、气候条件、经济价值等方面的基础上,对泽错盐湖的开发利用前景进行了展望。     

Karst groundwater management by defining protection zones based on regional geological structures and groundwater flow fields

In a semiarid region, the karst aquifer generally forms a large groundwater reservoir that can play an important role in regional water supply. But because of the specific physical properties of karst aquifers, they are vulnerable to pollution and anthropogenic impacts. Karst groundwater management strategies are vital. As representative of karst springs in a semiarid area, Niangziguan Springs is located in the east of Shanxi Province, China with an annual average rate of discharge of 10.34 m³/s (1956–2003) (Y. Liang, unpublished data). The Niangziguan Spring Basin covers an area of 7,394 km² with an annual average precipitation of 535 mm (1958–2003) (Hao et al. in Carsologica Sinica 23(1):43–47, 2004). Over the past three decades, accelerated groundwater exploitation has caused water-table decline in the aquifer, reduction of the spring discharge, and deterioration of water quality. In this study, three protection zones were defined to ensure the quality and capacity of this resource. The confluence of the 11 spring systems and the discharge areas were defined as I protection zone, the recharge basin was II protection zone, and the slack water area where there is little surface recharge was the III protection zone. Management strategies for each zone were suggested and evaluated to provide a scientific foundation for sustainable utilization.     

Integration of surface and groundwater resources for the development of Hamad Basin project

Hamad Basin (166,000 km²) is an extensive basin, inhabited by 219,000 souls. It is located in the arid region within the border of four Arab States: Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. Average annual precipitation depth is 78 mm, falling mostly during winter.Integrated studies of the natural resources, (water, soil, range, and animal) were carried out with other complementary studies to formulate a socioeconomic development plan for the promissing areas within the basin.Modern technologies were applied such as remote sensing, isotope analysis, processing, and documenting of basic hydrogeological data within the data bank system using computer facilities.Results revealed that the output of the natural dry plant production amounts to 2.0 × 10⁶ tons. Animal wealth comprise 2 × 10⁶ head mainly of sheep. Average annual surface runoff is 146 × 10⁶ m³, which could be appropriately exploited in water spreading schemes to improve range. Water lost presently through evaporation from vast flat depression (Khabra) could be conserved through deepening the Khabras, and recharging shallow perched aquifer by surface runoff, which could be mined later.Results of regional geology, partial geophysical studies, and hydrogeological, hydrochemical interpretations have concuded the existance of two main aquifer systems, the first lies within the tertiary and quaternary formations, while the second extends to the mesozoic, and paleozoic. Their yield varies quantitively and qualitively, up to 100 × 10⁶ m³ could be safely drawn annually.One compound pilot project was selected within the sector of each of the four Arab States to test the feasibility of the proposed development program for the promissing areas of the basin.     

A note on the effects of an individual large rainfall event on saline Lake Alchichica, Mexico

The present study reports on perturbations of the water column by large rainfall at Lake Alchichica, a saline lake in Central Mexico. Alchichica is located in the “Llanos de San Juan,” a high-altitude plateau with a minimum elevation of 2,300 m above sea level. The climate is arid with annual precipitation less than 400 mm and annual evaporation of 500–600 mm. A single day large rainfall event delivered 1,810,000 m³ of water to the basin, raising the lake’s water level by about 1 m. Temperature and salinity profiles showed an atypical temperature inversion up to 1°C in the upper layer accompanied by salinity decrease up to 0.5 g l⁻¹. Transparency and pH were slightly altered, but dissolved oxygen, nutrients and chlorophyll a concentrations were not changed. In spite of the heavy rainfall and associated wind, the effects of the event were limited to the upper half of the epilimnion. After 2 days, the lake water level returned to its original level. The rapid leakage of the runoff minimized any long-term effects of the large rainfall.