Natural and human-induced sinkhole hazards in Saudi Arabia: distribution,investigation, causes and impacts |
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Authors: | Ahmed M Youssef Hasan M Al-Harbi Francisco Gutiérrez Yasser A Zabramwi Ali B Bulkhi Saeed A Zahrani Alaa M Bahamil Ahmed J Zahrani Zaam A Otaibi Bosy A El-Haddad |
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Institution: | 1.Geological Hazards Department, Applied Geology Sector, Saudi Geological Survey,Jeddah,Kingdom of Saudi Arabia;2.Geology Department, Faculty of Science,Sohag University,Sohag,Egypt;3.Earth Sciences Department,University of Zaragoza,Zaragoza,Spain;4.Geophysical Survey Department, Saudi Geological Survey,Jeddah,Kingdom of Saudi Arabia |
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Abstract: | Approximately 60 % of the 2,150,000 km2 area of Saudi Arabia is underlain by soluble sediments (carbonate and evaporite rock formations, salt diapirs, sabkha deposits). Despite its hyper-arid climate, a wide variety of recent sinkholes have been reported in numerous areas, involving significant property losses. Human activities, most notably groundwater extraction, have induced unstable conditions on pre-existing cavities. This work provides an overview of the sinkhole hazard in Saudi Arabia, a scarcely explored topic. It identifies the main karst formations and the distribution of the most problematic sinkhole areas, illustrated through several case studies covering the wide spectrum of subsidence mechanisms. Some of the main investigation methods are presented through selected examples, including remote sensing, trenching and geophysics. Based on the available data, the main causal factors are identified and further actions that should be undertaken to better assess and manage the risk are discussed. |
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