干旱区生态环境知识资源中心(Arid): Evaluation of the Saq aquifer groundwater resources in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia

Arid

DOI	10.1007/s10040-024-02817-8
	Evaluation of the Saq aquifer groundwater resources in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia
	Buscarlet, Etienne; Desprats, Jean-Francois; Ouerghi, Yamen; Seraphin, Pierre
通讯作者	Buscarlet, E
来源期刊	HYDROGEOLOGY JOURNAL
ISSN	1431-2174
EISSN	1435-0157
出版年	2024
英文摘要	Regional sandstone aquifers in arid areas provide prolific water resources that can meet human water demands, but their sustainability is at risk where recharge is very low and significant withdrawals occur. The Saq sandstone aquifer in the Al Ula area (Saudi Arabia) has been investigated through a field survey that included groundwater level measurement, groundwater sampling and analysis, crop inventory mapping and irrigation practice enquiries to assess groundwater abstractions. A groundwater model has been built to assimilate the collected data and investigate the aquifer response under various abstractions scenarios to meet future agricultural and domestic water demand. Since the 1960's, water levels have dropped by 5-20 m within the Al Ula Valley, with maximum water level drawdowns reaching 30-40 m in Al Ula City. Present water level drawdown rates range from 0.5 to 2 m year(-1) in the agricultural areas of the valley. Less than half of the sampled groundwater is in compliance with regulatory guidelines for drinking water purpose, and high groundwater nitrate concentrations are observed in agricultural areas. Predictive scenarios of decreasing abstractions suggest a reduction in the water level decline by 2050 but do not reverse the current decreasing trend. The estimated recharge is much lower than groundwater abstraction rates and current withdrawals are effectively mining the groundwater reserves. Further challenges arise from a water quality standpoint, due to the presence of radionuclide activities (mostly Ra-228) in the aquifer above the WHO guidelines.
英文关键词	Saudi Arabia Palaeozoic sandstones Agriculture Numerical modelling Parameter estimation
类型	Article ; Early Access
语种	英语
收录类别	SCI-E
WOS记录号	WOS:001303757700001
WOS关键词	NATURALLY-OCCURRING RADIOACTIVITY ; SANDSTONE AQUIFER ; FOSSIL GROUNDWATER ; RECHARGE ; WATER ; HYDROGEOLOGY ; AGRICULTURE ; MANAGEMENT ; QUALITY ; SYSTEM
WOS类目	Geosciences, Multidisciplinary ; Water Resources
WOS研究方向	Geology ; Water Resources
资源类型	期刊论文
条目标识符	http://119.78.100.177/qdio/handle/2XILL650/404104
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714	Buscarlet, Etienne,Desprats, Jean-Francois,Ouerghi, Yamen,et al. Evaluation of the Saq aquifer groundwater resources in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia[J],2024.
APA	Buscarlet, Etienne,Desprats, Jean-Francois,Ouerghi, Yamen,&Seraphin, Pierre.(2024).Evaluation of the Saq aquifer groundwater resources in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia.HYDROGEOLOGY JOURNAL.
MLA	Buscarlet, Etienne,et al."Evaluation of the Saq aquifer groundwater resources in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia".HYDROGEOLOGY JOURNAL (2024).