AN INTEGRATED APPROACH FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF THE RENEWABLE GROUND WATER RESOURCES OF SINAI, EGYPT

In this study, we report our preliminary steps toward the application of an integrated (remote sensing, GIS, geochemistry, geophysics) approach to identify main hydrologic settings favorable for groundwater entrapment and storage in the shallow aquifers (<100 m) of the Sinai Peninsula. Our approach is three-fold: (1) data assembly, (2) data analysis in a GIS environment, and (3) prediction and verification of favorable settings for productive well locations. Two main types of groundwater are being reported from Sinai: (1) fossil groundwater (δ¹⁸O:-5.6 to -6.9 ‰, δD:-34 to -44‰), and (2) modern meteoric precipitation (δ¹⁸O:-4 to -6‰, δD:-20 to -35‰). Preliminary spatial analysis of the generated data sets together with published and field data indicates that modern groundwater originated as sporadic precipitation over the mountainous areas in southern Sinai, was channeled throughout extensive watersheds as surface runoff, and as groundwater flow in underlying alluvial aquifers. A portion of this precipitation does not make it to the watershed outlets, instead it is trapped in the underlying fractured basement complex, in dyke-related reservoirs and fractured Eocene limestone. The fossil water precipitated in the previous wet climatic periods, recharged the deep Nubian aquifer outcropping at the foothills of the Red Sea mountains, and is now flowing towards discharge areas along the fault system(s) defining the Gulf of Suez. The following generated data sets are now residing in a web-based GIS (http://www.esrs.wmich.edu/sinai_water.html) for data assembly, analysis, and distribution: Landsat TM Mosaics, SIR-C radar images, geologic maps, soil maps, Digital Topography (SRTM 90m), spatial drainage patterns, TRMM and rain gauge precipitation data, fault locations and well locations. We are in the process of adding additional groundwater isotopic (δ¹⁸O, δD, Tritium), and solute chemistry, Landsat TM ratio images for lithologic interpretation, and 30m DEM generated from Aster images.