Saltwater Intrusion in Jizan Coastal Zone, Southwest Saudi Arabia, Inferred from Geoelectric Resistivity Survey
Author(s)
Saad Mogren
Affiliation(s)
Department of Geology and Geophysics, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Department of Geology and Geophysics, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
ABSTRACT
This work focuses on the causes of water quality deterioration in the coastal plain of Jizan area, southwest Saudi Arabia using vertical electrical sounding (VES) surveys. Schlumberger electrode array is used in the study with the current electrode spacing ranging from 400 to 600 m to delineate the thickness of the shallow aquifer and its possible interaction with the sea water. The differences in resistivity are associated with the variations in lithology and groundwater saturation and salinity. The interpretation of VES curves reveals low resistivity zones characterizing the study area. These zones reflect saline water intrusion in the coastal aquifer. Generally, it is observed that the resistivity of saturated zone decreases towards the sea, indicating the influence of seawater. Based on the interpretation of the constructed resistivity pseudo-sections and 1-D sequential inversion models, three factors are identified to control the seawater intrusion into the shallow groundwater aquifers: 1) presence of faults that contribute extensively in the seawater intrusion as the seawater invades the coastal aquifers through the crushed rocks in fault zones related to the Red Sea rifting, 2) over-withdrawal of groundwater from the coastal aquifers, resulting in saline water intrusion from the sea into the freshwater aquifer, and 3) the lithological variation where the alluvial sediments of the ancient buried wadi (dry valley) channels provide potential pathways for saltwater intrusion and make a hydraulic connection between the aquifer and the sea water.
This work focuses on the causes of water quality deterioration in the coastal plain of Jizan area, southwest Saudi Arabia using vertical electrical sounding (VES) surveys. Schlumberger electrode array is used in the study with the current electrode spacing ranging from 400 to 600 m to delineate the thickness of the shallow aquifer and its possible interaction with the sea water. The differences in resistivity are associated with the variations in lithology and groundwater saturation and salinity. The interpretation of VES curves reveals low resistivity zones characterizing the study area. These zones reflect saline water intrusion in the coastal aquifer. Generally, it is observed that the resistivity of saturated zone decreases towards the sea, indicating the influence of seawater. Based on the interpretation of the constructed resistivity pseudo-sections and 1-D sequential inversion models, three factors are identified to control the seawater intrusion into the shallow groundwater aquifers: 1) presence of faults that contribute extensively in the seawater intrusion as the seawater invades the coastal aquifers through the crushed rocks in fault zones related to the Red Sea rifting, 2) over-withdrawal of groundwater from the coastal aquifers, resulting in saline water intrusion from the sea into the freshwater aquifer, and 3) the lithological variation where the alluvial sediments of the ancient buried wadi (dry valley) channels provide potential pathways for saltwater intrusion and make a hydraulic connection between the aquifer and the sea water.
Cite this paper
Mogren, S. (2015) Saltwater Intrusion in Jizan Coastal Zone, Southwest Saudi Arabia, Inferred from Geoelectric Resistivity Survey. International Journal of Geosciences, 6, 286-297. doi: 10.4236/ijg.2015.63022.
Mogren, S. (2015) Saltwater Intrusion in Jizan Coastal Zone, Southwest Saudi Arabia, Inferred from Geoelectric Resistivity Survey. International Journal of Geosciences, 6, 286-297. doi: 10.4236/ijg.2015.63022.
References
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1742-2132/4/1/008 [4] Soupios, P.M., Kouli, M., Vallianatos, F., Vafidis, A. and Stavroulakis, G. (2007) Estimation of Aquifer Hydraulic Parameters from Surficial Geophysical Methods: A Case Study of Keritis Basin in Chania (Crete-Greece). Journal of Hydrology, 338, 122-131. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2007.02.028 [5] Naudet, V., Lazzari, M., Perrone, A., Loperte, A., Piscitelli, S. and Lapenna, V. (2008) Integrated Geophysical and Geomorphological Approach to Investigate the Snowmelt-Triggered Landslide of Bosco Piccolo Village (Basilicata, Southern Italy). Engineering Geology, 98, 156-167.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2478.2000.00209.x [12] Sherif, M., Mahmoudi, A.E., Garamoon, H., Kacimov, A., Akram, S., Ebraheem, A. and Shetty, A. (2006) Geoelectrical and Hydrogeochemical Studies for Delineating Seawater Intrusion in the Outlet of Wadi Ham, UAE. Environmental Geology, 49, 536-551. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00254-005-0081-4 [13] Cimino, A., Cosentino, C., Oieni, A. and Tranchina, L. (2008) A Geophysical and Geochemical Approach for Seawater Intrusion Assessment in the Acquedolci Coastal Aquifer (Northern Sicily). Environmental Geology, 55, 1473-1482. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-1097-8 [14] Khalil, M.H. (2006) Geoelectric Resistivity Sounding for Delineating Salt Water Intrusion in the Abu Zenima Area, West Sinai, Egypt. Journal of Geophysics and Engineering, 3, 243-251.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1742-2132/3/3/006 [15] Blank, H.R., Johnson, P., Gettings, M.E. and Simmons, G.C. (1985) Explanatory Notes to the Geologic Map of the Jizan Quadrangle, Sheet 16F. Deputy Ministry for Mineral Resources, Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. [16] Hussain, M. and Ibrahim, K. (1997) Electric Resistivity, Geochemical and Hydrogeological of Wadi Deposits, Western Saudi Arabia. Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Earth Sciences, 9, 55-72. [17] Greenwood, W. (1985) Geologic Map of the Abha Quadrangle, Sheet 18F. Deputy Minister for Mineral Resources, Jeddah, Scale 1:250,000. [18] Prinz, W. (1984) Geologic Map of the Jibal Hai’l Quadrangle, Sheet 17E. Deputy Minister for Mineral Resources, Jeddah, Scale 1:250,000. [19] Fairer, G.M. (1985) Geologic Map of Wadi Baysh Quadrangle, Sheet 17F. Deputy Minister for Mineral resources, Jeddah, Scale 1:250,000. [20] Basahel, A., Bahafzalla, A., Mansour, H. and Omara, S. (1983) Primary Structures and Depositional Environ of the Haddat Ash Sham Sedimentary Sequence, Northwest of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Arab Gulf Journal of Scientific Research, 1, 143-155. [21] Hussein, M. and Bazuhair, A. (1992) Groundwater in Haddat Al Sham-Al Bayada Area, Western Saudi Arabia. Arab Gulf Journal of Scientific Research, 1, 23-43. [22] Al-Bassam, A.M. and Hussein, M.T. (2008) Combined Geo-Electrical and Hydro-Chemical Methods to Detect Salt-Water Intrusion. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, 19, 179-193. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14777830810856564 [23] Al-Amri, A. (1998) The Application of Geoelectrical Vertical Soundings in Delineating the Hydrostratigraphy of the Southern Red Sea Coastal Area, Saudi Arabia. Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Earth Sciences, 10, 73-90. [24] Al Hazmi, A. (2005) Salt Water Intrusion in Coastal Aquifer in Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Master’s Thesis, King Saud University, Riyadh. [25] Bernard, J. (2003) Definition of Main Hydrogeological Parameters Electrical Methods for Groundwater Magnetic Resonance Method for Groundwater. Short Note on the Principles of Geophysical Methods for Groundwater Investigations. [26] Choudhury, K. and Saha, D.K. (2004) Integrated Geophysical and Chemical Study of Saline Water Intrusion. Ground Water, 42, 671-677. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.2004.tb02721.x [27] Elawadi, E., Mogren, S., Ibrahim, E., Batayneh, A. and Al-Bassam, A. (2012) Utilizing Potential Field Data to Support Delineation of Groundwater Aquifers in the Southern Red Sea Coast, Saudi Arabia. Journal of Geophysics and Engineering, 9, 327-335. http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1742-2132/9/3/327
[1] Steeples, D.W. (2001) Engineering and Environmental Geophysics at the Millennium. Geophysics, 66, 31-35. http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/1.1444910 [2] Lapenna, V., Lorenzo, P., Perrone, A., Piscitelli, S., Rizzo, E. and Sdao, F. (2005) 2D Electrical Resistivity Imaging of Some Complex Landslides in the Lucanian Apennine Chain, Southern Italy. Geophysics, 70, B11-B18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/1.1926571 [3] Chianese, D. and Lapenna, V. (2007) Magnetic Probability Tomography for Environmental Purposes: Test Measurements and Field Applications. Journal of Geophysics and Engineering, 4, 63-74.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1742-2132/4/1/008 [4] Soupios, P.M., Kouli, M., Vallianatos, F., Vafidis, A. and Stavroulakis, G. (2007) Estimation of Aquifer Hydraulic Parameters from Surficial Geophysical Methods: A Case Study of Keritis Basin in Chania (Crete-Greece). Journal of Hydrology, 338, 122-131. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2007.02.028 [5] Naudet, V., Lazzari, M., Perrone, A., Loperte, A., Piscitelli, S. and Lapenna, V. (2008) Integrated Geophysical and Geomorphological Approach to Investigate the Snowmelt-Triggered Landslide of Bosco Piccolo Village (Basilicata, Southern Italy). Engineering Geology, 98, 156-167.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2008.02.008 [6] Balia, R., Gavaudò, E., Ardau, F. and Ghiglieri, G. (2003) Geophysical Approach to the Environmental Study of a Coastal Plain. Geophysics, 68, 1446-1459. http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/1.1620618 [7] Batayneh, A. (2006) Use of Electrical Resistivity Methods for Detecting Subsurface Fresh and Saline Water and Delineating Their Interfacial Configuration: A Case Study of the Eastern Dead Sea Coastal Aquifers, Jordan. Hydrogeology Journal, 14, 1277-1283. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10040-006-0034-3 [8] Koukadaki, M.A., Karatzas, G.P., Papadopoulou, M.P. and Vafidis, A. (2007) Identification of the Saline Zone in a Coastal Aquifer Using Electrical Tomography Data and Simulation. Water Resources Management, 21, 1881-1898. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11269-006-9135-y [9] Kruse, S.E., Brudzinski, M.R. and Geib, T.L. (1998) Use of Electrical and Electromagnetic Techniques to Map Seawater Intrusion near the Cross-Florida Barge Canal. Environmental & Engineering Geoscience, 4, 331-340. http://dx.doi.org/10.2113/gseegeosci.IV.3.331 [10] Nowroozi, A.A., Horrocks, S.B. and Henderson, P. (1999) Saltwater Intrusion into the Freshwater Aquifer in the Eastern Shore of Virginia: A Reconnaissance Electrical Resistivity Survey. Journal of Applied Geophysics, 42, 1-22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0926-9851(99)00004-X [11] Abdul Nassir, S.S., Loke, M.H., Lee, C.Y. and Nawawi, M.N.M. (2000) Salt-Water Intrusion Mapping by Geoelectrical Imaging Surveys. Geophysical Prospecting, 48, 647-661.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2478.2000.00209.x [12] Sherif, M., Mahmoudi, A.E., Garamoon, H., Kacimov, A., Akram, S., Ebraheem, A. and Shetty, A. (2006) Geoelectrical and Hydrogeochemical Studies for Delineating Seawater Intrusion in the Outlet of Wadi Ham, UAE. Environmental Geology, 49, 536-551. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00254-005-0081-4 [13] Cimino, A., Cosentino, C., Oieni, A. and Tranchina, L. (2008) A Geophysical and Geochemical Approach for Seawater Intrusion Assessment in the Acquedolci Coastal Aquifer (Northern Sicily). Environmental Geology, 55, 1473-1482. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-1097-8 [14] Khalil, M.H. (2006) Geoelectric Resistivity Sounding for Delineating Salt Water Intrusion in the Abu Zenima Area, West Sinai, Egypt. Journal of Geophysics and Engineering, 3, 243-251.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1742-2132/3/3/006 [15] Blank, H.R., Johnson, P., Gettings, M.E. and Simmons, G.C. (1985) Explanatory Notes to the Geologic Map of the Jizan Quadrangle, Sheet 16F. Deputy Ministry for Mineral Resources, Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. [16] Hussain, M. and Ibrahim, K. (1997) Electric Resistivity, Geochemical and Hydrogeological of Wadi Deposits, Western Saudi Arabia. Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Earth Sciences, 9, 55-72. [17] Greenwood, W. (1985) Geologic Map of the Abha Quadrangle, Sheet 18F. Deputy Minister for Mineral Resources, Jeddah, Scale 1:250,000. [18] Prinz, W. (1984) Geologic Map of the Jibal Hai’l Quadrangle, Sheet 17E. Deputy Minister for Mineral Resources, Jeddah, Scale 1:250,000. [19] Fairer, G.M. (1985) Geologic Map of Wadi Baysh Quadrangle, Sheet 17F. Deputy Minister for Mineral resources, Jeddah, Scale 1:250,000. [20] Basahel, A., Bahafzalla, A., Mansour, H. and Omara, S. (1983) Primary Structures and Depositional Environ of the Haddat Ash Sham Sedimentary Sequence, Northwest of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Arab Gulf Journal of Scientific Research, 1, 143-155. [21] Hussein, M. and Bazuhair, A. (1992) Groundwater in Haddat Al Sham-Al Bayada Area, Western Saudi Arabia. Arab Gulf Journal of Scientific Research, 1, 23-43. [22] Al-Bassam, A.M. and Hussein, M.T. (2008) Combined Geo-Electrical and Hydro-Chemical Methods to Detect Salt-Water Intrusion. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, 19, 179-193. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14777830810856564 [23] Al-Amri, A. (1998) The Application of Geoelectrical Vertical Soundings in Delineating the Hydrostratigraphy of the Southern Red Sea Coastal Area, Saudi Arabia. Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Earth Sciences, 10, 73-90. [24] Al Hazmi, A. (2005) Salt Water Intrusion in Coastal Aquifer in Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Master’s Thesis, King Saud University, Riyadh. [25] Bernard, J. (2003) Definition of Main Hydrogeological Parameters Electrical Methods for Groundwater Magnetic Resonance Method for Groundwater. Short Note on the Principles of Geophysical Methods for Groundwater Investigations. [26] Choudhury, K. and Saha, D.K. (2004) Integrated Geophysical and Chemical Study of Saline Water Intrusion. Ground Water, 42, 671-677. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.2004.tb02721.x [27] Elawadi, E., Mogren, S., Ibrahim, E., Batayneh, A. and Al-Bassam, A. (2012) Utilizing Potential Field Data to Support Delineation of Groundwater Aquifers in the Southern Red Sea Coast, Saudi Arabia. Journal of Geophysics and Engineering, 9, 327-335. http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1742-2132/9/3/327