Comments to publication of D. Closson and N. Abu Karaki “Sinkhole hazards prediction at Ghor Al Haditha, Dead Sea, Jordan: ‘‘Salt Edge’’ and ‘‘Tectonic’’ models contribution”—a rebuttal to ‘‘Geophysical prediction and following development sinkholes in two Dead Sea areas, Israel and Jordan, by: Ezersky, M.G., Eppelbaum, L.V., Al-Zoubi, A., Keydar S., Abueladas, A-R., Akkawi E., and Medvedev, B.’’

Ezersky, M.; Eppelbaum, Lev; Al-Zoubi, A.; Keydar, S.; Abueladas, A.; Akkawi, E.; Medvedev, B.

doi:10.1007/s12665-013-3019-2

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 19 publications

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“…4) through the Lisan Peninsula (along line C-C' in Fig. 1b) (Garfunkel, 1981;Closson, 2005;Ezersky et al, 2014) one can see that the 3-6 km space between the bordering faults is composed of clastic Quaternary sediments that do not transfer tectonic stresses (see also Shalev & Lyakhovsky, 2012, p. 166). This is especially understandable taking into account the W-E divergence of the Dead Sea Transform boundaries (Wdowinski et al, 2004).…”

Section: Tectonicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Overview of the geophysical studies in the Dead Sea coastal area related to evaporite karst and recent sinkhole development

Ezersky¹,

Legchenko²,

Eppelbaum³

et al. 2017

IJS

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Abstract:Since the early 80s, a progressively increasing number of sinkholes appeared along the Dead Sea coastal line. It has been found that their appearance is strongly correlating with the lowering of the Dead Sea level taking place with the rate of approximately 1 m/yr. Location of areas affected by sinkhole development corresponds to location of the salt formation deposited during the latest Pleistocene, when the Lake Lisan receded to later become the Dead Sea. Water flowing to the Dead Sea from adjacent and underlying aquifers dissolves salt and creates caverns that cause ground subsidence and consequent formation of sinkholes. Before subsidence, these caverns are not visible on the surface but can be investigated with surface geophysical methods. For that, we applied Surface Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (SNMR), Transient Electromagnetic (TEM) Seismic refraction and reflection, Multichannel Analysis of Surface waves (MASW), microgravity and magnetic surveys and their combinations. Our geophysical results allowed us to locate the salt formation and to detect caverns in salt thus contributing to better understanding sinkhole development mechanisms. Comparison of sinkhole appearance along the western DS shore derived from the recent database (2017) shows that predictions made on the base of geophysical data (2005)(2006)(2007)(2008) are now confirmed thus demonstrating efficiency of our study. In this paper, we briefly present a summary of up to date knowledge of the geology and hydrogeology of Dead Sea basin, of the physical properties of the salt rock and the most popular models explaining mechanisms of sinkhole development. We also share our experience gained during geophysical studies carried out in the framework of national and international research projects in this area for the last 20 years.Dead Sea, evaporate karst, geophysics, sinkholes Ezersky M.G., Legchenko A., Eppelbaum L. and Al-Zoubi A., 2017. Overview of the geophysical studies in the Dead Sea coastal area related to evaporite karst and recent sinkhole development.

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Section: Tectonicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Overview of the geophysical studies in the Dead Sea coastal area related to evaporite karst and recent sinkhole development

Ezersky¹,

Legchenko²,

Eppelbaum³

et al. 2017

IJS

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show abstract

Sinkholes, subsidence and subrosion on the eastern shore of the Dead Sea as revealed by a close-range photogrammetric survey

et al. 2017

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Ground subsidence and sinkhole collapse are phenomena affecting regions of karst geology worldwide. The rapid development of such phenomena around the Dead Sea in the last four decades poses a major geological hazard to the local population, agriculture and industry. Nonetheless many aspects of this hazard are still incompletely described and understood, especially on the eastern Dead Sea shore. In this work, we present a first low altitude (< 150 m above ground) aerial photogrammetric survey with a Helikite Balloon at the sinkhole area of Ghor Al-Haditha, Jordan. We provide a detailed qualitative and quantitative analysis of a new, high resolution digital surface model (5 cm px −1) and orthophoto of this area (2.1 km 2). We also outline the factors affecting the quality and accuracy of this approach. Our analysis reveals a kilometer-scale sinuous depression bound partly by flexure and partly by nontectonic faults. The estimated minimum volume loss of this subsided zone is 1.83 • 10 6 m 3 with an average subsidence rate of 0.21 m yr −1 over the last 25 years. Sinkholes in the surveyed area are localized mainly within this depression. The sinkholes are commonly elliptically shaped (mean eccentricity 1.31) and clustered (nearest neighbor ratio 0.69). Their morphologies and orientations depend on the type of sediment they form in: in mud, sinkholes have a low depth to diameter ratio (0.14) and a long-axis azimuth of NNE-NE. In alluvium, sinkholes have a higher ratio (0.4) and are orientated NNW-N. From field work, we identify actively evolving artesian springs and channelized, sediment-laden groundwater flows that appear locally in the main depression. Consequently, subrosion, i.e. subsurface mechanical erosion, is identified as a key physical process, in addition to dissolution, behind the subsidence and sinkhole hazard. Furthermore, satellite image analysis links the development of the sinuous depression and sinkhole formation at Ghor Al-Haditha to preferential groundwater flow paths along ancient and current wadi riverbeds.

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Cited by 2 publications

References 19 publications

Overview of the geophysical studies in the Dead Sea coastal area related to evaporite karst and recent sinkhole development

Overview of the geophysical studies in the Dead Sea coastal area related to evaporite karst and recent sinkhole development

Sinkholes, subsidence and subrosion on the eastern shore of the Dead Sea as revealed by a close-range photogrammetric survey

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