Current subsurface intrusion of Mediterranean seawater — a possible source of groundwater salinity in the Rift Valley system, Israel

Kafri, Uri; Arad, Arnon

doi:10.1016/0022-1694(79)90135-5

Cited by 55 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…The known Na/Cl ratio of fresh meteoric water as well as of normal seawater is 0.82-0.86 (Kafri and Arad 1979). When seawater is concentrated by evaporation to brines of intermediate concentration, like the C-type brines, this ratio is still attained until the saturation concentration of approximately 350 g/L, similar to the DSB, when halite starts to be deposited.…”

Section: Hydrochemical Results and Interpretationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The stratigraphic sequence (Table 1) of Triassic to Quaternary age is exposed in the valley and its southern and northern margins and was penetrated by wells in the study area. The existence of endorheic terminal base levels, which are located considerably below sea level and are subjected to subsurface seawater intrusion, has been investigated by Kafri and Arad (1979) in the case of the northern portion of the DSR base level. The investigated configuration and mechanism were based on the following: a) the groundwater system is connected to the Mediterranean Sea; b) a significant elevation difference exists between the sea and the base level below sea level; c) a hydrological continuity exists between both; and d) a rather low groundwater divide coupled with a deep base of the groundwater system exists between both base levels.…”

Section: Geological and Hydrogeological Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A further study (Kafri et al 2007) supported the previous proposed model of the northern DSR base level by using deep TDEM measurements and hydrological modeling. Kafri and Arad (1979) also assumed that the Be'er Sheva valley, between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea portion of the DSR base level also has a similar configuration, except that the system was considered to be blocked to the sea in the west by the semi-permeable Talme Yafe Formation. However, it was found that wells in the coastal plain in the Judea Group Aquifer, located to the east of and laterally to the Talme Yafe apparently confining sequence contain diluted seawater (Kafri and Goldman 2013).…”

Section: Geological and Hydrogeological Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…b) As mentioned before (Kafri and Arad 1979), instead of a sharp groundwater divide, the study area consists of a wide equipotential water table surface at elevations roughly between 10 and 20 m asl between both base levels. Only east of approximately longitude 170 (Israeli grid) the water table drops sharply at a steep gradient to the Dead Sea base level presently below 420 m bsl.…”

Section: Working Hypothesismentioning

confidence: 99%

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Detection of Saline Groundwater Bodies between the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, Israel, Using the TDEM Method and Hydrochemical Parameters

et al. 2014

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A Time Domain ElectroMagnetic (TDEM) survey coupled with hydrogeological information was carried out along the Be'er Sheva valley between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea base levels, aiming to obtain the subsurface distribution of the different fresh and saline water bodies. Hydrochemical considerations and previous TDEM results hinted that the previously accepted model of an upper fresh water body underlain by solely Dead Sea (R-type) brines in the east and C-type brines in the west does not match the actual observations. Thus, the suggested working hypothesis of additional intruding seawater from the Mediterranean Sea to the Dead Sea base level was checked by the TDEM method. The results, indeed, exhibit an upper high resistivity fresh water body, an underlying low resistivity brine body and a moderate resistivity body in between. The origin of this body is not uniquely determined based on the geophysical measurements alone. Analysis of borehole data testifies that hydrochemical parameters of the body cannot be solely interpreted as a mixture of the above two end members, but rather calls for an additional contribution of intruding seawater. The suggested configuration consists of an upper fresh water body flowing to both base levels in the west and the east. Underneath there is a saline body resulting from seawater intrusion reaching from the Mediterranean to the Dead Sea base level. At the bottom there is a third body of the westward density driven Dead Sea brine. The entire configuration is supported by results of subsurface flow modeling.

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Section: Hydrochemical Results and Interpretationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Geological and Hydrogeological Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Geological and Hydrogeological Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Working Hypothesismentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Detection of Saline Groundwater Bodies between the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, Israel, Using the TDEM Method and Hydrochemical Parameters

et al. 2014

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“…Based on hydraulic continuity between both base levels we suggested that current subsurface seawater intrusion ("SSI") from the higher Mediterranean to the lower DSB base level occurs thereby Environmental Management and Sustainable Development ISSN 2164-7682 2016 contributing to the salinity of the DSB. Kafri and Arad (1979) reported this in the northern part of the DSB. It was also discussed by Kafri et al (2007) and Kafri and Yechieli (2010).…”

Section: Subsurface Seawater Intrusion (Ssi) Into the Dsbmentioning

confidence: 72%

Subsurface Seawater Intrusion, an Additional Factor Influencing the Limnological History of the Dead Sea Basin

Kafri

2016

EMSD

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A deep core hole, drilled in the middle of the Dead Sea penetrated the Pleistocene-Holocene section, revealed an alternating sequence of fresh water and evaporitic (gypsum, halite) deposits. The vertical facies variations were interpreted as related mainly to lake level changes during this period. The present study, however, proposes an additional factor that influenced these changes, namely subsurface seawater intrusion from the Mediterranean Sea to the endorheic Dead Sea Basin. This proposed process is controlled by the elevation and head difference between both base levels at a given time, because the Mediterranean Sea level also fluctuated during the discussed period. We find that in times of smaller head differences, and assumed lower seawater intrusion, a gypsum facies prevailed in the Dead Sea Basin. In times of greater head differences and assumed more abundant seawater intrusion a halite facies prevailed because of greater sodium chloride input into the Dead Sea.

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Hydraulic and salinity regime of two affected sites in the Yizre'el valley, Israel

Gafni

Salingar

1992

Hydrological Processes

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Causes of recent salinization of numerous plots in the Yizre'el Valley of Israel were examined through a detailed field study of two severely affected sites. In particular, the theory of artesian influence on salt build-up in the upper cultivated soil layer was investigated. Two piezometer nests and 12 wells were installed to study the subsurface hydraulic regime. Water samples and soil extracts were taken to characterize the chemical composition down to 10 m. No significant head differences were measured at the lower site, while at the upper site 96 per cent of the head that existed at the deep (7.5 m) artesian layer was dissipated within the overlying thick clay layer. Slight head differences were noted in the shallow layers. The deep-lying, coarse-textured aquifer differs markedly from the upper confining layers and constitutes an independent water body that has little relevance to surface processes. Chemical and hydrological analyses indicate that applied low-quality irrigation waters may be the primary cause of downward-moving salinity and alkalinity which, in turn, affect soil permeability and site productivity.

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Current subsurface intrusion of Mediterranean seawater — a possible source of groundwater salinity in the Rift Valley system, Israel

Cited by 55 publications

References 14 publications

Detection of Saline Groundwater Bodies between the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, Israel, Using the TDEM Method and Hydrochemical Parameters

Detection of Saline Groundwater Bodies between the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, Israel, Using the TDEM Method and Hydrochemical Parameters

Subsurface Seawater Intrusion, an Additional Factor Influencing the Limnological History of the Dead Sea Basin

Hydraulic and salinity regime of two affected sites in the Yizre'el valley, Israel

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