Hydrogeologic assessment—Figeh Spring, Damascus, Syria

LaMoreaux, Philip E.; Hughes, Travis H.; Memon, Bashir Ahmed; Lineback, Neal G.

doi:10.1007/bf01664696

Cited by 21 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 18 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In particular, knowledge on aquifer characteristics (the discharge regime and the position of the hydraulic head in the aquifer), the thickness of the saturated zone, and the aquifer storage capacity are of key importance . A number of failures confirmed that karst is a risky environment for different aspects of karst water utilization and control (LaMoreaux et al 1989;Milanović 1981Milanović , 2002. The sentence ''expect the unexpected'' is commonly used by many hydrogeologists and engineers dealing with karst and its properties.…”

Section: Managing Karst Water Sources-an Engineering Approachmentioning

confidence: 93%

Anticipating and managing engineering problems in the complex karst environment

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Karst environments are characterized by distinctive landforms and a peculiar hydrologic behavior dominated by subsurface drainage. Karst systems can be extremely complex, heterogeneous, and unpredictable due to the wide range of geological and hydrological controlling factors. The great variability results in serious problems for engineers, and in difficulties to characterize the karstified rock masses, and in designing the engineering works to be performed. The design and development of engineering projects in karst environments require specific approaches aimed at minimizing the detrimental effects of hazardous processes and environmental problems. Further, karst aquifers (that provide approximately 20–25 % of the world’s drinking water) are extremely vulnerable to pollution, due to the direct connection between the surface and the subsurface drainage, the rapidity of the water flow in conduit networks, and the very low depuration capability. Sinkholes are the main source of engineering problems in karst environments, and may cause severe damage in any human structure. The strategies and solutions that may be applied to mitigate sinkhole problems are highly variable and largely depend on the kind of engineering structure, the karst setting, and the typology and size of the sinkholes. A sound geological model, properly considering the peculiarities of karst and its interactions with the human environment, is essential for the design of cost-effective and successful risk reduction programs. Due to the unique direct interaction between surface and subsurface environments, and the frequent ground instability problems related to underground karstification, management of karst environments is a very delicate matter. Disregarding such circumstances in land-use planning and development inevitably results in severe problems with high economic impacts. Karst environments require specific investigation methods in order to properly manage and safeguard the sensitive geo-ecosystems and natural resources associated with them

show abstract

Section: Managing Karst Water Sources-an Engineering Approachmentioning

confidence: 93%

Anticipating and managing engineering problems in the complex karst environment

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The Figeh spring system area Three springs, the Figeh main spring, the Figeh side spring, and the Harouch spring, form the Figeh spring system of the karst Damascus limestone aquifer. The geomorphology is the result of Jurassic-to-recent deposition, volcanism, and tectonics (LaMoreaux et al 1989). The recharge area of the Figeh spring system is located in the Anti-Lebanon range and comprises an estimated area of approximately 700 km 2 ; however, its exact extent remains unknown.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the result, the decrease in effective precipitation in the period 2070-99, relative to the 1950-2000 mean, is about 220%. In their investigations based on observation stations, LaMoreaux et al (1989) found a moisture surplus for potential recharge, but only in the months from November to February. From their investigations with ECHAM5 GCM, Al-Qinna Figure 9 shows the ensemble mean changes in monthly cycles of evaporation E, precipitation P, and P 2 E for the investigated periods 2021-50 ( Fig.…”

Section: B Future Climatementioning

confidence: 96%

Hydrological Climate Change Impact Analysis for the Figeh Spring near Damascus, Syria

Smiatek

Kaspar

Kunstmann

2013

Journal of Hydrometeorology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A set of downscaled climate change data from transient experiments with regional climate models has been used to access the future climate change signal in the area of the Figeh spring system in Syria and its potential effects on future water availability. The data ensemble at a spatial resolution of 0.258 has been investigated for the period 1961-90 for present-day climate and the periods 2021-50 and 2070-99 for future climate. The focus is on changes to annual, seasonal, and monthly surface air temperature and precipitation. For the first time, the Figeh spring discharge has been assessed with a hydrological runoff model based on an artificial neural network (ANN) approach. The ANN model was formulated and validated for the years 1987-2007, applying daily meteorological driving data. The investigations show that water supply from the spring might face serious problems under changed climate conditions. An expected, a precipitation decrease of about 211% in winter and 28% in spring, together with increased temperatures of up to 11.68C and a significant decrease in snow mass, can substantially limit the water recharge potential already in the near future until 2050. In the period 2070-99, the annual precipitation amount is simulated to decrease by 222% and the annual mean temperature to increase by 148C, relative to the 1961-90 mean. The ensemble mean of the relative change in mean discharge reveals a decrease during the peak flow from March to May, with values up to 220% in 2021-50 and almost 250% in the period 2069-98, both related to the 1961-90 mean.

show abstract

“…Damascus has about 4.5 million inhabitants, which equals 21 % of the total population in Syria, and has an annual growth rate of 1.33 %, which is lower than the 3.41 % per year (CBSSYR 2011) in the surrounding rural countryside. Difficulties arise from the fact that Damascus' major water supply relies on the El Figeh and Barada springs, both classic karst springs (La-Moreaux et al 1989) which discharge an aquifer with high hydraulic conductivity but low potential for groundwater retention (Bögli 1980;Bakalowicz et al 2008;Sauter 2008). Due to the latter, local water abstraction from Quaternary aquifers is necessary to allow agricultural cultivation and livestock farming.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The investigation of fault-controlled groundwater recharge within a suburban area of Damascus, Syria

2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Al-Mazraa is a heavily populated suburb of Damascus (Syria) with agricultural activity. It is adjacent to the Cretaceous Qassioun Mountain Range, from which it is structurally separated by the Damascus fault. Al-Mazraa waterworks abstracts from a shallow Quaternary aquifer, whose recharge processes are unidentified. The functions of Qassioun Mountain, the Damascus fault, the agricultural activities, the ascending deeper groundwater, and the throughflowing Tora River are not well understood and they are, hence, subject to study. The application of hydrochemical parameters and ratios in combination with signatures of δD and δ 18 O revealed that recharge predominantly occurs in the outcropping Cretaceous rocks through subsurface passages rather than through influent conditions of the Tora River or through direct rainfall. Interestingly, high Na/Cl ratios indicate contact with volcanic rocks which exist within the Cretaceous anticline and also in the subsurface of the studied Quaternary aquifer. Evidence for deeper circulating groundwater is given, since replenishing waters are up to 4°C warmer and have much lower nitrate concentrations than the groundwater in the study area. From these points, it is indicated that the Damascus fault is conductive in respect to groundwater, rather than being impermeable, as it is elsewhere.

show abstract

Hydrogeologic assessment—Figeh Spring, Damascus, Syria

Cited by 21 publications

References 18 publications

Anticipating and managing engineering problems in the complex karst environment

Anticipating and managing engineering problems in the complex karst environment

Hydrological Climate Change Impact Analysis for the Figeh Spring near Damascus, Syria

The investigation of fault-controlled groundwater recharge within a suburban area of Damascus, Syria

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About