Long‐term prediction of the water level and salinity in the Dead Sea

Abstract

Abstract:The long-term water level variations of the Dead Sea (DS) were assessed using a previously developed simulation model. The model establishes the condition of the DS by evaluating a series of ordinary differential equations describing mass balances on the water and major chemical species. The DS was modelled as a two-layer system. The model was modified using up-to-date inflow data and recent hypsometric graphs to derive the volume-area-level relationships. Three scenarios were studied: continuation of current conditions; a cessation in industrial activity when the DS water level drops to a certain level; and a simplified weather change scenario. The model predicted that the DS will not dry up, but its level will continue to drop with a decelerating rate with no equilibrium level in 500 years. Changing climate would accelerate the level drop. In the 500 year period, after an initial increase, the DS salinity drops. The opposite behaviour is noted in the evaporation rate, which increases after an initial decrease. Ceasing industrial pumping would eventually restore the DS to its normal level, but with changed conditions.

Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Studies of Ionic Dissolution and Precipitation of Sodium Chloride and Silver Chloride in Water Clusters, NaCl(H2O)n and AgCl(H2O)n, n = 6, 10, and 14

“…Dissolved salts, such as sodium chloride (NaCl), play important roles in both inorganic and organic reactions, [1,2] and particularly in biochemistry, for instance, biological growth [3][4][5][6] and solubility of biomolecules in salt buffers. [7] They are also important in marine chemistry [8] and for the formation and reactivity of aerosols in the atmosphere. [9][10][11][12] The dissolution and precipitation of salts in aqueous systems are widely used in our daily life, for example, in wastewater treatment by precipitation, [13] wound healing, [14] and prevention of hailstorms by providing nucleation seeds in clouds to stimulate rain.…”

Effect of the Dead Sea–Red Sea canal modelling on the prediction of the Dead Sea conditions

“…In Asmar and Ergenzinger (2002a) comprehensive discussion is provided of data sources and the justification of their choice, accuracy and sensitivity. Note that a linear relationship on Dead Sea water level is used to estimate the groundwater flow rate using the most recent data of Abu-Jaber (1998) and Salameh and El-Naser (2000), and is reported in Asmar and Ergenzinger (2002b).…”

Viable engineering options to enhance the NaCl quality from the Dead Sea in Jordan

“…The predicted general effects of the canal are the restoration of the water level of the sea to pre-1970s level, an increase in the total evaporation rate and a decrease in the top layer salinity. Asmar and Ergenzinger [25] assessed the longterm water level variations of the Dead Sea (DS) using a developed simulation model through studying three scenarios: (a) continuation of current conditions, (b) a cessation in industrial activity when the DS water level drops to a certain level, and (c) a simplified weather change scenario. The authors' model predicted that the DS will not dry up, but the level will continue to drop with a decelerating rate with no equilibrium level in 500 years.…”