Quantification of the fresh water inflow into the Dead Sea (SUMAR)

This project is integrated into a large scale German - Israeli - Jordanian - Palestinian projects to study water availability for a sustainable development of water resources in the Jordan valley. It is part of the Helmholtz-Dead Sea research and funded by BMBF.



The area surrounding the Dead Sea is an arid zone with extreme shortage in drinking water. Studies of groundwater and stream flow monitoring demonstrate that there is a large quantity of fresh groundwater and surface water discharging to the Dead Sea, where becomes brackish. Exploitation of the water may be undertaken in the nearby mountain areas or close to the sea-shore, each with its specific requirements. The exploitation of the groundwater in the springs or in the alluvial aquifer in proximity to the sea is strongly influenced by the recession of the Dead Sea, the water level of which has continuously declined at a fast rate for more than 2 decades. This topic was debated at the World Economic Forum's (WEF) extraordinary meeting (June 2003). One priority problem to be considered is to save the Dead Sea from extreme shrinking and to consider the consequences of further shrinking. A recent Israeli study showed that without an intensive engineering effort, the Dead Sea recession will continue by as much as 1 m/yr, while the groundwater table in the adjacent aquifers may continue to drop by about 50 cm/year. The lowering of the water table will cause, apart from the loss of valuable water resources a potential extinction of flora and fauna in oases such as the Ein Fescha Springs, a well as the collapse of the expanding dry, former sea bottom, with concomitant incision of channels. The formation of large sinkholes close to the shore of the Dead Sea and the threat to life and health resulting from these collapses can be attributed to the drop of the Dead Sea water level. A plan in discussion to save the Dead Sea is the construction of a channel between the Red Sea (Gulf of Aqaba) and the southern rim of the Dead Sea (“Red-Dead-Sea-Project”). Scenarios show that considerable energy can be produced which could also be utilized to desalinate seawater. The execution of the project and its influence on existing natural systems are, however, to a large extent an open question. To tackle these problems a SUMAR plan on the SUstainable MAnagement and use of the water Resources (quantity and quality) in the Dead Sea area is urgently needed.
Our part is the quantification of the fresh water inflow to the dead sea by conductivity logging. A special salt water resistant probe for in situ multilevel conductivity measurements was developed and tested to give precise and stable readings over long periods. A further probe calibration (conductivity vs. temperature) and a robust establishment of the relationship between TDS and conductivity is to be established, assisted by major ion chemistry. The continues monitoring at suspected submarine springs allows their discharge quantification. The mixing process will further be quantified by several tracer tests. Geochemical modelling of the brine and mixtures will assist the understanding of the dynamics of/in the dead sea.

For more information please contact tlicha@gwdg.de