Topographic attributes control groundwater flow and groundwater salinity of Al Ain, UAE: a prediction method using remote sensing and GIS

Abstract

In arid regions, over pumping and extraction of groundwater in excess of recharge has resulted sharp depleting in groundwater quantitatively and qualitatively. The effect of topographic attributes on groundwater accumulation and groundwater salinity was investigated in the southwest part of Al Ain, Abu Dhabi using Digital Elevation Model (DEM). Seven topographic attributes, such as topography, slope, aspect, relief, catchment area and drainage network were calculated. The results showed that the area is drained by 3 main basins emerging from Hafeet Mountain and drain southwesterly toward Ain Al Fayda and sand dunes. The results also showed all topographic attributes and hydrological elements are strongly structural controlled by NW and NNE trending fault zones. Spatial correlation was performed to correlate topographic attributes and hydrological data collected from groundwater samples. The result showed strong correlation between flow accumulation and groundwater salinity and topographic attributes and irrigation areas. These findings prove the usefulness of the proposed methods in predicting and identifying sites of high groundwater accumulation and groundwater salinity in arid region.

Keywords Hafeet Mountain, Al Ain, UAE, Groundwater, Remote sensing