Quantifying the Volume of Water in the Red Sea and Gulf of Suez Rift-Related Basins using Gravity and Magnetic Data

Abstract:

Red Sea and Gulf of Suez rift systems were largely accommodated by extensional faults that formed a complex array of half grabens and asymmetric horsts. Those rift-related basins are of extreme importance for groundwater exploration in Egypt. Gravity and magnetic data were used to investigate the hydrogeologic and structural settings, areal distribution, geometry, and volume of water in storage of rift-related groundwater basins in Sinai Peninsula and Eastern Desert. The extracted water volumes were then used to assess the aquifer longevity given the current and the projected extraction rates. In the Sinai Peninsula our results indicated that the average basin length and width and maximum thickness were found to be 43 km, 12 km, and 3.5 km, respectively. The volume of water in storage in the investigated basin was estimated at 40–56 cubic kilometer. About 40% of this volume will be depleted in 200-230 years given the progressive increases in extraction rates. The increase in the extraction rates will cause the groundwater quality to deteriorate due to seawater intrusion in about 45 years. Similar geophysical exploration campaigns are being applied to the rift-related basins in the Eastern Desert. Such studies are important for the development of sound and sustainable management schemes for the fresh water resources in Egypt and similar environments worldwide.