Possible Sources of Salinity in the Upper Dibdibba Aquifer, Basrah, Iraq
Salinity increase in groundwater was investigated in the area between Al-Zubair and Safwan, and close to the Khor Al-Zubair Channel of southern Iraq. Thirty-nine groundwater samples from the shallow aquifer and one sample from the Khor Al-Zubair Channel were analyzed. The mean total dissolved solids...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-02-01
|
| Series: | Water |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/4/578 |
| _version_ | 1797395528796864512 |
|---|---|
| author | Ahmed Abdulameer Jassim Mohammed Thabit Wael Kanoua Oliver Wiche Broder Merkel |
| author_facet | Ahmed Abdulameer Jassim Mohammed Thabit Wael Kanoua Oliver Wiche Broder Merkel |
| author_sort | Ahmed Abdulameer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Salinity increase in groundwater was investigated in the area between Al-Zubair and Safwan, and close to the Khor Al-Zubair Channel of southern Iraq. Thirty-nine groundwater samples from the shallow aquifer and one sample from the Khor Al-Zubair Channel were analyzed. The mean total dissolved solids are 7556 mg/L. The δ<sup>2</sup>H and δ<sup>18</sup>O plot in two groups are below the global meteoric water line. Group A indicates the evaporation effect of irrigation return-flow, while group B is characterized by depleted δ<sup>18</sup>O values due to recharge under colder climate. Deuterium excess values plot within the region of modern precipitation and dilution of groundwater by precipitating water. The groundwater residence time is between 1000 and 2000 years and combining <sup>14</sup>C -age with SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2−</sup> shows a contrasting effect on groundwater on both sides of Khedr Almai Fault and the Zubair anticline, which indicates the role of these geological structures on the hydrochemical evolution in the western part. Jabal Sanam shows no clear effect in this regard. The ratio Cl<sup>−</sup>/Br<sup>−</sup> and sulfate in groundwater showed that the measured salinity in groundwater is the result of a mixing process between groundwater, seawater intruding from Khor Al-Zubair Channel, and water from septic tanks in addition to dry and wet sea spray, and irrigation return-flow. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:35:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c5e045963e3d44f2b179582ee76c1f09 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:35:50Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-c5e045963e3d44f2b179582ee76c1f092023-12-11T18:11:28ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412021-02-0113457810.3390/w13040578Possible Sources of Salinity in the Upper Dibdibba Aquifer, Basrah, IraqAhmed Abdulameer0Jassim Mohammed Thabit1Wael Kanoua2Oliver Wiche3Broder Merkel4Geology Institute, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Gustav-Zeuner-Str. 12, 09599 Freiberg, GermanyDepartment of Geology, College of Science, University of Baghdad, Baghdad 10071, IraqChemical and Petroleum Engineering Faculty, Al Baath University, Homs, SyriaInstitute for Biosciences, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Leipziger Str. 29, 09599 Freiberg, GermanyGeology Institute, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Gustav-Zeuner-Str. 12, 09599 Freiberg, GermanySalinity increase in groundwater was investigated in the area between Al-Zubair and Safwan, and close to the Khor Al-Zubair Channel of southern Iraq. Thirty-nine groundwater samples from the shallow aquifer and one sample from the Khor Al-Zubair Channel were analyzed. The mean total dissolved solids are 7556 mg/L. The δ<sup>2</sup>H and δ<sup>18</sup>O plot in two groups are below the global meteoric water line. Group A indicates the evaporation effect of irrigation return-flow, while group B is characterized by depleted δ<sup>18</sup>O values due to recharge under colder climate. Deuterium excess values plot within the region of modern precipitation and dilution of groundwater by precipitating water. The groundwater residence time is between 1000 and 2000 years and combining <sup>14</sup>C -age with SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2−</sup> shows a contrasting effect on groundwater on both sides of Khedr Almai Fault and the Zubair anticline, which indicates the role of these geological structures on the hydrochemical evolution in the western part. Jabal Sanam shows no clear effect in this regard. The ratio Cl<sup>−</sup>/Br<sup>−</sup> and sulfate in groundwater showed that the measured salinity in groundwater is the result of a mixing process between groundwater, seawater intruding from Khor Al-Zubair Channel, and water from septic tanks in addition to dry and wet sea spray, and irrigation return-flow.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/4/578Khor Al-Zubair ChannelJabal Sanamseawater intrusionstable isotopesradiocarbonCl<sup>−</sup>/Br<sup>−</sup>−ratio |
| spellingShingle | Ahmed Abdulameer Jassim Mohammed Thabit Wael Kanoua Oliver Wiche Broder Merkel Possible Sources of Salinity in the Upper Dibdibba Aquifer, Basrah, Iraq Water Khor Al-Zubair Channel Jabal Sanam seawater intrusion stable isotopes radiocarbon Cl<sup>−</sup>/Br<sup>−</sup>−ratio |
| title | Possible Sources of Salinity in the Upper Dibdibba Aquifer, Basrah, Iraq |
| title_full | Possible Sources of Salinity in the Upper Dibdibba Aquifer, Basrah, Iraq |
| title_fullStr | Possible Sources of Salinity in the Upper Dibdibba Aquifer, Basrah, Iraq |
| title_full_unstemmed | Possible Sources of Salinity in the Upper Dibdibba Aquifer, Basrah, Iraq |
| title_short | Possible Sources of Salinity in the Upper Dibdibba Aquifer, Basrah, Iraq |
| title_sort | possible sources of salinity in the upper dibdibba aquifer basrah iraq |
| topic | Khor Al-Zubair Channel Jabal Sanam seawater intrusion stable isotopes radiocarbon Cl<sup>−</sup>/Br<sup>−</sup>−ratio |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/4/578 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ahmedabdulameer possiblesourcesofsalinityintheupperdibdibbaaquiferbasrahiraq AT jassimmohammedthabit possiblesourcesofsalinityintheupperdibdibbaaquiferbasrahiraq AT waelkanoua possiblesourcesofsalinityintheupperdibdibbaaquiferbasrahiraq AT oliverwiche possiblesourcesofsalinityintheupperdibdibbaaquiferbasrahiraq AT brodermerkel possiblesourcesofsalinityintheupperdibdibbaaquiferbasrahiraq |