The origin of high sulfate concentrations and hydrochemistry of the Upper Miocene–Pliocene–Quaternary aquifer complex of Jifarah Plain, NW Libya

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorAlfarrah, Nawal
dc.contributor.authorBerhane, Gebremedhin
dc.contributor.authorMjemah, Ibrahim Chikira
dc.contributor.authorVan Camp, Marc
dc.contributor.authorWalraevens, Kristine
dc.date.accessioned2022-12-13T06:40:03Z
dc.date.available2022-12-13T06:40:03Z
dc.date.issued2016-10
dc.descriptionJournal Articleen_US
dc.description.abstracthe high uncontrolled groundwater extraction in Jifarah Plain, NW Libya, causes a modification of natural flow systems, inducing seawater intrusion and causing groundwater quality deterioration. The principal aim of this study is to identify the hydrogeochemical processes in this coastal aquifer in order to verify the main sources of sulfate concentration increase that occurs in the system. In order to achieve this aim, water samples were collected from 134 sampling wells in the study area and analyzed for the major cations and anions; physical and chemical parameters were measured, such as water level, electrical conductivity, pH and temperature. The analytical results obtained in the hydro- chemical study were interpreted using Piper diagram, ion correlations with Na ? /Cl - , SO 42- , Cl - and TDS, in con- junction with calculation of the ionic deviations of the con- servative freshwater/seawater mixture and saturation indices using the PHREEQC 2.16 software. The large SO 42- anomaly observed in groundwater near the coast was explained by the presence of seawater intrusion and upconing of deep saline water in these areas. This conclusion is based on high chloride concentrations, the inverse cation exchange reactions and the lower piezometric level compared to sea level. Inland, in Sabratah, the high SO 42- values are related to gypsum dissolution from the Upper Miocene Formation in the lower part of the upper aquifer. These locally high SO 42- concentrations in the south of the study area show overall increase in the upstream direction, which also suggests the dissolution of evaporites from the mountain aquifers in the south. High SO 42- concentration is also related to the effect of the scattered sebkha deposits in some areas along the coast.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/4817
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherSpringer-Verlag Berlin Heidelbergen_US
dc.subjectSeawater intrusionen_US
dc.subjectOverexploitationen_US
dc.subjectGroundwater quality degradationen_US
dc.subjectGypsum dissolutionen_US
dc.subjectSebkhaen_US
dc.subjectUpper aquiferen_US
dc.subjectTripolien_US
dc.titleThe origin of high sulfate concentrations and hydrochemistry of the Upper Miocene–Pliocene–Quaternary aquifer complex of Jifarah Plain, NW Libyaen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
dc.urlDOI 10.1007/s12665-016-6209-xen_US

Files

Original bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
Alfarrah et al. 2016.pdf
Size:
6.87 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download

License bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.67 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download

Collections

Articles, Conference and Workshop Papers Collection