Fresh‐Saline Ground Water Interface in the Western Dead Sea Area

Abstract

AbstractThe interface between fresh and saline ground water was studied in the Dead Sea area, using in situ profiles of electrical conductivity (EC) of water. The slope of the interface was found to be 10 times shallower than normally expected near the ocean because of the greater density contrast (the density of the Dead Sea is 1.23 g/cc). Although the Dead Sea system is extremely dynamic, the Ghyben‐Herzberg approximation was still found to be relevant. The shallow interface is expected to cause Dead Sea water to intrude much farther inland than does sea water adjacent to oceans. This extremely shallow interface needs to be taken into account when exploiting ground water in this area in order to avoid upconing of brines and salinization.In recent times, the hydrologic system of the Dead Sea area has changed in water levels and salinity. Simulations using SUTRA code were run for a confined subaquifer to examine the effects of such change on the location of the fresh‐saline water interface. Following the changes, the new interface is not parallel to the previous one because the increase in density causes a decrease in the interface's slope.