Importance of Vertical Groundwater Flow as a Discharge Component in Transboundary Chotts, Western Tunisia

Ibtissem Yahyaoui; Jose Joel Carrillo-Rivera

doi:doi:10.11648/j.hyd.20221003.12

| Peer-Reviewed

Importance of Vertical Groundwater Flow as a Discharge Component in Transboundary Chotts, Western Tunisia

Ibtissem Yahyaoui, Jose Joel Carrillo-Rivera

Published in Hydrology (Volume 10, Issue 3)

Received: 19 September 2022 Accepted: 9 October 2022 Published: 21 October 2022

Views: Downloads:

Download PDF

Share This Article

Twitter
Linked In
Facebook

Abstract

The presence of groundwater discharge zones, locally known as Chotts, in the western border of Tunisia with Algeria is used as a case study to evaluate the current regional transboundary groundwater development status and the probable challenges of present groundwater trajectory, its regional flow patterns, water balance, and overall discharge-recharge features. The Tunisian Chotts Region constitutes the main discharge feature of groundwater flowing in the Continental Intercalaire and overlying Complex Terminal geological formations with their main recharge areas been claimed to be in the south Atlas Mountains of Algeria, the Tinrhert plateau of Algeria and the Dahar Mountains of Tunisia. The general direction of groundwater flow in the horizontal plane reaching El Djerid Chott is from West to East coming across the Algerian–Tunisian border seems to ensure hydraulic continuity of the Continental Intercalaire in the Djerid region. The affected territory covers some 7,000 km² with a surface elevation of 10 m amsl to –25 m bmsl; this land shears similar geographical location and elevation conditions as other chotts in Tunisia (ie., Gharza, Chtihatt Sighat, El Rahim, Majez Sfa). In the other side of the border, the main surface features in Algeria are characterized by chott Melrhir with 6,700 km² and –33 m bmsl, as well as the Merouane, the Kralla, Aslouj, Zhithif, Zebahir, Felrhir, out of which several are also located below main sea-level. A common feature from the groundwater perspective is certainly high salinity and water temperature as in Chott Gharza. Using Tóth’s theory on groundwater flow systems, surface indicators were further analyzed to understand the systemic connection between recharge and discharge zones of regional groundwater flow identified from evidence on the land surface. Results suggest the need of further reviewing scientific data as well as to design a widespread education and training in groundwater flow systems understanding aimed to an increasing international interaction with shared information and common objectives in the management of transboundary groundwater systems. Without adequate and accurate scientific knowledge of groundwater flow characteristics in its 3D distribution, uninformed policy development could lead to unsustainable groundwater management. Current transboundary groundwater assessments would improve through a more solid scientifically management international scale plan. A road map towards a shared management of groundwater is described aiming to promote equitable and responsible groundwater allocation.

Published in	Hydrology (Volume 10, Issue 3)
DOI	10.11648/j.hyd.20221003.12
Page(s)	56-64
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Regional Groundwater Flow, Groundwater Discharge, Groundwater Flow System Theory

References

[1]	Baba Sy, O. (2005). Recharge and paleorecharge of the Northern Sahara Aquifer System (SASS). Ph.D. thesis of the University of Tunis El Manar.
[2]	Bredehoeft, J. D., S. S. Papadopulos & H. H. Cooper. (1982). Groundwater: the Water-Budget Myth. In Scientific Basis of Water-Resource Management, Studies in Geophysics, Washington, DC: National Academy Press, pp. 51-57.
[3]	Carrillo-Rivera, JJ., Cardona, A., & Edmunds, WM. (2002). Use of extraction regime and knowledge of hydrogeological conditions to control high-fluoride concentrations in abstracted groundwater: basin of San Luis Potosí, Mexico. J Hydrology, vol. 261, pp 24–47.
[4]	Dhaoui, Z., Chkir, N., Zouari, K., Hadj Ammar, F., Agoune, A., (2016). Investigation of uranium geochemistry along groundwater flow path in the Continental Intercalaire aquifer (Southern Tunisia). J. Environ. Radioact. 157, 67–76.
[5]	Edmunds, W. M., Guendouz, A. H., Mamou, A., Moula, A., Shand, P., & Zouari, K. (2003). Groundwater evolution in the Continental Intercalaire aquifer of southern Algeria and Tunisia: trace element and isotopic indicators. Applied Geochemisry 18: 805–822.
[6]	Gastmans, D., Mira, A., Kirchheim, R., Vives; L., Rodríguez, L., & Veroslavsky, G. (2017). Hypothesis of Groundwater Flow Through Geological Structures in Guarani Aquifer System (GAS) Using Chemical and Isotopic Data. Procedia Earth and Planetary Science. 136–139: 1878-5220.
[7]	Gautier, M. (1953). Les chotts, machines évaporatoires complexes: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Colloques Internationaux 35 (Actions éoliennes, phénomènes d’evaporation et d’hydrologie superficielle dans les régions arides), p. 317–325.
[8]	Guendouz, A., Moulla, A. S., Edmunds, W. M., Zouari, K., Shand, P., & Mamou, A. (2003). Hydrogeochemical and isotopic evolution of water in the Complex Terminal aquifer in the Algerian Sahara. J Hydrol 11: 483–495.
[9]	Hatch-Kuri, G., & Carrillo-Rivera, J. J. (2022). Scientific concepts and their political implications in the management of Mexico-US Transboundary water courses: Transboundary Aquifer or Transboundary Groundwater? Num 21, pp 37-52. January–June Water and Landscape (in Spanish). ISSN 2340-8472 ISSNe 2340-7743 DOI 10.17561/at.21.5738.
[10]	Hubbert, K. M. (1940). The theory of groundwater motion”. Journal of Geology. 48 8: 785–944. doi: 10.1086/624930. JSTOR 30057101.
[11]	International Groundwater Resources Assessment Center (IGRAC). (2018). Population and areal statistics for 199 Transboundary Aquifers. Delft, Holland.
[12]	Kamel, S. (2012). Application of selected geothermometers to Continental Intercalaire thermal water in southern Tunisia. Geothermics 41: 63-73.
[13]	Mamou, A. (1990). Characterisation, evaluation and management of the water resources of southern Tunisia. PhD thesis, University of Paris South, France.
[14]	Meyer, D. F. (2016). Assessment of Aquifer Mixing and Salinity Intrusion in the North-Western Sahara Aquifer System: a Hydrogeochemical Analysis- Algeria, Tunisia. MSc thesis. Department of Geology and Graduate Faculty, Kansas State University. USA.
[15]	OSS. (2003). Système aquifère du Sahara Septentrional. Gestion commune d’un basin transfrontière. Synthesis Report, Tunis, Tunisia, 12 pp. (in French).
[16]	Petersen, J. O., Deschamps, P., Hamelin, B., Fourré, E., Gonçalvès, J., Zouari, K., Guendouz, A., Michelot, J.-L., Massault, M., Dapoigny, A., & Team, A. (2018). Groundwater flowpaths and residence times inferred by 14C, 36Cl and 4He isotopes in the Continental Intercalaire aquifer (North-Western Africa), Journal of Hydrology.
[17]	Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS). (2004). The North-Western Sahara Aquifer System. A Basin Awareness. 1st Ed. Hydrogeology Volume I March 2004 Isbn: 9973-856-06-6.
[18]	Swezy, C. (2003). The role of climate in the creation and destruction of continental stratigraphic records: an example from the northern margin of the Sahara desert. SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology). Special Publication 77: 207–225.
[19]	Takuya, M., Kamel, Z., Rim, T., Darren, H., Wei, J., Zheng-Tian, L., Peter, M., Jake C, Z., Luis J, A., Nicolo, R., Aissa, A., (2020). Krypton-81 dating of the deep Continental Intercalaire aquifer with implications for chlorine-36 dating. Earth and Planetary Science Letters Volume 535, 1 April 2020, 116120, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116120.
[20]	Tóth, J. (1995). Hydraulic continuity in large sedimentary basins. Hydrogeology Journal. 3 4: 4-16.
[21]	Tóth, J. (1999). Groundwater as a geologic agent: an overview of the causes, processes and manifestations. Hydrogeology Journal, 71: 1-14.
[22]	United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). (2009). Resolution 63/124. The Law of Transboundary Aquifers. United Nations. https://digitallibrary. Consulted 20 January 2020. un.org/record/643188?ln=es

Cite This Article

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Ibtissem Yahyaoui, Jose Joel Carrillo-Rivera. (2022). Importance of Vertical Groundwater Flow as a Discharge Component in Transboundary Chotts, Western Tunisia. Hydrology, 10(3), 56-64. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hyd.20221003.12

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Ibtissem Yahyaoui; Jose Joel Carrillo-Rivera. Importance of Vertical Groundwater Flow as a Discharge Component in Transboundary Chotts, Western Tunisia. Hydrology. 2022, 10(3), 56-64. doi: 10.11648/j.hyd.20221003.12

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Ibtissem Yahyaoui, Jose Joel Carrillo-Rivera. Importance of Vertical Groundwater Flow as a Discharge Component in Transboundary Chotts, Western Tunisia. Hydrology. 2022;10(3):56-64. doi: 10.11648/j.hyd.20221003.12

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.hyd.20221003.12,
  author = {Ibtissem Yahyaoui and Jose Joel Carrillo-Rivera},
  title = {Importance of Vertical Groundwater Flow as a Discharge Component in Transboundary Chotts, Western Tunisia},
  journal = {Hydrology},
  volume = {10},
  number = {3},
  pages = {56-64},
  doi = {10.11648/j.hyd.20221003.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hyd.20221003.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.hyd.20221003.12},
  abstract = {The presence of groundwater discharge zones, locally known as Chotts, in the western border of Tunisia with Algeria is used as a case study to evaluate the current regional transboundary groundwater development status and the probable challenges of present groundwater trajectory, its regional flow patterns, water balance, and overall discharge-recharge features. The Tunisian Chotts Region constitutes the main discharge feature of groundwater flowing in the Continental Intercalaire and overlying Complex Terminal geological formations with their main recharge areas been claimed to be in the south Atlas Mountains of Algeria, the Tinrhert plateau of Algeria and the Dahar Mountains of Tunisia. The general direction of groundwater flow in the horizontal plane reaching El Djerid Chott is from West to East coming across the Algerian–Tunisian border seems to ensure hydraulic continuity of the Continental Intercalaire in the Djerid region. The affected territory covers some 7,000 km² with a surface elevation of 10 m amsl to –25 m bmsl; this land shears similar geographical location and elevation conditions as other chotts in Tunisia (ie., Gharza, Chtihatt Sighat, El Rahim, Majez Sfa). In the other side of the border, the main surface features in Algeria are characterized by chott Melrhir with 6,700 km² and –33 m bmsl, as well as the Merouane, the Kralla, Aslouj, Zhithif, Zebahir, Felrhir, out of which several are also located below main sea-level. A common feature from the groundwater perspective is certainly high salinity and water temperature as in Chott Gharza. Using Tóth’s theory on groundwater flow systems, surface indicators were further analyzed to understand the systemic connection between recharge and discharge zones of regional groundwater flow identified from evidence on the land surface. Results suggest the need of further reviewing scientific data as well as to design a widespread education and training in groundwater flow systems understanding aimed to an increasing international interaction with shared information and common objectives in the management of transboundary groundwater systems. Without adequate and accurate scientific knowledge of groundwater flow characteristics in its 3D distribution, uninformed policy development could lead to unsustainable groundwater management. Current transboundary groundwater assessments would improve through a more solid scientifically management international scale plan. A road map towards a shared management of groundwater is described aiming to promote equitable and responsible groundwater allocation.},
 year = {2022}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Importance of Vertical Groundwater Flow as a Discharge Component in Transboundary Chotts, Western Tunisia
AU  - Ibtissem Yahyaoui
AU  - Jose Joel Carrillo-Rivera
Y1  - 2022/10/21
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hyd.20221003.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.hyd.20221003.12
T2  - Hydrology
JF  - Hydrology
JO  - Hydrology
SP  - 56
EP  - 64
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7617
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hyd.20221003.12
AB  - The presence of groundwater discharge zones, locally known as Chotts, in the western border of Tunisia with Algeria is used as a case study to evaluate the current regional transboundary groundwater development status and the probable challenges of present groundwater trajectory, its regional flow patterns, water balance, and overall discharge-recharge features. The Tunisian Chotts Region constitutes the main discharge feature of groundwater flowing in the Continental Intercalaire and overlying Complex Terminal geological formations with their main recharge areas been claimed to be in the south Atlas Mountains of Algeria, the Tinrhert plateau of Algeria and the Dahar Mountains of Tunisia. The general direction of groundwater flow in the horizontal plane reaching El Djerid Chott is from West to East coming across the Algerian–Tunisian border seems to ensure hydraulic continuity of the Continental Intercalaire in the Djerid region. The affected territory covers some 7,000 km² with a surface elevation of 10 m amsl to –25 m bmsl; this land shears similar geographical location and elevation conditions as other chotts in Tunisia (ie., Gharza, Chtihatt Sighat, El Rahim, Majez Sfa). In the other side of the border, the main surface features in Algeria are characterized by chott Melrhir with 6,700 km² and –33 m bmsl, as well as the Merouane, the Kralla, Aslouj, Zhithif, Zebahir, Felrhir, out of which several are also located below main sea-level. A common feature from the groundwater perspective is certainly high salinity and water temperature as in Chott Gharza. Using Tóth’s theory on groundwater flow systems, surface indicators were further analyzed to understand the systemic connection between recharge and discharge zones of regional groundwater flow identified from evidence on the land surface. Results suggest the need of further reviewing scientific data as well as to design a widespread education and training in groundwater flow systems understanding aimed to an increasing international interaction with shared information and common objectives in the management of transboundary groundwater systems. Without adequate and accurate scientific knowledge of groundwater flow characteristics in its 3D distribution, uninformed policy development could lead to unsustainable groundwater management. Current transboundary groundwater assessments would improve through a more solid scientifically management international scale plan. A road map towards a shared management of groundwater is described aiming to promote equitable and responsible groundwater allocation.
VL  - 10
IS  - 3
ER  -

Copy | Download

Author Information

Ibtissem Yahyaoui

Institute of Geography, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
Jose Joel Carrillo-Rivera

Institute of Geography, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico

Download PDF

Sections

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Ibtissem Yahyaoui, Jose Joel Carrillo-Rivera. (2022). Importance of Vertical Groundwater Flow as a Discharge Component in Transboundary Chotts, Western Tunisia. Hydrology, 10(3), 56-64. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hyd.20221003.12

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Ibtissem Yahyaoui; Jose Joel Carrillo-Rivera. Importance of Vertical Groundwater Flow as a Discharge Component in Transboundary Chotts, Western Tunisia. Hydrology. 2022, 10(3), 56-64. doi: 10.11648/j.hyd.20221003.12

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Ibtissem Yahyaoui, Jose Joel Carrillo-Rivera. Importance of Vertical Groundwater Flow as a Discharge Component in Transboundary Chotts, Western Tunisia. Hydrology. 2022;10(3):56-64. doi: 10.11648/j.hyd.20221003.12

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.hyd.20221003.12,
  author = {Ibtissem Yahyaoui and Jose Joel Carrillo-Rivera},
  title = {Importance of Vertical Groundwater Flow as a Discharge Component in Transboundary Chotts, Western Tunisia},
  journal = {Hydrology},
  volume = {10},
  number = {3},
  pages = {56-64},
  doi = {10.11648/j.hyd.20221003.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hyd.20221003.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.hyd.20221003.12},
  abstract = {The presence of groundwater discharge zones, locally known as Chotts, in the western border of Tunisia with Algeria is used as a case study to evaluate the current regional transboundary groundwater development status and the probable challenges of present groundwater trajectory, its regional flow patterns, water balance, and overall discharge-recharge features. The Tunisian Chotts Region constitutes the main discharge feature of groundwater flowing in the Continental Intercalaire and overlying Complex Terminal geological formations with their main recharge areas been claimed to be in the south Atlas Mountains of Algeria, the Tinrhert plateau of Algeria and the Dahar Mountains of Tunisia. The general direction of groundwater flow in the horizontal plane reaching El Djerid Chott is from West to East coming across the Algerian–Tunisian border seems to ensure hydraulic continuity of the Continental Intercalaire in the Djerid region. The affected territory covers some 7,000 km² with a surface elevation of 10 m amsl to –25 m bmsl; this land shears similar geographical location and elevation conditions as other chotts in Tunisia (ie., Gharza, Chtihatt Sighat, El Rahim, Majez Sfa). In the other side of the border, the main surface features in Algeria are characterized by chott Melrhir with 6,700 km² and –33 m bmsl, as well as the Merouane, the Kralla, Aslouj, Zhithif, Zebahir, Felrhir, out of which several are also located below main sea-level. A common feature from the groundwater perspective is certainly high salinity and water temperature as in Chott Gharza. Using Tóth’s theory on groundwater flow systems, surface indicators were further analyzed to understand the systemic connection between recharge and discharge zones of regional groundwater flow identified from evidence on the land surface. Results suggest the need of further reviewing scientific data as well as to design a widespread education and training in groundwater flow systems understanding aimed to an increasing international interaction with shared information and common objectives in the management of transboundary groundwater systems. Without adequate and accurate scientific knowledge of groundwater flow characteristics in its 3D distribution, uninformed policy development could lead to unsustainable groundwater management. Current transboundary groundwater assessments would improve through a more solid scientifically management international scale plan. A road map towards a shared management of groundwater is described aiming to promote equitable and responsible groundwater allocation.},
 year = {2022}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Importance of Vertical Groundwater Flow as a Discharge Component in Transboundary Chotts, Western Tunisia
AU  - Ibtissem Yahyaoui
AU  - Jose Joel Carrillo-Rivera
Y1  - 2022/10/21
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hyd.20221003.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.hyd.20221003.12
T2  - Hydrology
JF  - Hydrology
JO  - Hydrology
SP  - 56
EP  - 64
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7617
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hyd.20221003.12
AB  - The presence of groundwater discharge zones, locally known as Chotts, in the western border of Tunisia with Algeria is used as a case study to evaluate the current regional transboundary groundwater development status and the probable challenges of present groundwater trajectory, its regional flow patterns, water balance, and overall discharge-recharge features. The Tunisian Chotts Region constitutes the main discharge feature of groundwater flowing in the Continental Intercalaire and overlying Complex Terminal geological formations with their main recharge areas been claimed to be in the south Atlas Mountains of Algeria, the Tinrhert plateau of Algeria and the Dahar Mountains of Tunisia. The general direction of groundwater flow in the horizontal plane reaching El Djerid Chott is from West to East coming across the Algerian–Tunisian border seems to ensure hydraulic continuity of the Continental Intercalaire in the Djerid region. The affected territory covers some 7,000 km² with a surface elevation of 10 m amsl to –25 m bmsl; this land shears similar geographical location and elevation conditions as other chotts in Tunisia (ie., Gharza, Chtihatt Sighat, El Rahim, Majez Sfa). In the other side of the border, the main surface features in Algeria are characterized by chott Melrhir with 6,700 km² and –33 m bmsl, as well as the Merouane, the Kralla, Aslouj, Zhithif, Zebahir, Felrhir, out of which several are also located below main sea-level. A common feature from the groundwater perspective is certainly high salinity and water temperature as in Chott Gharza. Using Tóth’s theory on groundwater flow systems, surface indicators were further analyzed to understand the systemic connection between recharge and discharge zones of regional groundwater flow identified from evidence on the land surface. Results suggest the need of further reviewing scientific data as well as to design a widespread education and training in groundwater flow systems understanding aimed to an increasing international interaction with shared information and common objectives in the management of transboundary groundwater systems. Without adequate and accurate scientific knowledge of groundwater flow characteristics in its 3D distribution, uninformed policy development could lead to unsustainable groundwater management. Current transboundary groundwater assessments would improve through a more solid scientifically management international scale plan. A road map towards a shared management of groundwater is described aiming to promote equitable and responsible groundwater allocation.
VL  - 10
IS  - 3
ER  -

Copy | Download