Called naris, for nubian aquifer regional information system, the database is a computerbased display of hydrological maps, wateruse scenarios and long term projections. The aquifer system the lithology of the stratigraphical units, their regional extent and the general tectonic setting, led to the development of several aquifer systems or aquifer complexes in the western desert of egypt. The primary documents that provide a framework for the nubian sandstone aquifer system nsas or aquifer are. The regional strategy for the utilization of the nubian sandstone aquifer system is a two part agreement in which the riparian states monitor and collect groundwater use as well as openly share between the other states via the nubian aquifer regional information system naris. The nsas lies under the sahara desert, underneath the territorial lands of. Geochemistry of the nubian sandstone aquifer table 2 and fig. Background on the nubian sandstone aquifer system the nubian aquifer has been described as a liquid gold mine for chad, libya, sudan, and egypt aquifer states. Pdf a threedimensional gisbased groundwater flow model for the nubian sandstone aquifer in the.
Hydrogeological studies on the nubian sandstone aquifer in elbahariya oasis, western desert, egypt article pdf available in arabian journal of geosciences 65 may 2011 with 2,516 reads. The nsas is the worlds largest known fossil water aquifer. The nubian sandstone aquifer system nsas is the worlds largest known fossil water aquifer system. The history and fate of the nubian sandstone aquifer springs in the oasis depressions of the western desert, egypt article pdf available in hydrogeology journal 242. The nubian sandstone aquifer system nsas is the biggest fossil freshwater reservoir in the world, estimated at 373,000 billion cubic metres, covering some 2 million square kilometres. All four states have strong islamic cultural backgrounds, and egypt, libya and sudan have enshrined sharia as a fundamental source of law in their constitutions.
The guarani aquifer system gas is one of the most important hydrostratigraphic units in the southern portion of south america. The nsas lies under the sahara desert, underneath the territorial lands of libya, chad, egypt and sudan. Preparing the input parameters which are needed for the modeling at different scales, and calibration of the groundwater model and comparison of the results of modeling with other. The nubian sandstone aquifer system nsas is considered to be one of the most significant and potable groundwater basins in the world, as it is the only water. It spans the boundaries of four countries in northeastern africa northwestern sudan, northeastern chad, southeastern libya, and most of egypt. The nubian sandstone aquifer system a case of cooperation in. Nubian sandstone aquifer system nsas international. Impact of a future qattara saltwater lake on the nubian. This project would tap into the nubian sandstone aquifer system nsas and other ground water sites. Blue gold the utilisation of the nubian sandstone aquifer system viii 1960 agreement between the government of the czechoslovak republic and the austrian federal government concerning the working of common deposits of natural gas and petroleum, 23 january 1960, unts vol. Assessment of groundwater quality in bahariya oasis.
The countries of northeast africa, egypt, libya, chad and sudan share the nubian sandstone aquifer system nsas, which represents a huge fresh water reserve. The water is being used extensively for water supply and irrigation purposes. In this paper, the study of this problem is conducted. For sustainable development and proper management of the nubian sandstone aquifer system, continuous monitoring of the aquifer should be maintained. Except for the water from nakhel 1, all these water analyses are comparable and may be grouped into one category, characterized by its ionic proportions. The nubian sandstone aquifer system nsas underlies the countries of chad, egypt, libyan arab jamahiriya and sudan, the total population of which is over 6 million. The nubian sandstone aquifer system nsas is the largest groundwater aquifer in the sahara spanning the political boundaries of four countries in.
Sixteen groundwater samples collected from production wells tapping lower cretaceous nubian sandstone and fractured basement aquifers in sinai were analyzed for their stable isotopic compositions, dissolved noble gas concentrations recharge temperatures, tritium activities, and 14 c abundances. Study and development of the nubian sandstone aquifer joint authority agreement, entered into. Radioisotope dating techniques have shown that this water is many thousands of. May 27, 2011 lying beneath the four african countries chad, egypt, libya and sudan, the nubian sandstone aquifer system nsas is the worlds largest fossil water aquifer system, covering some two million. The nsas is the worlds largest fossil aquifer system with its reserves estimated at 375,000 km3. Blue gold the utilisation of the nubian sandstone aquifer. Relationships between hydraulic parameters of the nubian. The nsas is the worlds largest fossil aquifer system with.
Pdf the history and fate of the nubian sandstone aquifer. Nubian sandstone aquifer system aquifer, africa britannica. Ragional strategic action programme for nubian aquifer system. It is underground the eastern end of the sahara desert. The projects longterm goal was to establish rational, equitable management of the nsas in support of sustainable socioeconomic development, and to protect biodiversity and land resources in the region. The aquifer consists mainly of continental sandstones with intercalated shales of shallow marine and deltaic origin, unconformably overlying proterozoic basement, and reaching a thickness approaching 3 km in the center of the basin hesse et al. This gigantic reservoir faces heavy demands from agriculture and for drinking water, and the amount. Largescale development of the nubian sandstone aquifer in egypt has been under consideration since 1960. The data includes water levels and drawdowns, quality, extraction. The ancient water of the nubian sandstone aquifer 369 the confined part to the outlets can be schematically represented as follows. Nubian sandstone aquifer system merit research journals. The nubian sandstone aquifer system nsas is a large regional groundwater basin extending across the border of four african countries, namely chad, egypt, libya and sudan.
Lying beneath the four african countries chad, egypt, libya and sudan, the nubian sandstone aquifer system nsas is the worlds largest fossil water aquifer system, covering some two million. Nubian sandstone aquifer system nsas technical baseline meeting. The first project 19982002 on the nubian aquifer, the regional strategy for the utilization of the nubian sandstone aquifer system executed by the center for environment and development for the arab region and europe cedare, resulted in an improved scientific knowledge of the aquifer system and the consideration of the socioeconomic. The hydrochemical analysis of 84 representative groundwater wells was carried out to determine the main hydrochemical characters. The aquifer system consists of layered rocks that are deeply buried where they dip into large structural basins.
Nubian sandstone aquifer system nsas technical baseline meeting may 8 12, 2006 vienna, austria iaea raf8036 in the frame of the iaeaundpgef nubian sandstone aquifer system medium sized project april, 2007. Bakhbakhi hydrogeological framework of the nubian sandstone aquifer system 177 lake chad basin commission lcbc. The aquifer lies in the eastern part of the sahara. The joint authority for the study and development of the nubian sandstone aquifer system jasadnsas is managed through a board of directors. On the ancient water of the upper nubian sandstone aquifer in. International water law project blog blog archive adoption. The hydrochemical analysis of 84 representative groundwater wells was carried out to determine. C i v i l m i l i t a r y f u s i o n c e n t re libyas.
The nubian sandstone was deposited between the lower paleozoic and upper cretaceous, with marine beds dating from the. The joint authority for the study and development of the. The natural resources of thisareacoverthedemandsforthecontinuingreclamationandhous ing projects, where the. The nubian sandstone aquifer system nsas is one of the largest aquifer systems in the world, stretching over approximately 2. Assessment of groundwater quality in bahariya oasis, western. The riparian countries sharing the aquifer system face similar problems of arid climate, scarce surface water. Pdf hydrogeological studies on the nubian sandstone aquifer. The result is the development of a computer groundwater model which can simulate and predict how the water moves through the aquifer and how water levels may change. Nubian sandstone aquifer system nsas technical baseline. The cambrianordovician aquifer system in the northcentral united states is composed of largescale, predominantly sandstone aquifers that extend over parts of seven states and three segments of the atlas. The nubian sandstone aquifer system is one of the worlds largest transboundary fossil aquifers and stretches underneath the territories of the north african states of egypt, libya, sudan and chad. Storing and documenting the different data, covering all fields relevant to the nubian sandstone aquifer system.
The nubian sandstone is a variety of sedimentary rock deposited on the precambrian basement in the eastern sahara, northeast africa and arabian peninsula. It consists of continental sandstone with thin beds of marine limestones, and marls. Nubian sandstone aquifer is the unique source of fresh water. Nubian sandstone aquifer system simple english wikipedia. Pdf a very large scale gisbased groundwater flow model for the. The nubian sandstone aquifer system international water. Nubian sandstone aquifer system nubian sandstone aquifer system.
The iaeaundpgef nubian sandstone aquifer system project was launched in 2006, and iaea experts are now completing the first phase, which includes observation and fact finding. Hydrogeology of the great nubian sandstone basin, egypt. The history and fate of the nubian sandstone aquifer springs. It is the worlds largest fossil water aquifer system. Other articles where nubian sandstone aquifer system is discussed. Muller, dengler, leicht the nubian sandstone aquifer system 3 geology nubian sandstone flat lying to gently dipping rocks made up of continental sediments including sandstones, grits, mudstones and conglomerates, overlain by alluvial deposits sandstone beds with minor intercalations of siltstone and kaolintic sandstone. Nubian sandstone aquifer system nsas international waters. Pdf the history and fate of the nubian sandstone aquifer springs. Overview of shared water resources management in the. The nubian sandstone aquifer systems nsas underlies an area in excess of 2. The riparian countries sharing the aquifer system face similar problems of. It is located underground in the eastern end of the sahara desert and spans the political boundaries of four countries in northeastern africa. Af63 forms one of the largest aquifers in the world underlying some 2,500,000 km 2 of egypt, libya, chad and sudan, dominated by desert and arid to semiarid climate cedare, 2001.
Constitution of the joint authority for the study and development of the nubian sandstone aquifer joint authority agreement, entered into in 1992. Kitakarugire managing shared aquifer resources in africa uganda case 171 regional and basin organizations 175 center for environment and development for the arab region and europe cedare m. Recharge flux to the nubian sandstone aquifer and its impact on the. The four ountries have expressed their interest to share their experiences and to developc this regional aquifer system. A first draft of such a database, lacking only the isotope readings, has been built by the egyptian nonprofit center for environment and development of the arab region and europe cedare. The nubian sandstone aquifer system is said to be the worlds largest known fossil water aquifer system. All four states have strong islamic cultural backgrounds, and egypt, libya and sudan have enshrined sharia as a fundamental source of law in. Thistransboundaryaquiferispresent throughout a large area of north africa, including northwestern sudan, northeastern chad, eastern libya, and western egypt inset fig. On the ancient water of the upper nubian sandstone aquifer. System, shared by egypt, chad, sudan and libya, and the agreements and other instruments. When the water table is deep underground, the water of the aquifer may be exceedingly old, possibly a result of a past climatic regime. The area occupied by the aquifer systems under study, known here as the project. The aquifer is largely composed of hard ferruginous sandstone.
The nubian sandstone aquifer system nsas is the largest known fossil aquifer in the world, home to one of the largest reserves of nonrecharging groundwater margat, foster, droubi 2006, pp. In order to observe the regional behavior of the nsas, monitored paramters of the aquifer should be shared between the concerned countries. Groundwater quality and the overall rate of abstraction from the nubian sandstone aquifer system in the bahariya oasis was assessed to determine whether the resource was of a suitable quality for its current use and that that the current usage is sustainable. Nsas covers a land area spanning just over two million km 2, including northwestern sudan, northeastern chad, southeastern libya, and. In the southwest, the sandstone layers outcrop at the.
Rewa in a project for developing the area of the new valley gover norate figure 1. The nubian sandstone aquifer dispute pangaea journal. It covers a total area of 2,200,00 km 2 1,430,000km without post nubian, cedare, 2002 and encompasses the major part of egypt 29%, and eastern part of libya 32%, the. The nubian sandstone aquifer system nsas is the largest groundwater aquifer in the sahara spanning the political boundaries of four countries in northeastern africa. It spans the boundaries of four countries in northeastern africa northwestern sudan, northeastern chad, southeastern libya, and most of egypt the great manmade river project gmmr in libya makes use of the system. Latest proposals for the new valley development project involve exploitation at the annual rate of 156. A confined aquifer is a completely saturated aquifer bounded above and. Paleoclimate record in the nubian sandstone aquifer, sinai.
Blue gold the utilisation of the nubian sandstone aquifer system. The focus of this paper is the nubian sandstone aquifer. The nubian sandstone aquifer system nsas underlies the countries of chad, egypt, libyan arab jamahiriya and sudan, the total population of which is over. Constitution of the joint authority for the study and development of the nubian sandstone aquifer joint authority agreement, entered into. Pdf extraction of groundwater for agriculture has resulted in the loss of. To the countries that share this tba it is important as a source for drinking water and irrigation. The nubian sandstone aquifer system nsas is one of the largest fresh groundwater reserves in the world area. The nubian sandstone aquifer system nsas is one of the largest aquifers in the world covering approximately two million square kilometres of northeast africa in chad, egypt, libya, and sudan. Examples of common aquitards are clays, shales, loam, and silt. Is the nubian sandstone aquifer system being depleted. The nubian sandstone aquifer system a case of cooperation. Nsas covers a land area spanning just over two million km 2, including northwestern sudan, northeastern chad, southeastern libya, and most of egypt. A good example is the water of the nubian sandstone aquifer system, which extends through several countries in an area that is now the sahara.
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