Investigation of groundwater occurrences in structurally controlled terrain, based on geological studies and remote sensing data: Wadi El Morra, South Sinai, Egypt

ABSTRACT The investigations of groundwater occurrences and its recharge mechanisms in structurally controlled terrain under arid environments are necessary for developing sustainable management strategies. In current study, an interdisciplinary approach includes readily accessible climatic, geological, topographic, and hydrological datasets together with satellite imagery and field data, were employed for better understand of the groundwater regime existing under special geological setting. Our findings indicate that: 1) the Araba sandstone aquifer has maximum thickness of about 220 m in some area controlled by structural setting, particularly the basement uplift, 2) the hydrologic analyses of this basin revealed that it received a total 52.66 × 106 m3 of rainfall between July 2018 to June 2019 that led to runoff volume about 29.47 × 106 m3 with total losses amounts about 23.2 × 106 m3, 3) topographically-driven modern recharge to the structural controlled terrain (Wadi El Morra) can be occurred, and therefore further investigation related to the aquifer response to climate variability, are required. The study suggested a management plan to capitalize the available surface water potentialities of El Morra basin through establishing three lakes that store water and enhance the groundwater recharge opportunities. In addition, three regions are selected for future groundwater exploration based on geological and subsurface data.