Gaussian probability estimates for large earthquake occurrence in the Jordan Valley, Dead Sea rift

Abstract. Despite being the main drinking water resource for over 5 million people, the water balance of the Eastern Mountain Aquifer system on the western side of the Dead Sea is poorly understood. The regional aquifer consists of fractured and karstified limestone – aquifers of Cretaceous age, and it can be separated into a Cenomanian aquifer (upper aquifer) and Albian aquifer (lower aquifer). Both aquifers are exposed along the mountain ridge around Jerusalem, which is the main recharge area. From here, the recharged groundwater flows in a highly karstified aquifer system towards the east and discharges in springs in the lower Jordan Valley and Dead Sea region. We investigated the Eastern Mountain Aquifer system for groundwater flow, groundwater age and potential mixtures, and groundwater recharge. We combined 36Cl ∕ Cl, tritium, and the anthropogenic gases SF6, CFC-12 (chlorofluorocarbon) and CFC-11, while using CFC-113 as “dating” tracers to estimate the young water components inside the Eastern Mountain Aquifer system. By application of lumped parameter models, we verified young groundwater components from the last 10 to 30 years and an admixture of a groundwater component older than about 70 years. Concentrations of nitrate, simazine (pesticide), acesulfame K (ACE-K; artificial sweetener) and naproxen (NAP; drug) in the groundwater were further indications of infiltration during the last 30 years. The combination of multiple environmental tracers and lumped parameter modelling helped to understand the groundwater age distribution and to estimate recharge despite scarce data in this very complex hydrogeological setting. Our groundwater recharge rates support groundwater management of this politically difficult area and can be used to inform and calibrate ongoing groundwater flow models.

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dispossession-and-exploitation-israels-policy-in-the-jordan-valley-and-northern-dead-sea

Human Rights Documents online ◽

10.1163/2210-7975_hrd-2338-0219 ◽

2016 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Keyword(s):

Dead Sea ◽

Jordan Valley

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What controls the lateral variation of large earthquake occurrence along the Japan Trench?

Island Arc ◽

10.1111/j.1440-1738.1997.tb00176.x ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 261-266 ◽

Cited By ~ 86

Author(s):

Yuichiro Tanioka ◽

Larry Ruff ◽

Kenji Satake

Keyword(s):

Large Earthquake ◽

Japan Trench ◽

Earthquake Occurrence ◽

Lateral Variation

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Palaearctic Osmia bees of the subgenus Hoplosmia (Megachilidae, Osmiini): biology, taxonomy and key to species

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4415.2.4 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4415 (2) ◽

pp. 297 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

ANDREAS MÜLLER

Keyword(s):

Dead Wood ◽

Taxonomic Revision ◽

Dead Sea ◽

Disjunct Distribution ◽

Brood Cell ◽

Key To Species ◽

Jordan Valley ◽

Generalist Species ◽

Species Groups ◽

Unknown Male

Hoplosmia, a subgenus of the osmiine bee genus Osmia (Megachilidae), comprises 21 species restricted to the Palaearctic region. Analysis of female pollen loads and field observations indicate that probably all O. (Hoplosmia) species are specialized on Asteraceae except for one pollen generalist species, which exhibits a preference for the pollen of Cistaceae. Among the Asteraceae specialists, differences exist with respect to the three main Asteraceae subfamilies exploited for pollen, with some species exclusively visiting Carduoideae, others exploiting only Asteroideae and Cichorioideae and again others collecting pollen on Asteroideae, Carduoideae and Cichorioideae. All O. (Hoplosmia) species build their brood cells within preexisting cavities: several species exclusively nest in empty snail shells, few species use small cavities in rock and stones and the remaining species colonize linear cavities in dead wood and plant stems or nest in abandoned burrows of other bees and wasps. Chewed leaves serve as material to construct brood cell partitions and nest plug except for two species, which use mud as nest building material. The taxonomic revision of O. (Hoplosmia) revealed the existence of an undescribed species, O. centaureae spec. nov., which occurs in a small area that ranges from the Dead Sea over the Jordan Valley to northernmost Israel. Due to clear morphological gaps and widely disjunct distribution with the nominotypical subspecies, O. pinguis carbo (Zanden 1974) is elevated to species rank. Based on morphology and biology, three species groups are recognized within Hoplosmia. Identification keys for all O. (Hoplosmia) species are given including the hitherto unknown male or female sex of three species.

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The Ringing Site In Jericho (Palestine) – Development Of Bird Migration And Parasitological Research On The Great Rift Valley Flyway

Ring ◽

10.2478/ring-2013-0003 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 35 (1) ◽

pp. 55-63 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Simon Awad ◽

Izabella Rząd ◽

Przemysław Busse

Keyword(s):

Bird Migration ◽

Migratory Birds ◽

Tail Length ◽

Dead Sea ◽

North African ◽

Jordan Valley ◽

Field Methods ◽

Local Species ◽

New Research ◽

Great Rift Valley

ABSTRACT A new research project near Jericho in the Jordan Valley (Palestine) was launched on 10 September 2013, work continued until October 23rd 2013. Standard ornithological work and bird ringing work was conducted using mist nets situated in an oasis type habitat of Wadi Qelt surrounded by palm plantations. The field methods followed the SEEN (SE European Bird Migration Network) standards that include apart from ringing of captured birds, also several measurements (wing length, tail length, wing formula) and scores (fat load and body mass), as well as the studies on the directional preferences of migrants using round, flat orientation cages. Ornithological research was enhanced by parasitological studies analysing migratory birds (hosts) - helminths relations during migration period of the former. This was a part of complex studies covering the Middle East and north African ringing sites. Altogether 481 individuals of birds representing 59 species were ringed and about 50 were retrapped. The most interesting was relatively high share of Masked and Red-backed shrikes as well as good number of birds of local species as Dead Sea Sparrows and introduced Indian Silverbills.

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