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- Title
Hydrochemical characterization of complex volcanic aquifers in a continental rifted zone: the Middle Awash basin, Ethiopia.
- Authors
Furi, Wakgari; Razack, Moumtaz; Abiye, Tamiru; Kebede, Seifu; Legesse, Dagnachew
- Abstract
The Middle Awash basin is an arid region in Ethiopia where surface waters are scarce and local communities are dependent on groundwater resources for water supply. The complex hydrogeological system of this basin has been conceptualized. Multivariate statistical analysis of hydrochemical variables and water isotopes were used to study the rock-water interaction, geochemical reaction processes and the hydrological link between aquifers. Groundwaters from aquifers of the high-rainfall plateau bounding the rift are slightly mineralized, as well as depleted in δO and δD, and contain H above 0.8 TU. This suggests a low degree of rock-water interaction and that groundwater is under recharge from heavy rain that falls on surrounding highlands. On the other hand, groundwaters from aquifers of the rift floor are highly mineralized and show slight enrichment in δO and δD with positive oxygen shift, but contain H below 0.8 TU. The positive oxygen shift in rift floor groundwaters may be caused by the isotopic exchange of oxygen between groundwater and aquifer materials during rock-water interaction, whereas the low H content could be due to the decay of tritium along relatively long flow paths. The approach utilized in this study may be applicable to understanding hydrogeochemical processes in other complex volcanic terrains.
- Subjects
ETHIOPIA; WATER temperature &; the environment; MULTIVARIATE analysis; WATER-rock interaction; GEOCHEMICAL modeling
- Publication
Hydrogeology Journal, 2012, Vol 20, Issue 2, p385
- ISSN
1431-2174
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s10040-011-0807-1