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The recent research aims to investigate the petrophysical and hydrogeological parameters of the Nubian aquifer system (NAS) in Northern Khartoum State, Sudan, using integrated geophysical methods, including surface electrical resistivity and geophysical well-logging. The Nubian aquifer is a transboundary regional aquifer that covers vast areas in Sudan, Egypt, Libya and Chad. The well-logs, including self-potential (SP), natural gamma ray (GR), and long normal resistivity (RS), are integrated with Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) measurements to delineate the hydrostratigraphical units. As a result, two aquifers are detected. An upper aquifer comprises coarse sand with an average thickness of 50 m and a lower aquifer of sandstone with more than 200 m thickness. For a thorough evaluation of the aquifers, in the first stage, the petrophysical and hydrogeological parameters, including formation factor, total and effective porosity, shale volume, hydraulic conductivity, and transmissivity, are measured solely from geophysical well-logs. In the second step, the results of geophysical well logs are combined with VES and pumping test data to detect the spatial variation of the measured parameters over the study area. As a result, the hydraulic conductivity of the Nubian aquifers ranged from 1.9 to 7.8 m/day, while the transmissivity varied between 120 and 733 m2/day. These results indicated that the potentiality of the Nubian formation is high; however, in some regions, due to the sediment heterogeneity, the aquifers have intermediate to high potential. According to the obtained results, it can be concluded that the Nubian Aquifer in Khartoum state is ideal for groundwater development. This research discovered that geophysical approaches can be used to characterize moderately heterogeneous groundwater systems by comparing the Nubian aquifer with similar aquifer systems that have similar hydrogeological settings. This study emphasized the application of universal principl, Water Resources

The present work used the electrical resistivity approach to conduct a three-dimensional modeling and initial volume estimation of the limestone layer in the Mintom region located in southern Cameroon. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, a total of 21 electrical soundings spaced 250 m were first collected in the field using the Schlumberger array. These soundings were conducted along three profiles oriented in an east–west direction, spaced 500 m. Additionally, a geological survey was conducted to identify and emphasize the presence of limestone formations within the designated study region. The interpretation of the sounding data was conducted based on the analysis of the sounding curves. The interpretation outcomes, specifically resistivity and thickness, were compared with the geological field data, resulting in the development of lithostratigraphic logs for each sounding. The geological sections were constructed using the logs of the designated profile. The lithological logs were utilized to establish a lithological interface model and calculate the volume of the limestone layer at 260 ± 13 × 106 m3, utilizing the inverse distance method built into RockWorks software. A resistivity value is assigned to each geological layer in a sounding curve, allowing for the development of a resistivity variation model specific to the limestone layer. The proposed model facilitates the categorization of limestone layers based on their resistivity variations, thus serving as a fundamental reference for prospective exploratory activities within the designated study region. Our integrated approach provides a replicable model for a better understanding of the limestone reserve and effective management of this valuable resource., Water Resources

In the terrestrial environment, interactions between natural organic matter (NOM) and colloids can lead to the formation of an environmental corona around colloids, influencing their transport behaviour and, ultimately, their ecotoxicity. We used a synthetically designed colloid tagged with DNA (DNAcol) as a surrogate for natural colloids and investigated its transport in saturated sand columns. We varied the concentrations of NOM and ionic strength (CaCl2), to better understand the transport and release of DNAcol in porous media under both steady and transient porewater chemistry conditions. In addition, we aimed to understand the main factors that control deposition and release of DNAcol under tested conditions. To induce transient chemistry, we replaced the injection solution containing NOM and/or CaCl2 with Milli-Q water. The results showed that the deposition rate of DNAcol was inversely proportional to the concentration of NOM. The deposition rate increased significantly even under low ionic strength (CaCl2) conditions of tested conditions. Notably, the influence of NOM on the transport of DNAcol was most pronounced at the lowest range of [Ca2+]/DOC ratios, and the attachment of DNAcol to the sand grains was negligible. Moreover, the results showed while the DLVO theory captured the general trend of experimental results, it significantly underestimated the deposition of DNAcol in the presence of CaCl2. Under transient porewater chemistry conditions, colloid remobilization was observed upon flushing the column with Milli-Q water, leading to a secondary peak in the breakthrough curves. We observed that under transient porewater chemistry conditions, when the ionic strength of the solution was 10 mM, the magnitude of the remobilization peak was more significant compared to conditions with 1 mM ionic strength. Our work emphasized the complex interplay between water quality on the one hand and deposition and, Water Resources

Recently, superparamagnetic silica encapsulated DNA microparticles (SiDNAFe) were designed and in various experiments used as a hydrological tracer. We investigated the effect of bed characteristics on the transport behaviour and especially the mass loss of SiDNAFe in open channel injection experiments. Hereto, a series of laboratory injection experiments were conducted with four channel bed conditions (no sediment, fine river sediment, coarse sand, and goethite-coated coarse sand) and two water qualities (tap water and Meuse water). Breakthrough curves (BTCs) were analysed and modelled. Mass loss of SiDNAFe was accounted for as a first-order decay process included in a 1-D advection and dispersion model with transient storage (OTIS). SiDNAFe BTCs could be adequately described by advection and dispersion with or without a first-order decay process. SiDNAFe mass recoveries exhibited a wide range, varying from 50% to 120% from sediment-free conditions to coarse (coated) sediment. In 6 out of 8 cases, SiDNAFe mass recovery was complete. Retention of SiDNAFe was 1–2 orders of magnitude greater than gravitational settling rates, as determined in Tang et al. (Hydrological Processes, e14801, 2023). We reason this was due to grain-scale hyporheic flows and coupled water-sediment-particle interactions. The dispersive behaviour of SiDNAFe generally mimicked that of NaCl tracer. We concluded that SiDNAFe can be used in tracing experiments. However, water quality and sediment characteristics may affect the fate of SiDNAFe in river environments. SiDNAFe is a promising tool for particulate multi-tracing in large rivers., Water Resources

The present investigation involved the production of roof tile samples through the replacement of kaolin clay with varying proportions of Ferrosilicon slag (FS) (0%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25% by weight) at different firing temperatures (900 °C, 1000 °C, and 1100 °C). The present study investigated the impact of incorporating FS slag waste on durability, mechanical strength, thermal shock resistance, and thermal properties. Furthermore, an examination of the microstructure of the fired roof tiles was conducted through SEM analysis. The properties of the roof tiles exhibited enhancement as the percentage of FS slag increased, reaching a maximum of 15%, and the firing temperature increased up to 1000 °C. This can be attributed to the formation of significant amounts of corundum phase. Increased temperature and a higher percentage of FS slag are associated with the generation of a significant quantity of cristobalite phase, resulting in a reduction in the mechanical properties of roof tiles. The roof tile samples fabricated with up to 15% FS slag at 1000 °C exhibited low water absorption and porosity. Increases in temperature and FS slag, on the other hand, resulted in an increase in water absorption and porosity. There were no observable impacts on water absorption and apparent porosity at 900 °C. The firing temperature of 1000 °C and a slag percentage of 15% resulted in a minimum water absorption of 9.8%. This value meets the standard requirements for moderate weather resistance. Notwithstanding the increase in density of roof tiles containing elevated proportions of FS slag, they continue to fall within the limits of lightweight roof tiles as stipulated by determined standards. The experimental results indicate that the incorporation of 15% FS slag and firing at a temperature of 1000 °C resulted in a significant increase of 34.9% in the transverse breaking strength (TBS) of the clay roof tiles when compared to the conventional sample. This suggests that the structura, Water Resources

Agriculture is considered one of the primary elements for socioeconomic stability in most parts of Sudan. Consequently, the irrigation water should be properly managed to achieve sustainable crop yield and soil fertility. This research aims to predict the irrigation indices of sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), sodium percentage (Na%), permeability index (PI), and potential salinity (PS) using innovative machine learning (ML) techniques, including K-nearest neighbor (KNN), random forest (RF), support vector regression (SVR), and Gaussian process regression (GPR). Thirty-seven groundwater samples are collected and analyzed for twelve physiochemical parameters (TDS, pH, EC, TH, Ca+2, Mg+2, Na+, HCO3−, Cl, SO4−2, and NO3−) to assess the hydrochemical characteristics of groundwater and its suitability for irrigation purposes. The primary investigation indicated that the samples are dominated by Ca-Mg-HCO3 and Na-HCO3 water types resulted from groundwater recharge and ion exchange reactions. The observed irrigation indices of SAR, Na%, PI, and PS showed average values of 7, 42.5%, 64.7%, and 0.5, respectively. The ML modeling is based on the ion’s concentration as input and the observed values of the indices as output. The data is divided into two sets for training (70%) and validation (30%), and the models are validated using a 10-fold cross-validation technique. The models are tested with three statistical criteria, including mean square error (MSE), root means square error (RMSE), and correlation coefficient (R2). The SVR algorithm showed the best performance in predicting the irrigation indices, with the lowest RMSE value of 1.45 for SAR. The RMSE values for the other indices, Na%, PI, and PS, were 6.70, 7.10, and 0.55, respectively. The models were applied to digital predictive data in the Nile River area of Khartoum state, and the uncertainty of the maps was estimated by running the models 10 times iteratively. The standard deviation maps were generated to assess the m, Water Resources

The numerous hydrothermal alteration zones and subsurface structures affecting the mineralized deposits of the Dungash region were identified using aeromagnetic data. The Center of Exploration Targeting (CET) approach and several filters, such as reduction-to-pole, Tilt derivative, First Vertical Derivative, Horizontal gradient map, Downward continuation, analytical signal methods, regional, and residual separation, were used to analyze the aeromagnetic data. The research region is impacted by several structural trends running in the N-S, E-W, NW-SE, and NE-SW directions, and these trends are strongly related to the gold mineralization and surrounding hydrothermal alteration zones. In the NW-SE direction, four alteration zones have been identified. The research region's northern and eastern regions have shallower basement relief, with depths of only approximately 100 m, and those depths show that the area is rootless. Conversely, the basement relief and surface depths are lower in the study region's western and southern regions. The routes taken by the ascending hydrothermal fluids can be seen as aeromagnetic lineaments at the hydrothermal alteration zones. Mineralization appears to be linked to structural lineaments, as evidenced by airborne magnetic data. For gold prospecting, the aeromagnetic technique seems to be the most effective and efficient geophysical method because gold is typically found in severely deformed shear zones and faults., Water Resources

This study combined gravity data from the Earth Gravitational Model (EGM2008) with other data to better understand the spatial variations of the sedimentary cover and the structural trends that affect groundwater flow in the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System. Our findings were verified and evidenced by geological, geochronological, geochemical data, and earthquake records: 1) The Uweinat-Aswan basement uplift, which runs east-west, partially isolates the Dakhla subbasin from the shallower northern Sudan subbasin, and thereby impeding the south-to-north groundwater flow from northern Sudan platform to the Dakhla subbasin; 2) A thickening of the sedimentary cover in the NE-SW direction from the southern Kufra through the northern Kufra to the Dakhla subbasin; 3) The sedimentary cover was found to increase from less than 500 m in the south (Northern Sudan and Uweinat region) to more than 6 km in the north (Mediterranean coast); 4) A number of structural trends (NE-SW, N-S, E-W, and NW-SE) affecting the region; 5) A large Pelusium megashear system that runs northeast to southwest makes it easier for groundwater to flow from the Kufra subbasin to the Dakhla subbasin; 6) Along the paths that groundwater takes, like from Siwa to Qattara and from northwest Farafra to north Bahariya, and along structures that run in the same direction as the flow, a progressive increase in 36Cl groundwater ages were observed; 7) It is a better way to learn about the hydrogeological context of large aquifers and figure out how to best manage these underground water sources., Water Resources

In the Middle East, water shortage is becoming more and more serious due to the development of agriculture and industry and the increase in population. Saudi Arabia is one of the most water-consuming countries in the Middle East, and urgent measures are needed. Therefore, we integrated data from Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE), and other relevant data to estimate changes in groundwater storage in Saudi Arabia. The findings are as follows: 1) Average annual precipitation (AAP) was calculated to be 76.4, 90, and 72 mm for the entire period, Period I (April 2002 to March 2006) and Period II (April 2006 to July 2016), respectively. 2) The average TWS variation was estimated to be −7.94 ± 0.22, −1.39 ± 1.35, and −8.38 ± 0.34 mm/yr for the entire period, Period I and Period II, respectively. 3) The average groundwater storage was estimated to be +1.56 ± 1.35 mm/yr during Period I. 4) The higher average groundwater depletion rate was calculated to be −6.05 ± 0.34 mm/yr during Period II. 5) Both soil texture and surface streams in the study area promote lateral flow and carry surface water to the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea. 6) During Period II, average annual recharge rates were estimated to be +9.48 ± 2.37 and +4.20 ± 0.15 km3 for Saudi Arabia and the Saq aquifer, respectively. 7) This integrated approach is an informative and cost-effective technique to assess the variability of groundwater resources in large areas more efficiently., Water Resources

This study used land gravity and airborne magnetic data to investigate the depth to the magmatic chamber and map the heat flow distribution beneath the active volcanoes of Hawaii Island using the Curie point depth (CPD) and gravity modeling. Obtaining some of the ground-based geophysical measurements was problematic due to accessibility limitations; therefore, this study used available data. The CPD and magnetic data were used to map the depth to the bottom of the magnetic layer by calculating the depth to the Curie isotherm (540°C) beneath Hawaii Island. The spectral peak method was used to calculate the depths to the shallow and deep magnetic sources for the entire island, and the CPD was calculated using the centroid method. A two-dimensional density model for two Earth layers was constructed using forward modeling of the gravity data. A large plume of dense intrusive material was observed beneath the three adjacent volcanoes of Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, and Kilauea, and two small chambers were found to be located beneath the Kohala and Hualalai volcanoes. Based on the gravity modeling results, the depth to the magma layer varied from 0.5 to 10 km, and the heat flow was higher close to the volcanic eruption zones. The current study is informative and cost effective for the world’s most active volcanic areas., Water Resources

The Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System (NSAS) is made up of three major sub-basins: Kufra, Dakhla, and the N. Sudan Platform. It is one of the world’s largest groundwater systems. The aquifer’s hydrologic setting, connectivity of its sub-basins, and groundwater flow across these sub-basins are currently unclear. To address these issues, we used a combined approach that included: (1) a regionally calibrated groundwater flow model that mimics early (>10,000 years) steady-state conditions under wet climatic periods and later (<10,000 years BP–1960; 1960–2010) transient conditions under arid climatic periods; and (2) groundwater ages (36 Cl,81 Kr) and isotopic (18 O,2 H) data. The NSAS was recharged on a regional scale in previous wet climatic periods; however, in dry periods, its outcrops are still receiving local modest recharge. A progressive increase in36 Cl groundwater ages was found along groundwater flow directions and along structures that are sub-parallel to the flow direction. The NE–SW Pelusium mega shear zone is a preferential groundwater flow conduit from the Kufra to the Dakhla sub-basin. The south-to-north groundwater flow is hampered by the Uweinat–Aswan basement uplift. The findings provide useful information about the best ways to use the NSAS., Water Resources

Saudi Arabia is seeking fresh groundwater resources to face the increase in anthropogenic activities. The groundwater storage variations and occurrence were investigated and the surface and subsurface structures influencing the groundwater resources in the research area were defined using a combined study of Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment, aeromagnetic data, and electrical resistivity data with other relevant datasets. Results are: The groundwater storage fluctuation is calculated at −0.34 ± 0.01 mm/yr during the period 04/2002-12/2021. The area is receiving an average annual rainfall rate of 117.6 mm during the period 2002 to 2019. Three structural trends, defined in the directions of NS, NNW, and NNE are cutting the sedimentary cover and the basement rocks. The sedimentary cover ranges from 0 to 1.2 km thick. Vertical electrical sounding results indicate three main geoelectric layers: the surface geoelectrical layer of higher resistivity values (428-9626 Ω. m) is made up of unconsolidated Quaternary sediments; the water-bearing layer of saturated sands with a resistivity range between 5.1 and 153 Ω. m and with depths vary from 1 to 94 m, and highly fractured basement rocks with resistivity values ranging from 813 to 6030 Ω. m. The integrated results are useful in providing a comprehensive image of the study area’s surface and subsurface structures, as well as groundwater potential in the southwestern part of Saudi Arabia. Our integrated approach provides a reproducible model for assessing groundwater potential in arid and semiarid areas., Water Resources

Thirty groundwater samples were taken from Assiut’s northern outskirts. The physicochemical properties of these samples were investigated. For the evaluation of water–rock interaction, the saturation index (SI), chloro-alkaline indices (CAI1 and CAI2), Gibbs ratios for cations and anions (GC and GA), principal component analysis (PCA), and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) were used. (1) With the exception of five samples that were supersaturated, the rest of the groundwater samples were under-saturated with carbonate mineral dissolution (calcite, dolomite, and aragonite) and evaporite mineral dissolution (anhydrite, gypsum, halite, and sylvite). (2) The presence of ion exchange between alkali elements (Na+ + K+) and earth alkaline elements (Ca2+ + Mg2+) is explained by the positive values of the chloro-alkaline indices. (3) In four groundwater samples, negative chloro-alkaline indices suggest reverse ion exchange and an increasing alkali element content. (4) The Gibbs diagram demonstrates that, with the exception of four samples that reflect saline groundwater, the majority of the groundwater samples are freshwater recharging from the fresh surface water in the research area. (5) Groundwater types include Ca-HCO3 (11%), Mg-HCO3 (48%), Na-HCO3 (23%), Mg-Cl (13%), and Na-Cl (3%). (6) The alkali, earth alkaline elements, and sulphate are the key controls on groundwater salinity, according to PCA and HCA. (7) The somewhat saline groundwater in the research area’s western desert margins should not be used since it poses a health danger to people., Water Resources

Every day, mining corporations grow and develop over Egypt’s Eastern Desert in search of gold, silver, and other metals. Mineral resources in Egypt are a powerful tool for increasing national income. In this study, we are interested in mineral exploration, such as gold and porphyry deposits, using aeromagnetic data, applying various processing techniques such as First Vertical Derivative, Total Horizontal Gradient, Analytical Signal, Tilt Derivative, and the center of exploration targeting. The study area is located at the Central Eastern Desert, which includes the Barramiya, Abu Marwa, and Abu Mireiwah regions. The analysis of the delineated structural trends shows that the N–S, NW–SE, and NE–SW are the most effective directions for managing deposits in the investigated area. A minor trend is also shown in the E–W direction and corresponds to the alteration zones reported by geology and prior investigations. Mineralization zones occur most frequently at the contact between ophiolitic serpentinite, sediments, and other rock types. This study intends to add more about the use of the recently developed technology of CET grid analysis for mineral exploration and structural interpretation across the Central Eastern Desert. The CET porphyry analysis map shows locations where several occurrences of porphyry deposits are probable. The newly discovered spots are similar to the area’s usual deposit sites. This study proves that aeromagnetic data are significant in mineral exploration since they are useful for the discovery of the structure and shear zones controlling the mineralization zones., Water Resources

Building insulation based on nanomaterials is considered one of the most effective means of reducing energy consumption in the hot desert climate. The application of an energy-efficient insulation system can significantly decrease the energy consumed via a building’s air-conditioning system during the summer. Hence, building insulation has become an interesting research topic, especially with regards to the use of insulation based on nanomaterials due to their low U-values. In the present study, the use of nano vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) or polystyrene foam in the walls enabled a significant reduction in the annual energy consumption, a savings of 23% compared to the uninsulated wall in a study in New Aswan City. The application of nanogel glazing to the windows (two layers of clear glass filled with the nanogel) achieved approximately 11% savings in annual energy. This savings, twice that obtained by using double-glazed windows, could be due to the low U-value of nanogel compared to the U-values of argon or air. The embedded nanogel layer between two layers of argon and two layers of single clear glass showed a significant reduction in annual energy consumption, saving 26% compared to the use of a single layer of glass. Moreover, the integration between this window and embedded walls with 50 mm of polystyrene foam exhibited a significant improvement of energy efficiency by 47.6% while presenting the lowest value of simple payback period (SPP). This research provides a way for buildings to be insulated to make them more energy efficient as well as attractive from the economic standpoint., Water Resources

The effectiveness of bank filtration (BF) is highly dependent on the source water quality (e.g., organic matter composition, pH, and concentration of heavy metals (HMs)). In this study, the impact of dissolved organic matter (DOM) on the removal of selected metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Se, and Ni) during BF was investigated. Column studies were conducted at 30 °C with feed water sources of different organic matter composition. Excitation–emission matrix fluorescence coupled with parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC–EEM) was used to characterise the organic composition of the feed waters. Moreover, another series of column studies was conducted to assess the impact of natural organic matter type (humic, protein) and concentration on the HMs removals. The experimental results revealed a high Pb(II) removal efficiency during filtration, which depends only slightly on the organic matter content of the feed water. In comparison, the removals of Cu, Zn and Ni ranged between 65 and 95 %; and relied significantly on the organic concentration and composition in the raw waters. Humic compounds (terrestrial or microbial) demonstrated adequate ability to reduce the removal efficiencies of these HMs during the infiltration. Conversely, biodegradable matter was found to be effective in enhancing the sorption of HMs onto the sand grains. The Se-removal was enhanced when the feed water contained a higher concentration of biodegradable matter. In general, it can be concluded that the organic composition of the source water affects profoundly the removal of HMs during the BF, and should be considered in the design of BF systems., Sanitary Engineering, Water Resources