TITLE:
Hydrochemistry of the Mixed Dead Sea-Red Sea Water under Different Impoundment Scenarios as a Time Dependent State
AUTHORS:
J. Abu-Qubu, O. Rimawi, A. Anbar, T. Alebous, Z. S. H. Abu-Hamatteh
KEYWORDS:
Hydrochemistry, Dead Sea, Red Sea, Brine Water, Mixing Process, Barzach Plan, Jordan
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.10 No.1,
January
17,
2022
ABSTRACT: The expected water mixing process between Red/Dead Sea water during the
proposed conveyance projects is the main target of this research. The project
will ensue transporting Red Sea water to recover and maintain certain level of
the Dead Sea, mostly will reach -395 m. It
is found that, the two different water bodies with different EC values or
different densities (salinities) are relatively divided by stable plane. This
plane is defined as the BARZACH PLANE. In this study, the mixing process
occurred between the Red Sea with the Dead Sea waters, located at 20% - 24% of the Dead Sea column depth based on the
Barzach Plane level. During a laboratory experimental work, it is found that
the mixed Red/Dead Sea water evaporates in a high rate until certain level where
the solution attains oversaturated conditions with different dissolved solids.
At this stage, a thin layer of solids suddenly formed and floated at the
surface of the dense brine. The salinity of the captured water is so dense that
floated salt layer cannot be dissolved. In addition, the formed floated salt
layer at the surface prevents the below captured water to evaporate and at this
stage, stalactites start to form until the excess dissolved solids are not
oversaturated with any mineral.