Management of Groundwater Resources in Eastern Saudi Arabia
Effective management of groundwater in arid countries, such as Saudi Arabia, is an important factor in sustainable development. A regional numerical simulation model of a multi-aquifer system including the Dammam and Umm Er Radhuma (UER) aquifers was developed to assess the behaviour of the aquifer system under long-term water stresses. The model was utilized to predict the responses of the aquifer system under three alternative pumping schemes over a planning horizon of 31 years (1995-2025). Model results postulate that dewatering of the Dammam aquifer will occur at low productivity sites and along the outcrop with the current trend towards increasing abstraction. The UER will exhibit significant cones of depression at large irrigation projects. Aquifer dewatering and drawdowns will be minimal with the conservation alternative. This management scheme should be adopted for the future development and protection of groundwater in the province.
Soft Path Water Management in Dry and arid Regions of the Arabian Peninsula by Rainwater Harvesting
Saudi Arabia has limited renewable water resources and the groundwater is the main source of water in Saudi Arabia which. With an arid climate, it receiv es about 50-100 mm/year of rainfall in Central, Eas tern and Northern regions. There are few studies investi gating the future regional climate change and some has predicted a decrease in precipitation but with extr eme climate events such as flood and stormy rainfal l events. Authors have evaluated the thirty-one years record of the rainfall in different parts of the K ingdom and found an increasing trend in annual maximum daily rainfalls at investigated locations signifying t he more extreme rainfall evens and resulting floods of short-durations. A brief review of the Rainwater Harvesting and Management (RWHM) practices in the Arab region and the current use of rainwater in Saudi Arabia is presented and keeping in mind the c limate impacts on the water resources, authors have suggested rooftop RWHM as a soft-path water management strategy to avoid short-term flooding problems in urban areas. Cooperation between government and non-government sectors is also recommended for successful implementations of small-scale, decentra lized and cost-effective practice of RWHM at individual/community levels.
A new genus and species of Thyasiridae (Mollusca, Bivalvia) from deep-water, Beaufort Sea, northern Alaska
Abstract Bivalve mollusk shells were collected in 2350 m depth in the Beaufort Sea, Arctic Ocean off northern Alaska. Initial identification suggested the specimens were a member of the bivalve family Thyasiridae, but no known eastern Pacific or Arctic living or fossil thyasirid resembled these deep-water specimens. Comparisons were made with the type of the genera Maorithyas Fleming, 1950, Spinaxinus Oliver & Holmes, 2006, Axinus Sowerby, 1821, and Parathyasira Iredale, 1930. We determined the Beaufort Sea species represents a new genus, herein described as Wallerconcha. These specimens also represent a new species, herein named Wallerconcha sarae. These new taxa are compared with known modern and fossil genera and species of thyasirds.