Integrating of remote sensing, GIS and geophysical data for recharge potentiality evaluation in Wadi El Tarfa, eastern desert, Egypt

In Egypt, water resources management is considered a major socio-economic issue and a central component for future development. With the increasing rate of population growth, urbanization and agricultural expansion, groundwater resources are gaining more demand and attention. Wadi El Tarfa area is one of the semi-arid areas located in the Eastern Desert of Egypt, composed of Cretaceous and Eocene limestone and Quaternary sediments. This study focused on delineation, evaluation and verification of the groundwater potential zones using remote sensing, geospatial techniques and field work. In this regard, thematic maps of the contributing factors such as stream networks, lineaments, lithology, slope, landcover/landuse and rainfall were generated using the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) techniques. Based on the determined recharge favorability, weighing, and overlaying, a groundwater potential of the study area was prepared. The output recharge potential map shows three zones of groundwater prospective potential: good, moderate and low constituting 25%, 69% and 6% of the study area respectively. Of them, the high and moderate zones are strongly recommended for further exploration. The geophysical, water data and transmissivity data for some water points located within the targeted area confirmed the recommended zones. The overall results reflect the effectiveness of using the remote sensing data and geospatial techniques to target areas for groundwater exploration.