AQUIFERS

INTRODUCTION

⇁ Underground rock - contains

groundwater
⇁ Freshwater source
⇁ Oases formed above
⇁ Filled slowly
FORMATION ZONE OF AERATION: 1) to 3)

SATURATED ZONE: 4)

1) Water soaks into ground

2) Water infiltrates &

recharges groundwater

3) Water table - first

occurrence

4) Flows freely
CHARACTERISTICS

⇁ Permeable & porous

⇁ Specific rock types
⇁ Confined aquifer
○ Under pressure
○ Between 2 layers of clay
⇁ Unconfined aquifer
○ Confining layer on bottom
○ Permeable soil on top
EXAMPLE

⇁ Nubian Sandstone Aquifer

System (NSAS)
⇁ Eastern Sahara desert
⇁ 150,000 km3 of water
⇁ Supplies Kufra oasis
OASES
INTRODUCTION

⇁ Fertile area in a dry, arid

region
⇁ Irrigated by an
underground water source
(e.g. aquifers)
⇁ Vary in size

Gaberoun Oasis, Libya

FORMATION

⇁ Faulting & climate conditions

form depression in arid
regions
⇁ Depression deepens over time
⇁ Depression reaches aquifer &
water table
⇁ Water comes to surface
CHARACTERISTICS

⇁ Oases sourced by
above-ground rivers can be
created by aquifers miles
away
⇁ Vital part of life in deserts
and harsh, dry conditions of
the world
EXAMPLE

⇁ Al-Hasa Oasis - largest

palm tree oasis in world
⇁ Area of 30,000 acres
⇁ Farming
⇁ Center of international
commerce
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