Modelling a complicated hydrogeological system: The case study of Wadi Zerka Ma'in - north east of Dead Sea

Modelling a complicated hydrogeological system: The case study of Wadi Zerka Ma'in - north east of Dead Sea Taleb Odeh1 Tino Rödiger2 1 Arid land academy, The Hashemite University, P.O. Box 330127, Zarqa 13133, Jordan 2 Catchment Hydrology Department, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Theodor-Lieser-Strasse 4, 06120 Halle, Germany Abstract Wadi Zerka Ma'in catchment area is a complicated study area from geomorphologically, hydrologically and hydrogeologically point of view. The conceptual system of that complicated system could be clarified by an advanced integrated approach of remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and numerical modelling. However, in such a complicated arid system understanding the disciplines between the groundwater and hydrology and geomorphology is a must in order to achieve a sustainable water resources management. In Wadi Zerka Ma’in catchment area, we estimated the groundwater recharge and understood the influence of the geomorphological units on the spatial distributions of the groundwater recharge. This was according to a powerful hydroinformatic system that was generated by integrated approach of remote sensing and GIS. Furthermore, a three dimensions geological model for the aquifers of the Wadi was generated and modeled in order to understand the influence of geomorphological units on the spatial distribution of aquifer conductivity.