Evaluation of the Potential of the Water Resources of Parao-Bisetoun's Karst as the Stable Water Suppliers for Zagros's Ecosystems

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 MSC. of Geomorphology, Faculty of Geography, Kharazmi University, Tehran

2 Assistant Professor of Geomorphology, Faculty of Geography, University of Tehran, Tehran

Abstract

Underground water is one of the most important natural resources for societies, agricultural and industrial activities. One of the most important sources of Karst is its water resources. Understanding the factors influencing feeding springs can help us manage water resources and also, determine areas with high potential of Karst water resources. The purpose of this study is to determine the Karst water resources potential of the Parao-Bisetoun karstic mass. Hydro-chemical analysis of water was used to understand the origin of Karstic springs in the study area. Carbonate type, calcific facies, position in the left region of the Piper diagram and study of molar ratio, all indicate the Karstic source of springs in the study area. In this study, action is taken to determine the potential of underground water resources in the Parao-Bisetoun karstic mass, using the TOPSIS model and the study of 8 variables of lithology, fault density, rainfall, drainage density, slope, elevation, slope and vegetation. For this purpose, fuzzy logic is used to standardize the layers and used Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to determine the weight of each layers. Eventually, with the implementation of the model, the map of Karst water resources potential of the study area was obtained. The review of the final map indicates the great impact of the two lithological factors and faults on the potential of Karst water resources, so that classes with high potential matches on the thick formations of the limestone layer with high density of faults and local fractures. As far as lithology is concerned, the class with a lot of potential matches with Bisetoun lime unit, having the purest type of lime, plus parts of radiolarities. In general, high water springs such as Sarableh, Bisetoun, Barnaj, Shah Hussain and Varmanjeh lie in the margin of many potential and very high classes. This illustrates the proper estimation of the model from high potential of Karst water resources.

Keywords

Main Subjects


[1].  Manap, M.A., Nampak, H., Pradhan, B., Lee, S., Sulaiman, W.N.A., Ramli, M.F. Application of probabilistic-based frequency ratio model in groundwater potential mapping using remote sensing data and GIS. Arab. J. Geosci. 2014; 7(2):711–724.
[2].  Naghibi, S.A., Pourghasemi, H.R. A comparative assessment between three machine learning models and their performance comparison by bivariate and multivariate statistical methods in groundwater potential mapping. Water Resour. Manag. 2015;229 (14):5217–5236.
[3].  Nampak, H., Pradhan, B., Manap, M.A. Application of GIS based data driven evidential belief function model to predict groundwater potential zonation. J. Hydrol. 2014; 513:283–300.
[4].  Rahmati, O., Pourghasemi, H., Melesse, A. Application of GIS-based data driven random forest and maximum entropy models for groundwater potential Mapping: a case study at Mehran Region, Iran. Catena. 2016; 137: 360–372.
[5].  British Columbia, Ministry of Forests. Karst management Handbook for British Columbia. 2003. www.publications.gov.bc.ca.
[6].  Ford,D. Williams,P. Karst Hydrogeology and Geomorphology. John & Sons, Ltd. 2007.
[7].  LaMoreaux, P. E. History of karst hydrogeological studies, Proceedings of the International Conference on Environmental Changes in Karst Areas -I.G.U.- U.I.S.- Italy 15-27 Sept. 1991 ; Quaderni del Dipartimento di Geografia n. 13, 1991 -Università di Padova, pp. 215- 229.
[8].  Magesh NS, Chandrasekar N, Soundranayagam JP. Delineation of groundwater potential zones in Theni district, Tamil Nadu, using remote sensing, GIS and MIF techniques. GSF. 2012; 3(2):189-196.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsf.2011.10.007.
[9].  Preeja KR, Sabu J, Jobin T, Vijith H. Identification of groundwater potential zones of a Tropical River basin (Kerala, India) using remote sensing and GIS techniques. J Indian Soc Remote Sens. 2011; 39(1): 83–94 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12524-011-0075-5.
[10].            Rassam DW, Pagendam DE, Hunter HM. Conceptualisation and application of models for groundwater–surface water interactions and nitrate attenuation potential in riparian zones. Environ Modell Software. 2008;23:859–875. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2007.11.003.
[11].            Magesh NS, Chandrasekar N, Soundranayagam JP. Morphometric evaluation of Papanasam and Manimuthar watersheds, parts of western Ghats, Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu India: a GIS approach.Environ Earth Sci. 2011; 64:373–381. https://doi.org/10.1007/ s12665-010-0860-4.
[12].            Shaban A, Khawlie M, Abdallah C. Use of remote sensing and GIS to determine recharge potential zone: the case of occidental Lebanon. Hydrogeol J. 2006; 14(4):433–443. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-005-0437-6
[13].            Thomas J, Joseph S, Thrivikramji K, Abe G, Kannan N. Morphometrical analysis of two tropical mountain river basins of contrasting environmental settings, the southern western Ghats, India. Environ Earth Sci. 2012;66(8):2353–2366. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-011-1457-2.
[14].            Senthil-Kumar GR, Shankar K. Assessment of groundwater potential zones using GIS. Front Geosci. 2014; 2(1):1–10.
[15].            Etishree A., Rajat A., Garg RD., Garg PK. Delineation of groundwater potential zone: An AHP/ANP approach. Journal of Earth System Science. 2013; 122(3): 887-898. Doi: 10.1007/s12040-013-0309-8.
[16].            Kumar, U., B. Kumar and M. Neha. Groundwater Prospects Zonation Based on RS and GIS Using Fuzzy Algebra in Khoh River Watershed, Pauri-Garhwal District, Uttarakhand, India. Global Perspectives on Geography (GPG). 2013; Vol. 1: 37-45.
[17].            Waikar, M.L., A. P. Nilawar. Identification of Groundwater Potential Zone using Remote Sensing and GIS Technique, International Journal of Innovative Research in Science, Engineering and Technology. 2014; Vol. 3:12163-12174.
[18].            Dashti barmaki, M. Rezaee, M. and Ashjari, J. Potentiality of water resources of karst mountains of Devon and Shapur based on multi-criteria decision making. Journal of Iran water researches. 2015;16: 89-100. (In Persian).
[19].            Razavi Termeh S.V. Mesgari M.S. Kazemi K. Evaluation and comparison of frequency ratio, statistic index and entropy methods for groundwater potential mapping using GIS (Case Study: Jahrom Township). Iranian Journal of Ecohydrology, 2017; 4(3): 725-736. doi: 10.22059/ije.2017.62505. (in persian)
[20].            Maleki, A. Oveisee moaakher, M. and Baghri, A. Investigating the capacity of groundwater resources in karstic formation of khorin kermanshah mountain using GIS technique and geophysical methods. Geography and Environmental Planning. 2017; 1:135-150. (In Persian)
[21].            Afrasiabian, A. Karst hydrology studies in Maharloo calcareous basin. The second scientific seminar on water resources studies. Collection of articles. 1991; 126-137. (In Persian)
[22].            Braud, J. LA suture du Zagros au niveau de Kermanshah (Kurdistan Iranian): Mem Geodiffusion. 1989; 5, 489P., 125 Fig, 1, Carte H, T., Paris.
[23].            Karimi vardanjani, H. Karst Hydrogeology (concepts and methods) (1th Ed.). Eram of Shiraz Press. 2010;28-29. (In Persian).
[24].            Darvari Z., Gholami V., Jokar Sarhangei E. Simulation of Karst Springs Discharge Using Artificial Neural Network (Case Study: Central Alborz Highlands). Physical Geography Researches. 2012;43(77): 57-68. (In Persian).
[25].            Kazemi, R. Ghayomian, J. and Jalali, N. Investigating the role of structural factors in the frequency of water resources in the Lar karstic region using remote sensing and GIS. Journal of Research and Innovation in Natural Resources. 2006; 19(3): 33-41. (In Persian)
[26].            Ballukraya, P. N., and Kalimuthu, R. Quantitative hydrogeological geomorphological analyses for groundwater potential assessment in hard rock terrains. Current Science. 2010;98. No2.
[27].            Ekhtesasi, M. Sehati, M. Mosleharayee, A. and Azimzadeh, H. The effect of some characteristics of stone andesite and granite units on the amount of vegetation deposition in arid regions (A case study of Mehriz Yazd). Journal of Watershed researches, 2011; 92, 32-44. (In Persian)