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Paleoclimate record in the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Abdou Abouelmagd ,
Mohamed Sultan ,
Neil C. Sturchio ,
Farouk Soliman ,
Mohamed Rashed ,
Mohamed Ahmed ,
Alan E. Kehew ,
Adam Milewski  and
Kyle Chouinard
Abdou Abouelmagd
Affiliation:
Department of Geosciences, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5200, USA Department of Geology, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, 41522, Egypt
Mohamed Sultan*
Affiliation:
Department of Geosciences, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5200, USA
Neil C. Sturchio
Affiliation:
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607-7059, USA
Farouk Soliman
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, 41522, Egypt
Mohamed Rashed
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, 41522, Egypt
Mohamed Ahmed
Affiliation:
Department of Geosciences, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5200, USA Department of Geology, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, 41522, Egypt
Alan E. Kehew
Affiliation:
Department of Geosciences, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5200, USA
Adam Milewski
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
Kyle Chouinard
Affiliation:
Department of Geosciences, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5200, USA
*
*Corresponding author at: Department of Geosciences, Western Michigan University, 1903 W. Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008, USA. Fax: + 1 269 387 5513. E-mail address:mohamed.sultan@wmich.edu (M. Sultan).
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Abstract

Sixteen groundwater samples collected from production wells tapping Lower Cretaceous Nubian Sandstone and fractured basement aquifers in Sinai were analyzed for their stable isotopic compositions, dissolved noble gas concentrations (recharge temperatures), tritium activities, and 14C abundances. Results define two groups of samples: Group I has older ages, lower recharge temperatures, and depleted isotopic compositions (adjusted 14C model age: 24,000–31,000 yr BP; δ18O: − 9.59‰ to − 6.53‰; δ2H: − 72.9‰ to − 42.9‰; < 1 TU; and recharge T: 17.5–22.0°C) compared to Group II (adjusted 14C model age: 700–4700 yr BP; δ18O: − 5.89‰ to − 4.84‰; δ2H: − 34.5‰ to − 24.1‰; < 1 to 2.78 TU; and recharge T: 20.6–26.2°C). Group II samples have isotopic compositions similar to those of average modern rainfall, with larger d-excess values than Group I waters, and locally measurable tritium activity (up to 2.8 TU). These observations are consistent with (1) the Nubian Aquifer being largely recharged prior to and/or during the Last Glacial Maximum (represented by Group I), possibly through the intensification of paleowesterlies; and (2) continued sporadic recharge during the relatively dry and warmer interglacial period (represented by Group II) under conditions similar to those of the present.

Keywords

PaleoclimateNubian Sandstone Aquifer System (NSAS)Sinai PeninsulaNoble gases14C adjusted model agePaleowesterliesPaleomonsoon
Type
Research Article
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 81 , Issue 1 , January 2014 , pp. 158 - 167
Copyright
University of Washington

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