Potential for Tradable Water Allocation and Rights in Jordan

This paper estimates the costs of buying water use rights from farmers located in the Mafraq-Azraq basin in Jordan. Farmers’ water supply curve is estimated using data gathered from a contingent valuation survey. Estimation results indicate that a total supply of 29 million m3 could be periodically purchased from farmers at an annual price of approximately JD 0.23/m3 (1 JD ≈ 0.70 U.S. dollars), or a total cost of about JD 6.8 million per year.Contingent valuation, non-parametric estimation, water supply curve, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Using Modflow and MT3D Groundwater Flow and Transport Models As a Management Tool for the Azraq Groundwater System

Numerical modeling has emerged as an effective tool for managing groundwater resources and predicting future responses, especially when dealing with complex aquifers systems and heterogeneous formations. Among these models, MODFLOW and MT3D are the most commonly used simulators for groundwater flow and solute transport in subsurface systems, respectively. These models have been used herein as a management tool for the Azraq basin, one of the most important groundwater resources for domestic and agricultural sectors in Jordan. Groundwater extraction from this basin already exceeded the safe yield of the aquifer, and a sharp drop in the water table, a dry out of the springs at the center of the basin and the problem of increased salinity in many parts of the aquifers have been reported. Currently, more than 600 wells including governmental, private and unauthorized wells are operating within the basin boundary. In its attempts to restore and sustain the aquifer, the Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MWI), the official entity in charge of water resources in Jordan, is considering several scenarios of controlled pumping. In this study, five suggested scenarios of pumping with different abstraction rates for years 2005 through 2020 have been explored by using the three dimensional finite difference flow model [MODFLOW (PM5)] to simulate the flow system, and the solute transport model (MT3D) to predict the transport of total dissolved solids given in terms of Electric Conductivity (EC). These scenarios include: first, maintaining the current pumping rate of 57 MCM for the study period; second, reducing the current pumping rates by half; third, increasing the pumping rate by half; fourth, reducing the pumping rates in public wells by half and maintaining the current rates for other wells; and finally reducing the pumping rates by half for the farm wells (private) and maintaining the rates at the other wells. Results indicate that the first and fourth scenarios have similar effect on the drawdown. Also, the second and fifth scenarios have similar effects and provide the lowest drawdown values. The third scenario gives the worst drawdown. The transport of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) given in terms of Electric Conductivity (EC), has also been explored. Different parameters including EC, recharge, model boundary and advection parameters were adjusted to run the model. Simulation results indicated that the effect of the different scenarios on the values of EC is less profound than the effects on the drawdown values. The third scenario caused a slight increase of EC values over the values simulated by other scenarios

Occupying wide open spaces? Late Pleistocene hunter–gatherer activities in the Eastern Levant

With a specific focus on eastern Jordan, the Epipalaeolithic Foragers in Azraq Project explores changing hunter-gatherer strategies, behaviours and adaptations to this vast area throughout the Late Pleistocene. In particular, we examine how lifeways here (may have) differed from surrounding areas and what circumstances drew human and animal populations to the region. Integrating multiple material cultural and environmental datasets, we explore some of the strategies of these eastern Jordanian groups that resulted in changes in settlement, subsistence and interaction and, in some areas, the occupation of substantial aggregation sites. Five years of excavation at the aggregation site of Kharaneh IV suggest some very intriguing technological and social on-site activities, as well as adaptations to a dynamic landscape unlike that of today. Here we discuss particular aspects of the Kharaneh IV material record within the context of ongoing palaeoenvironmental reconstructions and place these findings in the wider spatial and temporal narratives of the Azraq Basin

Gazelle seasonal mobility in the Jordanian steppe: The use of dental isotopes and microwear as environmental markers, applied to Epipalaeolithic Kharaneh IV

The Early/Middle Epipalaeolithic aggregation site of Kharaneh IV in the east Jordan steppe is one of the largest of the period, showing repeated use, high degrees of site investment, and relatively prolonged periods of occupation. Hunters relied heavily on the single prey species, Gazella subgutturosa. This paper reports on isotopic analyses of gazelle teeth, drawn from the Kharaneh IV assemblage, to explore the seasonal and spatial distribution of gazelle in life and examine models of long-distance seasonal gazelle migrations. Dental microwear analysis is also employed to assess hunting seasons. Results from sequential isotope analyses of 11 Epipalaeolithic gazelle molars show that, with one exception, gazelle did not move seasonally from the limestone steppe onto other geologies, nor did they seasonally relocate to areas with different climate regimes. Rather, seasonal herd mobility seems to have been local, meaning animals would have been available in the vicinity of Kharaneh IV year-round. Results from 19 microwear analyses show some gazelle to have died in spring when grass graze was available, whilst others had been browsing around their time of death, indicating non-spring hunting. Microwear evidence thus suggests gazelle were hunted in more than one restricted season. The implications of these new datasets for hunter-gatherer use of the steppe, and potential hunting methods, is highlighted

The environmental setting of Epipalaeolithic aggregation site Kharaneh IV

The archaeological site of Kharaneh IV in Jordan's Azraq Basin, and its relatively near neighbour Jilat 6 show evidence of sustained occupation of substantial size through the Early to Middle Epipalaeolithic (c. 24,000 - 15,000 cal BP). Here we review the geomorphological evidence for the environmental setting in which Kharaneh IV was established. The on-site stratigraphy is clearly differentiated from surrounding sediments, marked visually as well as by higher magnetic susceptibility values. Dating and analysis of off-site sediments show that a significant wetland existed at the site prior to and during early site occupation (~ 23,000 - 19,000 BP). This may explain why such a substantial site existed at this location. This wetland dating to the Last Glacial Maximum also provides important information on the palaeoenvironments and potential palaeoclimatic scenarios for today's eastern Jordanian desert, from where such evidence is scarce

Integration of Vertical Electrical Sounding and Aeromagnetic Data Using GIS Techniques to Assess the Potential of Unsaturated Zone and Natural Basalt Caves for Groundwater Artificial Recharge in NE-Jordan

Geophysical data consisting of Aeromagnetic (AM) and Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) in addition to the extracted lineaments map for the northern part of Azraq basin were used with the aid of ArcGIS tools aiming at investigating the potential of natural basalt caves and unsaturated zone for the purposes of artificial groundwater recharge. The aeromagnetic data were analyzed using advanced processing techniques. The aeromagnetic interpretation was carried out qualitatively and quantitatively and correlated with the distribution and density of lineaments and caves location. The geo-electrical measurements were processed and interpreted to characterize the unsaturated zone in the study area. The surface watershed and watershedpoint areas were modeled and were considered within the integrated interpretation. Based on the results of this study, it was concluded that highly fractured regions possessing low aeromagnetic intensity are of high potential for groundwater recharge; therefore, the central western part of the study area is considered of high potential for groundwater recharge. Regarding the natural basaltic caves, it is concluded that the Beer Al- Hamam and Al-Fahda caves are of high potential for groundwater artificial recharge and the possibility of using the other basaltic caves for groundwater artificial recharge and subsurface storages