Flooding Prediction in Wadi Zarqa Ma'in Basin, Jordan: A Study in Applied Geomorphology

Ali  Alananzeh; Hashem  Alshraifat

doi:10.35516/hum.v49i6.3779

Authors

Ali Alananzeh Department of Geography, School of Arts, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
Hashem Alshraifat Department of Geography, School of Arts, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35516/hum.v49i6.3779

Keywords:

Analytical hierarchy process, geographic information systems, applied geomorphology, rainfall, floods

Abstract

The study focused on different methods to analyze the hydrological and Morphometric properties of the Zarqa Ma'in Basin and bind them with a specific number of natural variables for predicting the possibility of floods in the basin by using different scenarios. At the end of the stage, the study aims to find the best-applied aspects of the basin in terms of geomorphology in light of the results of the study. The methodology was applied by using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), different satellite images, Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and different data sources that were needed to produce flood maps. The study showed that the basin is vulnerable to floods of varying levels during the seasons of the year based on the natural characteristics, especially regarding climate changes, which include rain precipitation and its intensity. The result showed that 34% of the basin is vulnerable to floods during the Autumn season due to heavy rains and the absence of vegetation cover. It also observed that the probability of the basin might be exposed to flood during the winter season with the same intensity and reached 19% in the steepness area which is characterized by low infiltration and penetration of rainfall. The study recommended using field surveys supported by a Global Positioning System (GPS) device to study the natural and human causes that could be introduced into estimating the possibility of flooding or not.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abu Ras, Murad, Issa, Muhammad (2017). The Nature of Soil and Slopes and Their Impact on the Selection of Soil Conservation Procedures at the Southern Slope of Jabal Al Akhdar, Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering, 1( 1), 53-59

Alaji, Amneh (2010). Application of geographic information systems in building a database of morphometric properties and their hydrological implications in Wadi Yalamal Basin, Master Thesis (unpublished) Umm Al-Qura University, Saudi Arabia.

Al-Aqrabawi, Iman Yusef Ibrahim (2007). Morphometric Analysis of the Zarqa Valley Basin of Ma'in in comparison with the water basins in Jordan, Mu’tah Research and Studies, Jordan, Mutah University, M22, Issue 5, pp.

Al-Darab'a, Abd Al-Rahim (2003). Plant Production as a Source of Food in the Theban District, Master Thesis (unpublished), University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.

Al-Fitouri, Ali Muhammad (2015). Morphometric Characteristics of the Qattara Valley Basin: A Study between the Use of Traditional Methods and GIS Software, The Libyan International Journal, Libya, University of Benghazi, vol. 3, pp. 1-20.

Al-Haddadin, Waddah Jalil Ibrahim (1996). Desertification in Madaba Governorate, Master Thesis (unpublished), University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.

Al-Husban, Yousra (2010). The Water Drainage Network in the Mafraq Region: A Study in Physical Geography (Geomorphology), (Published Research), College of Arts, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.

Al-Husban, Yusra, Al-Zureikat, Dalal (2015). Morphometric Characteristics of the Zarqa River Basin in Jordan, Using Geographic Information Systems and the Digital Wheel Model, Studies: Humanities and Social Sciences, Jordan, University of Jordan, Vol. 42, 1281-1294.

Al-Maghari, Bassem (2016). Morphometric Characteristics of Wadi Al-Hasa Basin Using Geographic Information Systems, Master Thesis (unpublished), Islamic University, Gaza, Palestine.

Al-Mashhadani, Latif (2009). The Impact of Vegetation Coverage on the City's Local Climate, Journal of the College of Basic Education, Baghdad, Iraq, Al-Mustansiriya University, p. 60.

Alnawaisa, Samer Awad (2017). The weather conditions associated with the sudden flood that affected the city of Aqaba on 3/29/2015, Mu'tah Research and Studies, Jordan, Mu'tah University, M32, Issue 3, pp. 175-202.

Al-Zahir, Naeem (2005). The Geography of Jordan, First Edition, Irbid, Jordan, The World of Modern Books.

Dawood, Jumah, Mirz, Maraj, Al-Ghamdi, Khaled (2012), Assessing the risks of flash floods in Makkah Al-Mukarramah city based on geographical information systems, Geographical Information Systems Journal, vol. 3, p. 3, pp. 217-223

Department of Statistics (2019). Jordan Population Census, Amman, Jordan.

General Directorate of Civil Defense, Disaster Management Report, Floods, 2018.

Ghoneim, Othman Muhammad (1987). Geomorphology of the Delta of Zarqa Valley Ma'in, MA thesis (unpublished), University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.

Hamid, Daly Khalaf (2016). Spatial Analysis for Estimating Surface Runoff Volume Using SNS (CN) for the Southern Wadi Murr Basin - Northern Iraq, Tikrit Journal of Pure Sciences, 21(5).

Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, (2019). Geological data for the study area, Amman, Jordan.

Ministry of Water and Irrigation, (2019). Climate data for the study area, Amman, Jordan.

Salameh, Hassan Ramadan (1985). The difference in the water drainage of desert valleys in Jordan, Geographical Letters, Kuwait University, vol. 76, pp. 3-77.

USGS Website, (2019). Satellite Images (Satellite Visuals, Digital Elevation Model).