Elements of the natural environment and its problems in the Sabkha Judah area

Document Type : High quality original papers

Author

Egypt - Assuit University - Faculty of Arts- Geography Department

Abstract

The present study aims to study the elements of the natural environment and its problems in the Sabkha Judah area, through a case study approach, a regional approach, field monitoring of its characteristics, the extraction of the SRTM DEM model, mechanical and chemical laboratory analysis, the extraction of X-ray diffraction of 6 soil samples, water sample, visual analysis Sentinal-2, cartage analysis of topographic map No. 11-3825, geologic map No. C-208a of the ArcGIS10.5 softwear, and analysis of meteorological data for the 198-2808 period using the SPSS program. The study showed that topographic and climatic factors are the most important factors influencing the formation of a qualitative sabkha. Long of Judah is 9.4 km, wide 3.25 km, with an area of 30.38 km2, mean depth of 3 meter, and shape factor of 0.35, thus takes a form the triangle, and the Sabkha basin area suffers from many natural environmental problems; The most important of these is salinization and waterlogging of soil. The problem of salt weathering shows its effects in the construction of roads and facilities. In addition, the risen average level of land water 0.89- m, resulting in the soil being degraded chemically, physically and biologically, thus reducing production by 51%. The study recommends that attention to soil, improving its properties, supplying it with organic material, and protecting the foundations of houses and roads by isolating concrete materials from subsurface salts in different ways. 

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