The Environmental Atlas of Abu Dhabi Emirate

52°E

53°E

54°E

55°E

147

G ROUNDWATER C HANGE IN S HALLOW TO M EDIUM D EEP A QUIFER FROM 2005 TO 2008

Ra's al-Khaimah

Umm al-Qaiwain

A r a b i a n G u l f

Water use for irrigation in the Emirate’s agricultural, forestry andplantation sectors consumes over 2billion cubic metres of water per year, nearly all of which is extracted from non-renewable groundwater supplies. Since there is negligible groundwater recharge in the Emirate due to the hyper-arid climate, high extraction rates have led to precipitous groundwater level declines, particularly in the Liwa Crescent and in the vicinity of Al Ain, where agriculture is most intensive.

Groundwater extraction creates a localised cone of depression around a well, where groundwater volume within the cone is less than the surrounding area. Once groundwater extraction ceases, often due to exhausted supply, it is not uncommon to see localised recharge over time within the cone of depression. This explains those areas showing positive change in groundwater levels on this map.

Ajman

Sharjah

Qatar

Dubai

25°N

25°N

Mkasib

Qaffay

Abu Dhabi

Muhayyimat

Ghaghah

Musaffah

Bani Yas

Al Ain

Jebel Dhanna

Ruwais

Sila'a

Tarif

24°N

24°N

Oman

Habshan

Ghayathi

Groundwater Change in Agricultural and Forestry Areas

Madinat Zayed

70

Forest Agriculture

Bu Hasa

53

35

Agriculture Forestry Groundwater Change (2005 - 2008) in Research Area

Liwa

18 Percentage

23°N

23°N

Very Strong Rise (>1.5m) Strong Rise (1.0 - 1.5m) Medium Rise (0.5 - 1.0m) Gentle Rise (0.2 - 0.5m) Steady State (-0.2 - 0.2m) Gentle Decline (0.2 - 0.5m) Medium Decline (0.5 - 1.0m) Strong Decline (1.0 - 1.5m) Very Strong Decline (>1.5m) NoData

0

Very Strong Rise ( >1.5m )

Strong Rise ( 1.0 - 1.5m )

MediumRise ( 0.5 - 1.5m )

Gentle Rise ( 0.2 - 0.5m )

Steady State ( -0.2 - 0.2m )

Gentle Decline ( 0.2 - 0.5m )

MediumDecline ( 0.5 - 1.0m )

Strong Decline ( 1.0 - 1.5m )

Very Strong Decline ( >1.5m )

Change in Groundwater Depth (metres)

Saudi Arabia

20

0

20

40 Kilometres

52°E

53°E

54°E

55°E

56°E