On the Modeling of Groundwater Features Due to Extreme Arid Conditions in Nimroz Province, Afghanistan

On the Modeling of Groundwater Features Due to Extreme Arid Conditions in Nimroz Province, Afghanistan

Hafizullah Rasouli, Ashok Vaseashta
Copyright: © 2024 |Pages: 19
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-6684-8771-6.ch012
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Abstract

Due to extreme arid conditions in Afghanistan, it is critical to conduct research by modeling groundwater features. The studies conducted in Nimroz province on the groundwater flow directions, aquifer types, inflow, outflow, evaporation, and geology of the region are presented. Samples were collected from each profile and transported to our laboratory for characterization. The objective was to identify parameters in different locations of Nimroz and Zarang, for potential use as a water resource, since no such data exists due to years of conflict in the region. From this study, we assess the features of lithology, such as silty sand, clay with gravel, sandy silt, gravel, boulder, and clay with gravel, in addition to the groundwater quality, which is saline, due to evaporation in this region. Generally, the thickness of aquifers is about 5-25m, and the groundwater has evaporated to 5-10m depth with an annual precipitation of about 50-100 mm. It is further observed that the groundwater direction is from east to west. The results suggest that the modeling can be used for other regions.
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Introduction

Afghanistan is known for its high mountains, which are mainly located in the northeast part of Afghanistan, as part of the Mustage series, Wakhan, central and east Hindukush, and Hinduraj, Wakhan, located east to west and is 6505m in height. The east Hindukush Mountain is in the north-northeast with a height between 5500-6000m, and in some parts, the height is ~7000 m, with a total length of approximately 350 km (Arian, et al. 2015, Hamdard, et al. 2022), while the Hinduraj little extends to only about 130 km from northeast to southwest (Abdullah, et al. 1979, Avouac and Burov, 1996). The middle mountain region consists of ParaPamizus, Turband Turkistan, with its height increasing to the southeast. The ParaPamizus height is about 3000 – 3500m and its total length is 550 km, while Turban and Turkistan are more than 4000m in height (Banks, et at. 2002, Bohannon, R.G., 2005). The low mountain region consists of the west of Badakhshan to Polykhomri River, and the main mountain region consists of Rustaq, Simi, Turband, and Turkistan with a mean height is 700 – 900m (Bohannon and Turner, 2007, Böckh, 1971). Generally, in Nimroz province the plateau and plain areas are located on both sides i.e., the southeast and northeast, of the Amu River, which has a height of 300 – 350 m. above sea level (a.s.l), while the mountain areas in Nimroz province are located near Iran's borders with plateau and desert areas. In Afghanistan, about 75% of the mountains are located from northeast to southwest, generally, in the northeast the height of the mountains continues to widen, which makes different forms of alluvial fans (Broshears, et al. 2005, Lave and Avouac, 2001), but the height of mountains is located near the Parwan, Qatghan, Wakhan, and Nuristan and it’s the skeleton of Hindukush mountains in Afghanistan, which has watershed between Amu Indus rivers. This series of mountains continues all the way to Tajikistan, China, and India. The total length of the Hindukush Mountain is ~800 km and has different types of valley system, which is separated East, Central, and West of Hindukush. Generally, the middle mountains of Afghanistan are in the west and southwest parts of Hindukush, and the stretch of these mountains is east to west. On the west side of this mountain range is ParaPamizus, which has an average height of ~3000-3500 m.a.s.l, and a total length of 550 km (Koons, 1989, Malgary, 1987). On the south of this mountain range is Turbanda Turkistan, which is the highest, with over 4000 m.a.s.l. In addition, the Hazara Jat mountains consist of thin valleys with an average height of ~1500-4000 m.a.s.l. In the Southeast of Afghanistan, the Suleiman Mount range extends from east to west (Lave and Avouac, 2001, Molnar, 1990). In addition, in the south, north, and west of Afghanistan, there are plain areas and deserts, as shown in Figure. 1.

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