Geomorphology and Hydrogeology of Hadramout Area South of Yemen Using Remote Sensing and Field Data

The state of Hadramout Governorate South of Yemen is facing serious water crises as a result of its limited natural water resources, and the over-abstraction from the Shihr, Tawilah and Quaternary deposit aquifer systems. The aquifer heads have fallen, giving rise to the problem of seawater intrusion and resulting in the loss of the fresh ground water resources.
A hydrological map showing the spatial distribution and characteristics of three different types of ground water aquifer systems associated with the nature of rock types and permeability in the study area. The physical and chemical analysis from the water resources (AL-Naqa-Adhibah-Thilah and Fowah) which supply Mukalla and Gail Ba Wazeer zones were tested during the period 17/11/2001 to 27/3/2002. Laboratory analysis showed clear high concentration almost in all the water constitutions. These results are above the values set by the World Organization of Health (WHO) and exceed the Yemeni guidelines for drinking water. The high results are in total dissolved solids (total alkalinity, total hardness, sulphates, manganese and fluorine).
Techniques of water harvesting which was appropriate for this application using remote sensing satellite, taken in 2001, has been analyzed in both descriptive and quantitative geomorphic methods to improve water quality in the area of study a whole, which suffers from high concentration of water constitutions, ending with the adoption of the concept of water harvesting using flash flood in the main drainage basins. So, there is great necessity to give these water resources the superior priority in the future decision planning, to improve ground water aquifer systems in the study area.