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Structural control on drainage network and catchment area geomorphology in the Dead Sea area: an evaluation using remote sensing and geographic information systems in the Wadi Zerka Ma’in catchment area (Jordan)

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Abstract

The geology of Jordan is characterized by fault systems with three major trends: (1) NW–SE, the oldest, (2) WNW–ESE, and (3) NNW–SSE, the youngest. The drainage network of the Wadi Zerka Ma’in catchment area, located in the middle of the Dead Sea rift, parallels these structural orientations. A regional transtensive fault, with embedded normal faults, bounds the lower and middle part of the catchment area. The topographic profile of the Zerka Ma’in River exhibits two major knickpoints where it crosses two major embedded normal faults. The second major knickpoint developed as a result of the dramatic lowering of the Lisan Lake water level, a lake that pre-dates the Dead Sea. The decreased water level triggered river incision into the clastic sandstone units of Wadi Zerka Ma’in. We performed a morphotectonic analysis study to investigate how the rock structures control the drainage network and the catchment area geomorphology. According to the transverse topographic symmetry factor (T), the catchment area is highly asymmetric. The major basin asymmetry trend is SE-oriented, parallel to the oldest set of fault systems. The catchment area displays a convex hypsometric curve indicating a very recent stage in the geomorphologic cycle. Our study indicates that the Lisan Lake catchment area shrinkage and structures growth controlled and shaped the Wadi Zerka Ma’in catchment area geomorphology. The combined use of a geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing was shown to be very efficient in unraveling the evolution of the drainage network and catchment area geomorphology.

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Acknowledgments

We are thankful to the editorial board and the four anonymous reviewers who improved the manuscript. We would like to thank the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD—Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst) and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF—Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung; Grant FKZ 02-WM 0848) for the financial support. We thank Adam Szulc (TU Freiberg, Germany) for reviewing the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, The Hashemite University, P.O. Box 330127, Zarqa, 13133, Jordan

    Taleb Odeh

  2. Remote Sensing Group, Institute for Geology, TU Freiberg, Bernhard-von-Cotta-Strasse 2, 09596, Freiberg, Germany

    Richard Gloaguen

  3. Water, Energy and Environment Center (WEEC), The University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan

    Al-Sharifa Hind Mohammad

  4. Department Water Resources and Drinking Water, Eawag - Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Überlandstrasse 133, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland

    Mario Schirmer

  5. Centre for Hydrogeology and Geothermics (CHYN), University of Neuchâtel, Rue Emile-Argand 11, 2000, Neuchâtel, Switzerland

    Mario Schirmer

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  1. Taleb Odeh
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Correspondence to Taleb Odeh.

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Odeh, T., Gloaguen, R., Mohammad, AS.H. et al. Structural control on drainage network and catchment area geomorphology in the Dead Sea area: an evaluation using remote sensing and geographic information systems in the Wadi Zerka Ma’in catchment area (Jordan). Environ Earth Sci 75, 482 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5447-2

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