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The earthquake sequence, with a maximum earthquake magnitude of MW 3.8, that occurred during January–February 2022 at the northern Dead Sea fault, is shown to be induced by extensive groundwater abstraction in Wadi Al‐Arab basin. Wadi Al‐Arab basin, which is bordered in the west by the Dead Sea fault, has been overexploited by extensive groundwater abstraction causing significant drawdowns. Relative earthquake relocation indicates an elongated S‐N sequence subparallel to the Dead Sea fault. We simulate the three‐dimensional hydraulic head changes in the past 40 years at Wadi al Arab basin. Results show that the drawdowns at the Dead Sea fault wells reached a value greater than 180 m. We use these results to further model the poroelastic effects of the drawdown on the stability of the Dead Sea fault using a typical fault architecture including fault core surrounded by damage zone. Upward groundwater drainage through the permeable damage zone leads to compaction and strengthening. Failure on the Dead Sea fault is expected to occur on the impermeable fault core or at the protholith where weakening is expected. Groundwater abstraction in Wadi Al‐Arab basin cause changes of a few MPa in the Coulmb Failure Stress (ΔCFS) and trigger seismicity in these sections. This is the second location along the Dead Sea fault where groundwater abstraction was shown to recently induce earthquakes. With growing demand for water and long lasting droughts in the Middle East, seismicity induced by groundwater abstraction might reoccur in the near future. Plain Language Summary: Earthquakes are shown in many cases to be induced by water injection but they can also be induced by groundwater pumping. We analyze an earthquake sequence that occurred along the Dead Sea fault during January–February 2022 and show that it was induced by groundwater pumping. The location of the earthquakes form an elongated cluster subparallel to the trace of the main plate boundary. Groundwater levels in the area have dropped by more than 100 m in the last 40 years due to extensive pumping. We model the effects of pumping on groundwater levels in the basin and use these results to simulate the triggered seismicity on the active Dead Sea fault. This is the second place along the Dead Sea fault where groundwater overexploitation has triggered seismicity. With growing demand for water and long lasting droughts in the Middle East, seismicity induced by groundwater abstraction might reoccur in the near future. Key Points: Earthquake sequence that occurred at the northern Dead Sea fault is shown to be induced by extensive groundwater abstractionAn elongated earthquake sequence, subparallel to the Dead Sea fault occurred in two main clusters separated by 1 km and 18 days apartFailure on the Dead Sea fault is predicted to occur on the impermeable fault core or at the protholith but not in the damage zone [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we present a semi-automatic method to infer groundwater flow-paths based on the extraction of lineaments from digital elevation models. This method is especially adequate in remote and inaccessible areas where in-situ data are scarce. The combined method of linear filtering and object-based classification provides a lineament map with a high degree of accuracy. Subsequently, lineaments are differentiated into geological and morphological lineaments using auxiliary information and finally evaluated in terms of hydro-geological significance. Using the example of the western catchment of the Dead Sea (Israel/Palestine), the orientation and location of the differentiated lineaments are compared to characteristics of known structural features. We demonstrate that a strong correlation between lineaments and structural features exists. Using Euclidean distances between lineaments and wells provides an assessment criterion to evaluate the hydraulic significance of detected lineaments. Based on this analysis, we suggest that the statistical analysis of lineaments allows a delineation of flow-paths and thus significant information on groundwater movements. To validate the flow-paths we compare them to existing results of groundwater models that are based on well data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Over the last few decades many quantitative erosion studies have revealed that olive orchard expansion and increased mechanization in southern European countries have led to increased soil erosion under olive trees. Consequently, these studies have suggested different methods of mitigation. In light of the 2014 European trading zone expansion to countries east and south of the Mediterranean, a further intensification of olive plantations is postulated to meet market demands. To attain first medium-term estimates of erosion in Northern Jordan and its driving factors, a new method measuring olive mounds was implemented. Seven fields with clearly erosive structures were chosen throughout the Wadi Al-Arab catchment in Northern Jordan. Topographic measurements were used to reconstruct the historical and recent surface level and calculate the volume eroded since the planting of the trees. A total of 81 bulk density measurements and 14 tree cores allowed the estimation of the soil loss in tons per hectare. The combination of modified land use map and slope information helped to identify similar olive fields with high erosive potential. Results show that the method provides medium-term quantitative estimates for averaged soil loss consistent with some existing results from similar research areas in the Mediterranean. They clearly indicate the significant potential for erosion in olive orchards with around 95±8tha−1 yr−1. Tillage practice and water erosion were identified as critical erosion processes, both depending on tillage characteristics, tillage timing, and soil parent material. The investigated fields represent about 19% of the catchment's surface area and are likely to contribute to the measured yearly sediment yield that fills up the Wadi Al-Arab reservoir with sediments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] We present a nested multi-response calibration approach for a hydrological model. [•] The task is decreasing of model uncertainties in a data scarcity region. [•] The approach base on single observations in a semiarid area of Jordan. [•] Results are compared with outcomes of a-priori parameter models. [•] The proposed approach help to predict water resources in spite of data scarcity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The overall aim of the this study, which was conducted within the framework of the multilateral IWRM project SUMAR, was to expand the scientific basement to quantify surface- and groundwater fluxes towards the hypersaline Dead Sea. The flux significance for the arid vicinity around the Dead Sea is decisive not only for a sustainable management in terms of water availability for future generations but also for the resilience of the unique ecosystems along its coast. Coping with different challenges interdisciplinary methods like (i) hydrogeochemical fingerprinting, (ii) satellite and airborne-based thermal remote sensing, (iii) direct measurement with gauging station in ephemeral wadis and a first multilateral gauging station at the river Jordan, (iv) hydro-bio-geochemical approach at submarine and shore springs along the Dead Sea and (v) hydro(geo)logical modelling contributed to the overall aim. As primary results, we deduce that the following: (i) Within the drainage basins of the Dead Sea, the total mean annual precipitation amounts to 300 mm a(−1) west and to 179 mm a(−1) east of the lake, respectively. (ii) The total mean annual runoff volumes from side wadis (except the Jordan River) entering the Dead Sea is approximately 58–66 × 10(6) m(3) a(−1) (western wadis: 7–15 × 10(6) m(3) a(−1); eastern wadis: 51 × 10(6) m(3) a(−1)). (iii) The modelled groundwater discharge from the upper Cretaceous aquifers in both flanks of the Dead Sea towards the lake amounts to 177 × 10(6) m(3) a(−1). (iv) An unexpected abundance of life in submarine springs exists, which in turn explains microbial moderated geo-bio-chemical processes in the Dead Sea sediments, affecting the highly variable chemical composition of on- and offshore spring waters.The results of this work show a promising enhancement of describing and modelling the Dead Sea basin as a whole., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)