Satellite & Space Missions

Biography

Biography: Hamdy A. M. Aboulela

Abstract

Manipulation, combination, overlay, integration and reattribution GIS and remote sensing functions have been used to explore the possible new occurrences of geothermal resources in South Sinai. Moreover, surface observations and lineament analysis of satellite images are used to delineate the active geothermal areas. The distribution of recent earthquake epicentres over South Sinai shows three main active trends (N6oE, N40o-75oE and N50o-60oW) conformable with the long fault extensions extracted from ETM+7 and ASTER GDEM satellite images and comprise the well-known hot springs in South Sinai. The N6oE trend intersects both of N50o-60oW or N40o-75oE, the temperature of spring waters is remarkably increases. This feature attributed to the deep penetration of groundwater along the N6oE fault trend (Gulf of Aqaba trend). The seismicity patterns of well-known and newly predicted geothermal sites show that, the majority of earthquakes have focal depths range between 3 and 33 km and have micro to moderates magnitude (0.5 ≥ Mb ≤ 4.5). In addition, the maximum focal depth of events reached up to 50 km at Hammam Faroun area revealing the deep-seated thermal source. The main chemical type of the known thermal water of south Sinai is Cl-Na, indicating a long flow pathway of this water. The high calcium contents of thermal water of South Sinai are accompanied with remarkably low sulphates. The hydrochemistry of the newly predicted thermal sites exhibit similar pattern of the known thermal waters. Such observations are used as indicators to locate six predicted new occurrences of geothermal fields in South Sinai.