249
18
Ultraviolet Radiation and Bromide as
Limiting Factors in Eutrophication
Processes in Semiarid Climate Zones
Elias Salameh, Sura Harahsheh and Arwa Tarawneh
E. Salameh () · A. Tarawneh
University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
e-mail: salameli@ju.edu.jo
S. Harahsheh
Al Al-Bayt University, Mafraq, Jordan
Abstract
Eutrophication studies were conducted at four selected sites of surface water bodies in
Jorden: viz. King Abdullal Canal in the Jordan Valley, Mujib dam, Wadi Rajil dam in the
eastern desert of Jordan, and Muwaqqar dams in the eastern highlands of Jordan. The factors responsible for eutrophication processes are high NO3, PO4, and K concentrations in
addition to sunlight, high temperature, and micronutrients, such as, Zn and Fe. When these
dam reservoirs and canals were examined they were found to have all the suitable conditions but no eutrophication. Water reservoirs in the desert areas of Jordan seemed not to
develop eutrophication owing to the high UV radiation lasting for about 330 days a year
with average sunlight duration of 9.5 h a day. UV radiation was found to be the limiting
factor in eutrophication processes. Other water bodies, especially in the Jordan Valley area
contain high concentrations of bromide, of more than 500 µg/l. Bromide is a strong oxidant
and seems to be responsible for the non-development of eutrophication processes, although
all other factors which enhance eutrophication were available.
Keywords
Eutrophication · King Abdullah canal · Mujib dam · Wadi Rajil dam · Muwaqqar dams
18.1 Introduction
Eutrophication studies were conducted at four selected sites
of surface water bodies in Jorden; viz. King Abdullal Canal
in the Jordan Valley, Mujib dam, Wadi Rajil dam in the
eastern desert of Jordan, and Muwaqqar dams in the eastern highlands of Jordan (Fig. 18.1). The four sites include
three water storage facilities (dams and weirs) and an artificial water conveyor system, namely King Abdullah Canal.
The climatic conditions in the four sites are generally arid to
semiarid. In all four water bodies the prevailing conditions,
such as, availability of macro- and micronutrients, solar illumination, relatively high water temperatures should result
in water eutrophication, but eutrophication has not occurred
in these water bodies.
The results of this study indicate that the conditions defined in the literature (Rook 1974, Carpenter et al. 1998,
Zwiener 2006) as limiting factors for eutrophication processes are not the only factors preventing eutrophication
from taking place. It seems that strong UV radiation in arid
and semiarid climates with high solar illumination is a factor restricting eutrophication processes in these areas. Strong
UV radiation during the day seems to restrict algae activities
including algae multiplication. In such a case the algae hide
under the water and remain inactive during the day when
strong UV radiation affects the surface layers of a water
body. It also seems that relatively high bromide concentrations in the surface water bodies in the Jordan Valley area
limits algal activities.
A. A. Ansari, S. S. Gill (eds.), Eutrophication: Causes, Consequences and Control,
DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-7814-6_18, © Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014
18
Ultraviolet Radiation and Bromide as
Limiting Factors in Eutrophication
Processes in Semiarid Climate Zones
Elias Salameh, Sura Harahsheh and Arwa Tarawneh
E. Salameh () · A. Tarawneh
University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
e-mail: salameli@ju.edu.jo
S. Harahsheh
Al Al-Bayt University, Mafraq, Jordan
Abstract
Eutrophication studies were conducted at four selected sites of surface water bodies in
Jorden: viz. King Abdullal Canal in the Jordan Valley, Mujib dam, Wadi Rajil dam in the
eastern desert of Jordan, and Muwaqqar dams in the eastern highlands of Jordan. The factors responsible for eutrophication processes are high NO3, PO4, and K concentrations in
addition to sunlight, high temperature, and micronutrients, such as, Zn and Fe. When these
dam reservoirs and canals were examined they were found to have all the suitable conditions but no eutrophication. Water reservoirs in the desert areas of Jordan seemed not to
develop eutrophication owing to the high UV radiation lasting for about 330 days a year
with average sunlight duration of 9.5 h a day. UV radiation was found to be the limiting
factor in eutrophication processes. Other water bodies, especially in the Jordan Valley area
contain high concentrations of bromide, of more than 500 µg/l. Bromide is a strong oxidant
and seems to be responsible for the non-development of eutrophication processes, although
all other factors which enhance eutrophication were available.
Keywords
Eutrophication · King Abdullah canal · Mujib dam · Wadi Rajil dam · Muwaqqar dams
18.1 Introduction
Eutrophication studies were conducted at four selected sites
of surface water bodies in Jorden; viz. King Abdullal Canal
in the Jordan Valley, Mujib dam, Wadi Rajil dam in the
eastern desert of Jordan, and Muwaqqar dams in the eastern highlands of Jordan (Fig. 18.1). The four sites include
three water storage facilities (dams and weirs) and an artificial water conveyor system, namely King Abdullah Canal.
The climatic conditions in the four sites are generally arid to
semiarid. In all four water bodies the prevailing conditions,
such as, availability of macro- and micronutrients, solar illumination, relatively high water temperatures should result
in water eutrophication, but eutrophication has not occurred
in these water bodies.
The results of this study indicate that the conditions defined in the literature (Rook 1974, Carpenter et al. 1998,
Zwiener 2006) as limiting factors for eutrophication processes are not the only factors preventing eutrophication
from taking place. It seems that strong UV radiation in arid
and semiarid climates with high solar illumination is a factor restricting eutrophication processes in these areas. Strong
UV radiation during the day seems to restrict algae activities
including algae multiplication. In such a case the algae hide
under the water and remain inactive during the day when
strong UV radiation affects the surface layers of a water
body. It also seems that relatively high bromide concentrations in the surface water bodies in the Jordan Valley area
limits algal activities.
A. A. Ansari, S. S. Gill (eds.), Eutrophication: Causes, Consequences and Control,
DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-7814-6_18, © Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014