TY - JOUR
T1 - SWOT risk analysis towards sustainable aquifer management along the Eastern Mediterranean
AU - Rachid, G.
AU - Alameddine, I.
AU - El-Fadel, M.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study is part of a program on climate change and seawater intrusion along the Eastern Mediterranean funded by the International Development Research Center (IDRC) of Canada at the American University of Beirut Grant No. 106706–001 . Special thanks are extended to Dr. Charlotte Macalister at IDRC for her support and feedback in implementing this program.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2021/1/15
Y1 - 2021/1/15
N2 - This study examines the risks of seawater intrusion (SWI) in data scarce aquifers along the Eastern Mediterranean by quantifying the interaction of the main natural, anthropogenic and climatic drivers, while also considering varying abilities of implementing adaptation and mitigation measures. For this purpose, we conducted a semi-quantitative Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis representing a first attempt at integrating a complex physical process with multi layered influences in a SWOT analysis model that was tested at 26 coastal aquifers with varying levels of SWI severity. The analysis results showed alarming signs of SWI at several eastern and southeastern aquifers, particularly those underlying densely populated centers (i.e. Beirut, Lebanon; Magoza, Cyprus; Gaza, Palestine and the Nile Delta, Egypt). The analysis also highlighted adaptive capabilities that appear to be strong in Cyprus, Israel and Turkey, emerging in Egypt, and weak in Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine. The risks exhibited a strong and statistically significant positive relationship with the reported status of SWI at the tested aquifers thus providing an effective decision-making tool towards the preliminary assessment of SWI in regions with data scarcity. The study concludes with proposing a framework for sustainable aquifer management in the East Med region with emphasis on controlling SWI risks.
AB - This study examines the risks of seawater intrusion (SWI) in data scarce aquifers along the Eastern Mediterranean by quantifying the interaction of the main natural, anthropogenic and climatic drivers, while also considering varying abilities of implementing adaptation and mitigation measures. For this purpose, we conducted a semi-quantitative Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis representing a first attempt at integrating a complex physical process with multi layered influences in a SWOT analysis model that was tested at 26 coastal aquifers with varying levels of SWI severity. The analysis results showed alarming signs of SWI at several eastern and southeastern aquifers, particularly those underlying densely populated centers (i.e. Beirut, Lebanon; Magoza, Cyprus; Gaza, Palestine and the Nile Delta, Egypt). The analysis also highlighted adaptive capabilities that appear to be strong in Cyprus, Israel and Turkey, emerging in Egypt, and weak in Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine. The risks exhibited a strong and statistically significant positive relationship with the reported status of SWI at the tested aquifers thus providing an effective decision-making tool towards the preliminary assessment of SWI in regions with data scarcity. The study concludes with proposing a framework for sustainable aquifer management in the East Med region with emphasis on controlling SWI risks.
KW - Eastern mediterranean
KW - Risk assessment
KW - Seawater intrusion
KW - SWOT
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85097800561&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111760
DO - 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111760
M3 - Article
C2 - 33316644
AN - SCOPUS:85097800561
SN - 0301-4797
VL - 279
JO - Journal of Environmental Management
JF - Journal of Environmental Management
M1 - 111760
ER -