Title: Assessment of recharge dam performance in arid regions based on satellite data, case study: Jalajil and Rawdah Dams

Authors: Raied Saad Alharbi; Jerome Arunakumaren

Addresses: Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, King Saud University, P.O. Box 800, Riyadh 11421, 17, Saudi Arabia; United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia ' Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract: Effective water resources management in arid regions necessitates accurate information on their current condition and how they change due to resource use and development, land-use patterns, and climate change. Due to a lack of data collected on the ground, it is challenging to evaluate the condition of the resources and implement effective management strategies. Recent developments in earth observation and satellite remote sensing offer valuable data for water resource management and better knowledge and control of the natural and anthropogenic processes that affect changes in water resources. This paper discusses how historical surface water area variations at dam sites, derived from remote sensing data, can be used to assess current conditions and long-term trends in water resource availability. The Jalajil Dam's water balance model was developed using the GoldSIM modelling framework by linking precipitation-runoff inflow components and reservoir storage variation processes. Based on the model results, the dam recharge component is much higher than the evaporation component, and the dam act to save collected water from evaporation. Enhancement of recharge at dam sites has become necessary in arid regions to develop water resources from availability to times of need, reduce water supply issues, and even mitigate climate change.

Keywords: remote sensing; water balance model; GoldSIM; managed aquifer recharge; modified normalised difference water index; MNDWI.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHST.2024.142017

International Journal of Hydrology Science and Technology, 2024 Vol.18 No.4, pp.408 - 420

Received: 23 Feb 2023
Accepted: 03 Sep 2023
Published online: 07 Oct 2024 *

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