3- Data
The data used in our study are the following black and white air-photos, Landsat images, and topographic maps:
- Topographic maps scale 1/1000,000dated on 1947
- Aerial photography scale 1/60,000 dated on 1961
- Topographic maps scale 1/100, 000 dated on 1961
- Landsat MSS image of January, 1973 (Color print)
- Landsat MSS image of January, 1975 (B and W print)
- Landsat MSS image of January 1983 (digital data)
- Landsat MSS image of April, 1987 (color print)
- Topographic map printed on 1988
- Landsat MSS image of April, 1994 (Digital Data)
4- Methodology
The methodology of this study consists of the following steps:
- Collecting data from aerial photos. Maps. Printed and digital remote sensing data and literature.
- Transforming printed data to digital forms using EKONICS scanner.
- Performing geometric coretion of recent landsat TM (image 1994)
- Registering scanned data to the corrected image (e.e. convert the data to the same reference)
- Delineating the surface water representing the Dead Sea by visual interpretation of the different images. At this stage we subdivided the surface of the Dead Sea in three parts; the northern part, the southern part, and the Salt Pans.
- Computing the surface area of the three part at various time.
- Anlyzing and comparing information obtained about the areas of the three parts as a function of time, and examining the accuracy of information.
5- Results
The following table shows the surface areas for different dates, the results categorized the following three parts : Dead Sea northern part Dead Sea southern part and Salt Pans.
| Year | Northern Surface | Southern Surface | Salt Pans | Northern & Southern subtotal |
| 1947 | 780 | 251 | 0 | 1031 |
| 1965 | 771 | 202 | 16 | 973 |
| 1973 | 756 | 169 | 26 | 925 |
| 1983 | 705 | 13 | 47 | 838 |
| 1994 | 683 | 65 | 156 | 748 |
The surface area of the Dead sea in 1947 was 1031 km2, The results of our study show that there was been a reduction in the surface area since 1947 (from 1031 to 748) and there is a drop from of 1947 to 1965. We believe that the majority of this drop happened after 1960 as explained above. Although the reduction became signficant between 1973 and 1983 because of the installation of Potash projects.
The northern part difference in surface between 1973-1983 was (50km2) and between 1983-1994 was (22 km2) This due, in addition to the decreasing in the in flow of the Dead Sea, to the pumping of water to the principal salt pans, which in creased from (16km) on 1965 to (26km2) on 1973 and to (165 km2) on 1994
The southern part, whih is shallow, was more affected than the northern part where its surface was (251 km2) on 1947 decreased to (65 km2) on 1994, we have to note that the water in this part was used in providing the salt pans.
6-Conclusion
In conclusion of this study. Remote Sensing data can be considered as an efficient tools for delineation and assessing water bodies, such as the Dead Sea, it present an important technique for a temporal-anlysis as a method of controlling the dynamic process and fast changes on water bodies.
References
- Abdelqader Abed "Geology of the Dead Sea" 1985
- Salah alidin Buhairy "Geography of Jordan, 1991
- Salameh Elias, Banagan Helen "Water Resources of Jordan Present Staus and Feature Potentials" 1993
Fig 2
Fig 3
