The drainage system around al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, Saudi Arabia as viewed from satellite data

Abstract EN

-A recent set of the LANDSAT Multispectral Thematic Mapper (MTM) data covering an area of 100 x 100km and consisting of a section of the scene path 170/row 43 is used as a movable subscene to reveal the drainage pattern in Al-Madinah AI-Munawwarah area.

The data set is processed with special complex algorithms to show specific geoscientific features controlling the drainage system and hydrologic situation.

The geologic setting around Al-Madinah can generally be divided into two distinctive groups of rock units: the Basement Complex (including both Al Ays Group and the overlying Furayh Group of Precambrian age) and the overlying Harrat Rahat basalt plateau of PaleogenelNeogcne age.

The drainage pattern in the region is mainly controlled by these two contrasting groups of rock units.

The drainage system in the basement rocks is mainly tectonically controlled by N-S folding and hence fracturing in an E-W and other directions, whereas in the overlying basalt plateau the drainage system is radial and is less developed.

Nevertheless, jointing in the basalt has made it an excellent aquifer in the region.