Zekai Ş. Wadi Hydrology

Boca Raton, London, New York: CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group, 2008. — 368 p.Wadi is the Arabic word for ephemeral water courses in the arid regions, and they are a vital source of water in most arid and semi-arid countries. Catastrophic flash floods occurring in wadis are, on one hand, a threat to many communities and, on the other, major groundwater recharge sources after storms. Population growth, land use, and human settlements in and around wadis increase social and environmental problems because properly planned exploitation is missing, hydrologic calculations are not always based on the best and latest methods, and water resource management programs in these areas may cause inconvenience.
This is partially due to the fact that scientific understanding and knowledge of the hydrological processes of wadis are rather poor in most countries. In response to these concerns, many countries have adopted policies for the sustainable management, development, and efficient utilization of their water resources. However, due to increasing water scarcity, climate change, desertification, and drought effects, many countries have been alerted to recognize the urgent need to secure and utilize existing water resources and supplies in order to sustain a minimum resource base.