Mapping Water Basins in the Eastern Sahara by SRTM Data

RTM (~90 m) data and Radarsat-1 images of northern Sudan were processed for exploring potential groundwater accumulation sites in the region. Data analysis unveiled three extensive ancient river courses named as Howar, El-Qaab and Arbain. These eastward flowing rivers, which are now partly hidden beneath the sand, are extinct tributaries of the Nile Valley hydro-system. The main channels of these rivers were mapped from Radar data and compared with those delineated by the GIS hydrologic routines. The beds of these river courses, which are now void of moisture, must have hosted a great volume of surface water in the past and played a significant role in recharging the sandstone groundwater aquifers in the region. An ongoing data investigation will provide additional information as to the specific nature of these ancient rivers that will help in future water prospecting in the region.