A new look at the chemical and hydrological evolution of the Dead Sea

Hydrological models of the Dead Sea (DS) indicate that subrecent equilibrium conditions have been maintained by input and evaporation of about 1600 x 10(6) m(3)/yr of surface waters. Recent diversions of the headwaters have led to a drop of about 0.95 m/yr, suggesting that waters stored in adjacent aquifers are being drained at a rate of about 200 x 10(6) m(3)/yr. Chemical modeling of the DS indicates that the chemical evolution of the waters can be explained by a simple mixture and evaporation model. This model requires the input of 50 x 10(6) m(3)/yr of hot spring waters similar to those emanating at Zohar and evaporation factors of about 50. This model suggests that the DS salts have accumulated over the past 5000 years. This indicates that the initiation of the present DS was triggered by the onset of the Mid Holocene pluvial stage as well as by draining of the freshwater lakes present upstream from the lake. Review of the data of the springs responsible for the chemical nature of the DS suggests that these waters are of meteoric-continental origin and that it is likely that these waters have experienced deep circulation in the rift system before discharging at the surface due to convective forces operating in the rift. Copyright (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.