Field Investigation on Wadi System in Arid Regions: Flash Flood Indicators and Sedimentation Impacts

Abstract

Wadi flash floods in arid regions are still not fully understood, especially in terms of climate change and sedimentation. In this paper, we present the outcomes of the field survey (from Nov 27 to Dec. 2, 2017) conducted by Kyoto University Team to both Wadi Samail and Mijlas in Oman, in order to show some implication of flash floods management and the impacts of sedimentation. Two field survey were conducted on Dec. 2017 and March 2018. Several measures have been conducted such as flash floods marks identification, wadi channel morphology changes, topographic leveling, sedimentation Pedon analysis and sedimentation measures at two dams (Assarin up and Assarin Down). The study conclude that understanding wadi flash floods phenomena for reasonable water and sediment management requires detailed field investigations. Based on the field survey, we proposed an integrated approach for sediment yield assessment based on numerical modeling and satellite data such as InSAR with validation of the field investigation outcomes.