NDRD

Gulf Cooperation Council
Network for Drylands Research & Development

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Sabkha

Ecosystems

Research on sabkha ecology commenced only a few decades ago. While being considered as wasteland in the past, it has been realized by decision makers and researchers that sabkhas are ecosystems with a research, development, and conservation value.

The north coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) provides a typical example of coastal sabkha (supratidal flat) formation. Various stages of sabkha development can be recognized along this coast. This paper combines previous studies of sabkha environment with the results of field investigation of sabkha geomorphology, sedimentology, and stratigraphy on the north coast of UAE, to formulate a model of sabkha evolution. Read more in:

Al-Farraj, A., An evolutionary model for sabkha development on the north coast of the UAE, in: Journal of Arid Environments, Volume 63, Issue 4 , December 2005, Pages 740-755

Asma Al-Farraj is a professor in the Geography Department of UAE University in Al Ain. Her research interests are in coastal geomorphology, coastal evolution, ecotourism and desertification

Sabkha is an Arabic name for a salt-flat ordinarily found nearby sand dunes. These relatively flat and very saline areas of sand or silt form just above the water-table where the sand is cemented together by evaporite salts from seasonal ponds.

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