Lake Urmia, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and Ramsar site, faces the serious water level decrease since 1995. We are investigating the impact of changes in major water component on the Lake Urmia water level, in particular, the amount evaporation from groundwater in the dried areas of the Lake Urmia.
Lake Urmia, the second largest hypersaline lake in the world is declining since 1995. In 2015 the lake has lost more than 80% of its surface area. We are investigating the impact of changes in major water component on the Lake Urmia water level decline. One of the missing water components of the Lake Urmia water balance which is critically ignored is the amount of groundwater evaporation from the dried areas of the lake. The estimation of the amount of evaporation from groundwater in the dried areas of the lake with an area of more than 3000 km2 could make a substantial difference in calculating total water balance of the Lake Urmia. We are studying the groundwater evaporation from dried areas of the lake using with column experiment in a controlled climate chamber.
Country, Continent: Iran, Asia
Funding agency: DAAD-BMBF joint project for sustainable water management
Years of activity: 2015 – …
Responsible person: Sahand Farhang Darehshouri
Cooperation partners: Prof. Tajrishy, Sharif University of Technology, www.en.sharif.edu/
