Estimated Future Salinity in the Arabian Gulf, the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea Consequences of Brine Discharge from Desalination

Summary, in English

Seawater desalination constitutes an important source for water supply to the population bordering the Arabian Gulf, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Red Sea. The three regions represent about 11.8% of the world land area and the countries hosted approximately 9% of the world population in 1950 and 2008 and are projected to do so again in 2050. Population statistics for a 100-year period has been used including a prognosis from 2010 to 2050. Data on desalination plant capacity covering 12 years from 1996 to 2008 has been summarized and a prognosis of the increase in desalination for the three regions until 2050 developed. The results obtained for desalination capacity in the study area were 62%, 58%, and 60% of the world capacity for 1996, 2008, and 2050, respectively.



The increase in the recovery ratio is considered an important factor in this study. In 1996 this ratio was about 30 to 35%, and in 2008 it was 40 to 45%, although in some plants it reached up to 50%. Brine discharge will increase the salinities of the Arabian Gulf, Mediterranean Sea, and Red Sea, by some extra 2.24, 0.81 and 1.16 g/l in the year 2050.

• Author: Raed Bashitialshaaer; Kenneth M Persson; Mohammad Aljaradin
• Department/s: Centre for Advanced Middle Eastern Studies (CMES); Division of Water Resources Engineering; MECW: The Middle East in the Contemporary World
• Publishing year: 2011
• Language: English
• Pages: 133-140
• Publication/Series: International Journal of Academic Research
• Volume: 3
• Issue: 1
• Full text: - 523 kB; Download statistics
• Links: http://www.ijar.lit.az/
• Document type: Journal article
• Topic: Water Engineering; Other Social Sciences
• Keywords: Arabian Gulf; Mediterranean Sea; Red Sea; Desalination; Water-Salt balance; 1D-advectiondiffusion; Salinity
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 2075-7107