English abstract
The south western Dhofar climate is characterized by the summer monsoon, (locally known as Khareef) that occurs in the Jabel area near Salalah annually between June and late September. Khareef represents frequent light rain and occult precipitation (fog-water/mist) is the main source that recharges the Salalah aquifer. The earlier works concluded that the abstraction from the aquifer exceeding the recharge estimated from the rainfall component. While the light rain can be measured by a standard raingauge, the amount of fogwater depends on the effectiveness of the catching medium (natural/artificial coverings of the soil surface). There is a need to determine the fogwater by using artificial barriers. Also climatologic factors affect the amount of collection of fogwater. In case of favorable results, fogwater needs to be added to the recharge, so that meaningful recharge for the Salalah aquifer can be estimated.
In order to satisfy the objectives of this study two sites were selected at Hajeef and Shibob at a height of 870 and 880 masl, respectively. Both of them are located inside the Salalah aquifer catchement in the Jabel portion (the recharge area). Six panels were erected at Hajeef site. Two panels each of Kimre net, Tildenet and aluminum were erected at 1.5 m and 2.5 m above the ground. However, at Shibob two types of experiments were done. First, four panels of Kimre net, Tildenet and aluminum mesh were erected at 1.5 m height above the ground. Then, artificial grass was used as a catching medium to measure both rainfall and fogwater.
The results of this study show that significant amount of fogwater/mist during Khareef can be collected by different artificial barriers at the Jabel portion of the Salalah catchment. At Hajeef and Shibob, Kimre net collected more fogwater than the other collectors. It captured 5000 1m-153days followed by double Tildenet that collected 4744 1/m2/53days. Significantly high amount of fogwater of 1357 mm was collected by using artificial grass at Shibob. The recharge estimation done on fogwater collected during this study proves that a sufficient amount of fogwater could be used to recharge the Salalah aquifer
