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Research and Publications

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    Research

    • Mineralogy, petrology, and geochemistry research focus on mineral chemistry and mineral paragenesis of various mineral phases crystallizing from magmatic systems. It also includes the nature, source, and origin of the various peralkaline to peraluminous, and mafic to a felsic spectrum of magmatic complexes, their petrological, chemical, and isotopic evolution, and the tectonic regimes of magma emplacement, as well as rare-metal mineralization. This line of research helps in defining the magmatic-tectonic stages of evolution of the continental crust and its mineral deposits (Dr. A. Abdel-Rahman). 

    • Geophysics and Petrophysics research are focused mainly on the deep 3-D crustal and upper mantle structures using seismological data (phase arrivals, regional, and teleseismic waveforms) from local, regional, and global earthquakes in order to delineate anomalous structures and the deep velocity anomalies and their impact on the occurrence of major destructive earthquakes. The research also integrates and combines such data with exposed major structural features in Northeastern Africa, the Middle East, Turkey, etc. In addition, the research also deals with the petrophysical and geotechnical characteristics of sedimentary rocks and their applications in the oil industry and engineering domains (Dr. M. Salah).  

    • Hydrogeology research focuses on the development of new methods for the assessment of the quantitative vulnerability of karst aquifers including numerical simulation of integrated karst systems, characterization of fast and slow pathways in karst aquifers, and the characterization of transport behavior using specific indicators (Dr. Joanna Doummar).  http://website.aub.edu.lb/hydroGeo_doummar/Pages/ResearchGroup.aspx http://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/PEER/PEERscience/PGA_152064  
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    • Structural Geology and tectonics current research interests include topics such as: Understanding the timing of the structural evolution of the Lebanese Restraining Bend. Understanding the current tectonic activity of the main fault branches in Lebanon and their impact on the seismic hazard of the country. Investigating the tectonic activity of the E-W trending faults in Lebanon and their impact on current and potential hydrological dam projects. (Dr. Tony Nemer).  

    • Micropaleontology and stratigraphy research is focused on oceanic nutrient cycling, ecology, and climate. It also includes the study of the stratigraphy of calcareous nannofossils in Lebanese sections, and Plankton evolution (Dr. Ali Haidar). 

    Publications

    Dr. Joanna Doummar

    • Doummar J., Hassan Kassem A., and Gurdak J.J., 2018. Impact of historic and future climate on spring recharge and discharge based on an integrated numerical modelling approach: Application on a snow-governed semi-arid karst catchment area.  Journal of Hydrology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.08.062

    • Doummar, J., and Aoun, M. 2018. Assessment of the origin and transport of four selected emerging micropollutants sucralose, Acesulfame-K, gemfibrozil, and iohexol in a karst spring during a multi-event spring response. Journal of contaminant hydrology. DOI.org/10.1016/j.jconhyd.2018.06.003
    • Doummar, J., Margane A., Geyer T., and Sauter M. 2018. Assessment of key transport parameters in a karst system under different dynamic conditions based on tracer experiments: the Jeita karst system, Hydrogeology Journal. DOI: 10.1007/s10040-018-1754-x
    • Doummar, J., and Aoun, M. 2018. Occurrence of selected domestic and hospital emerging micropollutants on a rural surface water basin linked to a groundwater karst catchment. Journal of Environmental Sciences. pp. 77: 351. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-018-7536-x
    • Safi A., El-Fadel, M., Doummar, J.  Alameddine, I., Abou Najm, M. 2018. Synergy of climate change and local pressures on saltwater intrusion in coastal urban areas: Effective adaptation for policy planning". Water International. v. 43/2- p 145-164
    • Margane, A., Margane A., Raad R., Makki I, Abi Rizk J, Doummar J., Koniger P., Hahne K., Stoekel L. Hydrogeology Of The Jeita Groundwater Catchment" , Geologisches Jahrbuch Reihe B , 2018.

    Dr. Wisam Khadra

    • Khadra W.M., Elias A.R., Majdalani M.A., 2022. A systematic approach to derive natural background levels in groundwater: Application to an aquifer in North Lebanon perturbed by various pollution sources. Science of the Total Environment 847: 157586. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157586
    • Khadra W.M., 2020. Authenticity of bottled water chemical composition inferred from brand labels: example of the Lebanese market.  Journal of Food Composition and Analysis 93: 103609.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2020.103609.​
    • Khadra W.M., Stuyfzand P.J., 2020. Problems and promise of managed recharge in karstified aquifers: the example of Lebanon. Water International 45(1): 23-38. ​​https://doi.org/10.1080/02508060.2019.1682910​.
    • Khadra W.M., Stuyfzand P.J., 2018. Simulation of saltwater intrusion in a poorly karstified coastal aquifer in Lebanon (Eastern Mediterranean). Hydrogeology Journal 26: 1839–1856.
    • Khadra W.M., Stuyfzand P.J., Khadra I.M., 2017. Mitigation of saltwater intrusion by ‘integrated fresh-keeper’ wells combined with high recovery reverse osmosis. Science of the Total Environment 574: 796-805.
    • Khadra W.M., Stuyfzand P.J., van Breukelen B.M., 2017. Hydrochemical effects of saltwater intrusion in a limestone and dolomitic limestone aquifer in Lebanon.  Applied Geochemistry 79: 36-51.

    Dr. Mohamed Salah

    • Salah M. K., Alqudah, M., El-Al, A.A., Barnes, C., 2018. Effects of porosity and composition on seismic wave velocities and elastic moduli of Lower Cretaceous rocks, central Lebanon. Acta Geophysica. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11600-018-0187-1 
    • Karaoğlu, Ö., Browning, J., Salah, M. K., Elshaafi, A., Gudmundsson, A., 2018. Depths of magma chambers at three volcanic provinces in the Karlıova region of Eastern Turkey. Bulletin of Volcanology, 80:69. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-018-1245-x.
    • Lemnifi, A. A., Elshaafi, A., Karaoğlu, Ö., Salah, M. K., Aouad, N., Reed, C. A., Yu, Y., 2017. Complex seismic anisotropy and mantle dynamics beneath Turkey. Journal of Geodynamics, 112, 31-45. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jog.2017.10.004 
    • Karaoğlu, Ö., Elshaafi, A., Salah, M. K., Browning, J., Gudmundsson, A.,  2017. Large-volume lava flows fed by a deep magmatic reservoir at Ağrı Dağı (Ararat) volcano, Eastern Turkey, Bulletin of Volcanology, 79:15, doi:  10.1007/s00445-016-1098-0 
    • Tawfik, H. A., Salah, M. K., Maejima, W., Armstrong-Altrin, J. S., Abdel‐Hameed, A‐M. T., El Ghandour, M. M., 2017. Petrography and geochemistry of the Lower Miocene Moghra sandstones, Qattara Depression, north Western Desert, Egypt. Geological Journal, 53:1938–1953. https://doi.org/10.1002/gj.3025  
    • Salah, M. K., 2017. Lithospheric structure of southeast Anatolia from joint inversion of local and teleseismic data, Studia Geophysica et Geodaetica 61, 703-727, doi: 10.1007/s11200-016-1240-7

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