The Dead Sea

Selected publications:

Bookman, R., Filin, S., Avni, Y., Rosenfeld, D. and Marco, S., 2014. Possible connection between large volcanic eruptions and level rise episodes in the Dead Sea Basin. Quaternary Science Reviews, 89, pp.123-128.

Bookman, R., 2020. The Dead Sea and Its Deviation from Natural Conditions. In Large Asian Lakes in a Changing World (pp. 1-33). Springer, Cham.

The Dead Sea laminated sections consist of mm-scale alternating detrital and authigenic aragonite laminae. Previous studies assumed these laminae were annual varves. However, this assumption has never been robustly validated. Analysis of air-borne pollen in laminated couplets and contemporary flash floods indicate that both detrital and aragonite laminae were deposited during the rainy season and probably represent hydrological and meteorological events (e.g. flashfloods, dust storms) suggesting older Quaternary laminated sequences should be re-evaluated.

Publications: López-Merino, L., Leroy, S.A., Eshel, A., Epshtein, V., Belmaker, R. and Bookman, R., 2016. Using palynology to re-assess the Dead Sea laminated sediments–indeed varves?. Quaternary Science Reviews, 140, pp.49-66.

Aragonite laminae deposition in the Dead Sea Basin is inorganic and results from the interaction between freshwater run-off and the hyper-saline brine of the lake. Although mass balance calculations attributed the chemical sources of CO₃ and Ca to the HCO₃ input with run-off, it was unclear what is the trigger and timing of the chemical precipitation event that creates a lamina. We showed that dust has a major role in aragonite precipitation and not only freshwater input, which elucidates on the occurrence of aragonite laminae during the last glacial period and in the last 3000 yr BP when dust fluxes to the Dead Sea drainage basin were relatively high.

Publications:

Belmaker, R., Lazar, B., Stein, M., Taha, N. and Bookman, R., 2019. Constraints on aragonite precipitation in the Dead Sea from geochemical measurements of flood plumes. Quaternary Science Reviews, 221, p.105876.

Analysis of satellite remote sensing images helps estimating the extent of sediment dispersal in the Dead Sea important for understanding transport and deposition processes associated with Late Quaternary laminated sequences. The highest spatial variability is observed during winter months, the wet season, while during the summer months the water is almost completely homogeneous. Most of the sediment contribution comes from the rivers outflow, reaching about 5 kilometers from the shore.

Publications:

Pimstein, A., Bookman, R. and Tibor, G., 2014. Mapping the spatial and temporal extent of suspended sediments distribution in the Dead Sea using satellite remote sensing methods. EGUGA, p.8873.

Seismogenic turbidites and other earthquake induced soft sediment deformation are widely used to derive paleo-earthquake information and thus vital for geohazard assessment. Their use as paleoseismic indicators requires demonstrating that earthquake - other than non-seismic factors is the most plausible trigger. In the Holocene Dead Sea sequences, the seismic origin was verified by correlation to historic earthquakes.

The seismic origin for prehistoric turbidites in 450 m-long ICDP deep core from the Dead Sea center were constrained by the deformation and thickness of underlying in situ sediments of each turbidite. This allowed a more confident geohazard assessment by improving the completeness of a paleoseismic archive.

Selected publications:

Ken‐Tor, R., Agnon, A., Enzel, Y., Stein, M., Marco, S. and Negendank, J.F., 2001. High‐resolution geological record of historic earthquakes in the Dead Sea basin. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 106(B2), pp.2221-2234.

Lu Y., Moernaut J., Bookman R., et al., New approach to constrain the seismic origin and seismic intensities for prehistoric turbidites, applied to the Dead Sea. Geophysical Research Letters (In review)

The modern Dead Sea is being altered by intensified human activities. Water diversion of freshwater for domestic and agricultural use, and brine evaporation for the potash industry have resulted in a drastic level drop.

The negative water balance has led to development of sinkholes and the stable stratification of the lake-water column has diminished leading to seasonal halite deposition. The level drop has also resulted in drying and migration of spring seepages, putting unique ecosystems under threat. Currently, diversion of seawater from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea is viewed as a comprehensive solution for stabilizing the level. However, this ambitious initiative must hurdle diplomatic tensions and financing difficulties, as well as intensive environmentalists’ objections.

In a recent policy document, an alternative to release treated effluent and desalinated waters in to the southern stretches of the Jordan River is suggested. This report may lead to a new approach to Dead Sea stabilization and Jordan River rehabilitation as well as increase the feasibility of the EcoPeace Jordan Valley Master Plan. Furthermore, the results of this study may inform rehabilitation for other desiccating lakes around the world due to climate change and anthropogenic use of their waters.

The Ein Feshkha (عين فشخة‎; Einot Tzukim "Cliff springs") nature reserve, a sensitive ecologic environment under treat due to the Dead Sea level drop