Geophysical Investigations For Groundwater Potential Assessment And Mapping Structures For Possible Connections Between Lakes Langano And Shala Main Ethiopian Rift
A low-lying narrow corridor covers the region between the two major lakes in the MainrnEthiopian Rift-Lakes Langano and Shala. Owing to the differences in surface elevationrnbetween the two lakes and the fact that the region is affected by tectonism, the presencernof possible subsurface rift structures and flow of fluids between the lakes has beenrnpostulated.rnGeophysical surveys, involving electrical resistivity, gravity and magnetic surveys havernbeen carried out over the corridor to verify the presence of these structures. Threerntraverses, approximately selected to cross the area have been used for surveys. Nine VESrnpoints, 105 gravity and about 181 magnetic data have been collected and analyzed. Thernresults are presented in the form of electrical pseudosections and geoelectricsections andrnalso anomaly plots and modeled sections and interpreted to verify the presence of suchrnfeatures within the corridor.rnFrom the electrical survey data analysis it is seen that corridor between the two lakes isrnrepresented by an extensive low resistivity response region which is believed to resultrnfrom a highly saturated subsurface horizon. The electrical survey has also mapped thernpresence of structures whose orientation makes them a candidate to act as fluid pathsrnbetween the lakes. The gravity and magnetic data have been modeled together to depictrnthe lateral and depth variations in density and magnetic susceptibility. These results alsornshow the presence of structures that could act as paths for interchange of fluids betweenrnthe two lakes.