The Ground Water Potential of a Key Junction Zone Between the Afar Rift Floor and Western Afar Margin of Ethiopia

In remote rural areas, the standard methodology utilized to target sites for ground water exploration and aquifer recharge is very expensive. Remote Sensing techniques, GIS, and a new multi-criteria analysis, permit to produce low-cost and time-saving Ground Water Potential maps, for ground water exploration and aquifer recharge sites, in five remote Woredas of the Afar Region in Ethiopia. The Ground Water Potential Map and related thematic maps, coupled with a socio-economic analysis, are the key documents helpful in involving local communities and local authorities in surface and ground water management for the mitigation of hydric stress related to climate change, as well as to solve the water-related conflict mitigation.