Long-term monitoring of the Dead Sea level and brine physico-chemical parameters “from 1987 to 2008”

The Dead Sea brine quality was assessed in order to provide scientific basis for researchers' needs. Four times a month, brine samples were collected from the Arab Potash Company (APC) point of intake and analyzed for physico-chemical parameters in the laboratory over 22 years, and Dead Sea surface temperature and level were measured during each sampling. The mean density values for the collected samples during the last 22 years ranged from 1.2040 g/cm3 in 1992 to 1.2393 g/cm3 in 2007, with an average value of 1.2376 g/cm3. The brine salinity values ranged from 293.6 in 1992 to 339.3 g/l in 2008 with an average value of 337.73 g/l. The ionic dominance observed was Cl− > Mg++ > Na+ > Ca++ > K+. The results showed that diluting the Dead Sea brine affects both magnesium and sodium chlorides significantly because of their high solubilities in fresh water and their large reserves.