Impact of the Al-Qara mountain fogwater forest on groundwater recharge in the Salalah coastal aquifer, Sultanate of Oman

This study demonstrates the link between the experimental work in Jabal AlQara fogwater forest on horizontal precipitation and groundwater recharge to the Salalah coastal plain aquifer. The future impact of the forest continuous deterioration on the aquifer WAS investigated by simulation modeling. The results of the fieldwork show that measured horizontal precipitations (interaction between trees and fogwater) are considerably higher than measured vertical precipitations (rainfall) during the wet monsoon season. Simulation modeling of the impact of reduction in groundwater recharge originating from the mountain indicated that the reduction of the tree cover would result in a significant impact on the aquifer sustainability. It is recommended that recent government efforts to maintain the fogwater forest by reducing the population of camels and trees planting be continued and strengthened.