The Geodiversity of Springs in the Potential Jericho Geopark/Palestine

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

a. In line number 20-21 the impact of faults is highlighted hence it is necessary to show the relevance of the faults and fractures in the manuscript. I will suggest to

1. Include the faults in the map of the study area through existing literature

2. Describe the faults' role in controlling the study area's water resources through existing literature.

b. Line 36 correct the language, spellings, etc. Also, do it for the whole manuscript.

c. Line 336 shows water quality evaluation. I would suggest 

1. Generate a water quality index from your data for all springs, it will provide the representation of the overall quality of the springs in the region.

2. Describe or connect the water quality index with the geodiversity and its relation and importance to geo-education and geopark.

c. Describe the utility of local faults and try to see if the DO values as described in 360-361-362 are influenced by the vicinity of faults or not. If yes then describe their importance in geo-tourism, geo-education, geopark, etc.

d. In conclusion do provide suggestions for the need for community participation in conserving the springs through traditional techniques etc.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer 1

Thank you so much for your efforts in reviewing the Manuscript and many thanks for your valuable comments. Please find below the answers to your comments and reviews. Please note that all your comments and reviews are well done in the manuscript and marked in red color.

Regards

Marwan (on behalf of the authors).

REVIEWER 1

1. a. In line number 20-21 the impact of faults is highlighted hence it is necessary to show the relevance of the faults and fractures in the manuscript. I will suggest to
2. Include the faults in the map of the study area through existing literature

Figure ---is added to the Text, that will describe the linkage between faults and springs

2. Describe the faults' role in controlling the study area's water resources through existing literature.

The below sentence in Geology section is added to the text:

Structural features of normal faults are dominant and a 9 km long fault with prominent E-W striking with 80 m down throw to the southeast.

Another sentence is added to the geological settings.

The regional structure of major importance to Jericho potential Geopark area is the formation of the Jordan Rift Valley as part of the Dead Sea transform fault, which has an overall left lateral transform motion of 105 km of Miocene age [Quenell]. Due to the stronger compressional character of the Dead Sea transform fault, the Jordan Rift valley became as a structural system composed of step faults resulting in transpression and pressure releasing features by strain releasing bands and rhomb-shaped grabens. The Jericho area is bounded in the west by a major Jericho fault which separates the Cretaceous from the Quaternary outcroppings, where the major springs of Qilt, Fara, Fawar are emerging (Figure ----).

1. Line 36 correct the language, spellings, etc. Also, do it for the whole manuscript.

Corrected and marked in Red color

1. Line 336 shows water quality evaluation. I would suggest 
2. Generate a water quality index from your data for all springs, it will provide the representation of the overall quality of the springs in the region.

A complete Water Quality Index is calculated for all springs and new section is added

2. Describe or connect the water quality index with the geodiversity and its relation and importance to geo-education and geopark.

This sentence is added at the end of the Water quality index section:

Main reasons behind the excellent water springs were revealed to be due to the spring’s recharge areas are far from the spring discharge sources. The research results could be used in education as well as in water management and protection. The main targets in water education are informing people about changes in spring water quality and increasing the understanding in the water cycle; variation of spring water quality; the role of human activities and water quality as well as the spring water protection in qualitative point of views.  Many solution-based problems could be educated about factors controlling spring water flow and water quality; reasons controlling the spring water quality variations and how does the water cycle elements controlling the spring groundwater sources and factors controlling their spring water flow like faults.

1. Describe the utility of local faults and try to see if the DO values as described in 360-361-362 are influenced by the vicinity of faults or not. If yes then describe their importance in geo-tourism, geo-education, geopark, etc.

The DO spring water values are not influenced by the vicinity of faults in the study area. A sentence was added in the result sections:

The low DO concentration in Fawwar spring reveal to the deep aquifer recharge of the spring sources and improves the cascade flow movement of the groundwater flow during the recharge feeding discharges of the spring. The high DO concentration of the other spring water agrees with the shallow recharge feeding sources of the spring discharges. 

1. In conclusion do provide suggestions for the need for community participation in conserving the springs through traditional techniques etc.

The following sentence was added to the conclusion

Implementing water protection zones is needed in order protect spring water resources, which is of high importance to the community. Further Investigations are needed with regard to the impacts of safe drinking water supply on the future economic development of communities. Community participation is needed in conserving the springs from pollution through traditional techniques. Planting native trees near the spring to protect it. Trees will prevent erosion, and make it a more pleasant place to collect water. Protecting the catchment area above the spring from animals and humans to prevent contamination and Constructing a cut off drain above the spring prevents contaminated water from entering or mixing with the spring water. The area around the spring should be fenced to prevent access by animals, but overflow water should be directed to an area outside the protection zone where the animals can take water, particularly in pastoral areas. The local community and users of the spring should be trained in the correct maintenance of the spring inlet and system and in the rationale for the protection of the catchment areas.

Reviewer 2 Report

In general, the subject investigated is interesting and of great contribution to the study area. It is necessary for the authors to process the recommendations and suggestions.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Dear Reviewer 2

Thank you so much for your efforts in reviewing the Manuscript and many thanks for your valuable comments. Please find below the answers to your comments and reviews. Please note that all your comments and reviews are reworked and added to the manuscript and marked in red color.

Regards

Marwan (on behalf of the authors).

REVIEWER 2

In general, the subject investigated is interesting and of great contribution to the study area. It is necessary for the authors to process the recommendations and suggestions.

Thank you so much for your review and all your recommendations and suggesions are taken into consideration and changed according to your suggestions and marked in red color.

Comment 1: The abstract of the manuscript can be improved. In general, it is important that the summary is structured in: Generalities and problem, The purpose of the study, Methodology, Results, Conclusions (including the contribution of this research to the field under study)

By structuring the abstract as mentioned, the reader will have a better understanding of the topic.

The abstract is edited and reviewed according to the above points and changes in the abstract are marked in red color.

Comment 2: In the Keywords section, I recommend omitting words that are already in the title (e.g. Spring). The objective is to include words within the topic under study that differ from the title so that they have greater visibility in searches of the different existing databases.

Spring word as one of the key words is deleted

Comment 3: The introduction can be improved. The structure of the introduction is characterized by the funnel effect, in which the authors start from the general to the particular until they pose their research question and objective. I recommend organizing the structure of the introduction and including studies of sustainable water management in areas that seek to be geoparks. I recommend reviewing and including this bibliography:

https://doi.org/10.1016/C2015-0-04543-9

https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031175

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-021-00584-6

https://doi.org/10.3390/su13094624

After reviewing the suggested bibliography the following paragrapgh is added to the Introduction:

The inventory and assessment of a geopark in a territory provides a sound basis for the protection and use of its geological heritage. Geoheritage represents an important part of natural and cultural Geoparks, and provides society with a broad range of services that are fundamental for its socioeconomic development. In order to achieve the protection and conservation of Geoparks, one strategy is the identification and estimation of the probable impacts produced by human activity and assessing the Environmental impact of the Geoparks [Bruschi and Coratza].  The Geopark studies contributes to the geomorphological heritage and geo-tourism, which is a great interest on sustainable social  development [Herrera-Franco, G.; Montalván-Burbano]. When the constituent elements of geodiversity have a high scientific value, they are known as geological heritage or geoheritage [Erikstad,]. Geoheritage is inherent to natural heritage. It includes forms, elements, and structures originated by geological process and has a crucial role in understanding Earth’s history [Erikstad, Herrera-Franco, Carrión-Mero].

Comment 4: The Materials and Methods section must be clear and express the entire process followed in this study. This section needs to be improved. I recommend including a graphic or methodological scheme that indicates the phases of work (two, three, four...). Each work phase must be described so that the reader understands the process followed, the materials used and the methodologies used. When carrying out this research as a support and strengthening in the designation of the geopark of the studied area, this section should include a phase in which the results obtained are correlated with the geological wealth of the area.e.g.:

proximity of the other sites of geological interest to the water sources

potential threats to water quality due to increased tourism in the event of becoming a gopark, among others

The whole section is edited and revised according to your note and marked in red color.

Comment 5: This section does not carry out an analysis of the results with the positive or negative impacts on the designation as a geopark, I consider that the results and discussion section should strengthen it and link it to the geological wealth of the area and its possibility of being a geopark. Also to the importance of knowing the quality of water in areas with potential for this type of appointment

The whole section is revised, edited and new sections were added and phrases are added, all marked in red color.

Comment 6: In conclusion, I recommend adding:

1. i) contribution of their research for the appointment of a geopark in the studied area.
2. ii) future lines of research in the context of this manuscript that strengthen the present study, considering the main limitations.

iii) contribution of the evaluation and study of water in areas with potential for geoparks as a line of research within the field of geodiversity, geotourism and geological heritage.

Thanks and all your points are taken into consideration in the conclusion part as well as other sections of the manuscript.

Reviewer 3 Report

The paper is a simple description of the hydrochemistry of the studied spring water. While this manuscript is suitable as a technical report, there is little to suggest that it will be of any interest to non-local readers. This is especially the case in the absence of any isotopic data or geochemical modelling. The authors suggest (based on the dissolved oxygen data) that some of the water contributions comes from deep sourced exotic waters. This could be better proven using isotopes. I would suggest expanding the paper to include data from the various upland wells that are connected hydrologically to the Jericho springs. This would help draw a picture of groundwater chemistry in the limestone aquifers and the implied locations of recharge, mixing and movement.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer 3

Thank you so much for your efforts in reviewing the Manuscript and many thanks for your valuable comments. Please find below the answers to your comments and reviews. Please note that all your comments and reviews are reworked and added to the manuscript and marked in red color.

Regards

Marwan (on behalf of the authors).

REVIEWER 3

The paper is a simple description of the hydrochemistry of the studied spring water. While this manuscript is suitable as a technical report, there is little to suggest that it will be of any interest to non-local readers. This is especially the case in the absence of any isotopic data or geochemical modelling.

Thank you so much for your fruitful review and please note that the manuscript is revised and edited and your points are taken into consideration and marked in red clor for the whole text.

The authors suggest (based on the dissolved oxygen data) that some of the water contributions comes from deep sourced exotic waters. This could be better proven using isotopes. I would suggest expanding the paper to include data from the various upland wells that are connected hydrologically to the Jericho springs. This would help draw a picture of groundwater chemistry in the limestone aquifers and the implied locations of recharge, mixing and movement.

We agree with you totally, accordingly we have to put as recommendation to have Isotopic studies in the Jericho potential Geopark in the conclusion. There is no any isotopic labs in Palestine and the isotopic analyses is costly in regards that there is no fund for such analyses.

This sentence was added the conclusion:

Further isotopic studies are recommended for the springs and groundwater of the upland wells in order to draw an integrated picture of the groundwater recharge processes.