Egypt has underground water resources that could easily serve the country for the next century, said Farouk al-Baz, Egyptian scientist and director of Boston University's Center for Space Physics. The statement was delivered to an international symposium on the role of satellite technology in reducing technology gaps, organized by the National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences. The authority worked in conjunction with the Inter-Islamic Network on Space Sciences, the National Space Agency of Pakistan, and the Organization of the Islamic Conference to host the event. He said there are many underground water reservoirs in the Western Sahara that are 25,000 years old. While satellite images can detect signs of possible underground water basins, however, they cannot definitively confirm their existence nor can they determine if the water is fit for human consumption. Al-Baz called for constructing a specific satellite that works with sensors and radar applications to detect groundwater, minerals and antiquities buried beneath the desert surface. Egyptian scientists are qualified for this task, he added. Al-Baz also said solar lava is one of the most important scientific challenges the future holds. He pointed to studies that prove the solar cycle will be more intense, characterized by radiation emission that could affect electrical systems on earth. The symposium also discussed the use of satellite technology to achieve sustainable development, food security and poverty reduction. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
