Nouvelle approche géologique et géodinamique du Complexe Hydrothermal de Moulay Yacoub, bordure septentrionale du Sillon Sud Rifain

As águas termais de Moulay Yacoub surgem em formações miocénicas do Sulco Sul do Rife. São caracterizadas por forte mineralização, relacionada com a natureza do seu local de armazenamento e circulação em reservatórios de litologias variadas. Apresentam duas fácies químicas principais: uma Cl-Na, pouco diluída, e outra, Cl-Ca-Mg, dominada por águas imaturas. A comparção geoquímica e geotermométrica com outras fontes regionais sugere uma origem mais profunda que o reservatório liássico. A recente descoberta de extrusões de blocos de calcário liássico, de magmatitos paleozóicos, de metassedimentos e de grandes massas de doleritos triássicos, sugere a existência de formações permeáveis sob a cobertura margosa do Miocénico. Os acidentes profundos NE-SW, associados a um cavalgamento cego, sugerem uma relação estreita entre estas águas termais e as extrusões do soco ante-neogénicos. Durante a sua passagem para a superfície, as águas termais de Moulay Yacoub terão sido diluídas através de misturas ocorridas principalmente no reservatório liássico

Assessing hydrological vulnerability to future droughts in a Mediterranean watershed : combined indices-based and distributed modeling approaches

Understanding the spatiotemporal distribution of future droughts is essential for effective water resource management, especially in the Mediterranean region where water resources are expected to be scarcer in the future. In this study, we combined meteorological and hydrological drought indices with the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model to predict future dry years during two periods (2035-2050and 2085-2100) in a typical Mediterranean watershed in Northern Morocco, namely, Bouregreg watershed. The developed methodology was then used to evaluate drought impact on annual water yields and to identify the most vulnerable sub-basins within the study watershed. Two emission scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) of a downscaled global circulation model were used to force the calibrated SWAT model. Results indicated that Bouregreg watershed will experience several dry years with higher frequency especially at the end of current century. Significant decreases of annual water yields were simulated during dry years, ranging from -45.6% to -76.7% under RCP4.5, and from -66.7% to -95.6% under RCP8.5, compared to baseline. Overall, hydrologic systems in sub-basins under the ocean or high-altitude influence appear to be more resilient to drought. The combination of drought indices and the semi-distributed model offer a comprehensive tool to understand potential future droughts in Bouregreg watershed

Assessing hydrological vulnerability to future droughts in a Mediterranean watershed: combined indices-based and distributed modeling approaches

Understanding the spatiotemporal distribution of future droughts is essential for effective water resource management, especially in the Mediterranean region where water resources are expected to be scarcer in the future. In this study, we combined meteorological and hydrological drought indices with the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model to predict future dry years during two periods (2035–2050and 2085–2100) in a typical Mediterranean watershed in Northern Morocco, namely, Bouregreg watershed. The developed methodology was then used to evaluate drought impact on annual water yields and to identify the most vulnerable sub-basins within the study watershed. Two emission scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) of a downscaled global circulation model were used to force the calibrated SWAT model. Results indicated that Bouregreg watershed will experience several dry years with higher frequency especially at the end of current century. Significant decreases of annual water yields were simulated during dry years, ranging from -45.6% to -76.7% under RCP4.5, and from -66.7% to -95.6% under RCP8.5, compared to baseline. Overall, hydrologic systems in sub-basins under the ocean or high-altitude influence appear to be more resilient to drought. The combination of drought indices and the semi-distributed model offer a comprehensive tool to understand potential future droughts in Bouregreg watershed

Toward Better Preparedness of Mediterranean Rainfed Agricultural Systems to Future Climate-Change-Induced Water Stress: Study Case of Bouregreg Watershed (Morocco)

Improving the preparedness of agricultural systems to future climate-change-induced phenomena, such as drought-induced water stress, and the predictive analysis of their vulnerability is crucial. In this study, a hybrid modeling approach based on the SWAT model was built to understand the response of major crops and streamflow in the Bouregreg catchment in Morocco to future droughts. During dry years, the simulation results showed a dramatic decrease in water resources availability (up to −40%) with uneven impacts across the study catchment area. Crop-wise, significant decreases in rainfed wheat productivity (up to −55%) were simulated during future extremely dry growing seasons

Assessment of water quality and toxicity of polluted Rivers Fez and Sebou in the region of Fez (Morocco)

Water quality assessment in the region of Fez based on the physicochemical and ecotoxicological investigations is presented. The results indicate that sites located close to the most urbanized and industrialized areas are severely impaired. The major water quality problems are: low dissolved oxygen (DO), high turbidity, organic matter and ammonia contents, severe chromium and copper pollution and high acute and chronic toxicity. This results in the loss of the aquatic life which is still flourishing in the Fez River upstream from the Fez Medina. Remote sites downstream show signs of physicochemical recovery. However, even there, bioassays showed significant acute and chronic toxicity. Well water in the region of Fez has moderately poor water quality with nitrate and metal enrichments. Use of water for drinking or for agriculture from the rivers or from some well without treatment may expose the population to health risk. </p

Making rainfed crops adapted to potential climate change impacts : modeling sustainable options

I2CNP.International Conference on Climate Nexus Perspectives : Water, Food and Biodiversity, Khenifra, MAR, 04-/06/2020 -Rainfed agriculture is becoming increasingly vulnerable to climate change. This situation is expected to worsen under most future climate projections, which might increase the risks linked to food security and economies which depend on it. Providing insights about the potential responses of rainfed crops to climate change will helps on designing future adaptation strategies. In this study, large amount of data and the agro-hydrological model SWAT have been used to investigate future climate change impacts on rainfed wheat and sunflower crops in a semiarid watershed in Morocco (R'dom watershed). Downscaled CORDEX climate projections were used in generating future plants growth simulation for R'dom watershed in the 2031 to 2050 horizon under two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs): 4.5 and 8.5. The main results of climate change scenarios highlighted that R'dom watershed will undergo significant decrease in water resources availability with more impact under the scenario RCP 8.5. Water productivities of both studied crops could be lower by up to -21% in comparison with baseline situation. Different sustainable management strategies have been simulated using SWAT model under climate change context. The adopted approach succeeded in building up sustainable management strategies toward secured food security in the future

Hydrochemical constraints between the karst Tabular Middle Atlas Causses and the Saïs basin (Morocco): implications of groundwater circulation

The karst Tabular Middle Atlas Causses reservoir is the main drinking-water supply of Fez-Meknes region (Saïs Basin) in Morocco. Recent analyses showed a decline in associated groundwater chemical quality and increased turbidity. To understand this hydrosystem, four surveys were undertaken during fall and spring, 2009–2011. Hydrogeochemical studies coupled with isotopic analyses (δ18O, δD and 222Rn) showed that the aquifers between the causses (mountains) and the Saïs Basin are of Liassic origin and at the southern extremities are of Triassic origin. Five recharge zones of different altitudes have been defined, including two main mixing zones in the south. Deuterium excess results suggest local recharge, while a plot of δ18O versus δD characterizes a confined aquifer in the eastern sector. 222Rn results reveal areas of rapid exchanges with an upwelling time of less than 2 weeks. A schematic conceptual model is presented to explain the groundwater circulation system and the behavior of this karst system