The implication of the hydrogeochemical processes for groundwater chemistry in a semi-arid region: A case study of the Bokoya massif (Central Rif, Morocco)

Natural and anthropogenic factors control groundwater chemistry in the semi-arid area in northern Morocco called Bokoya massif. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the geochemical processes that affected groundwater mineralization in the Bokoya massif. As a result, In April 2016, sixty-one (61) water samples were collected from various locations, including wells and springs throughout the Bokoya massif, and analyzed for physicochemical parameters using standard methods. The descriptive study of the physicochemical parameters revealed that the waters were neutral to slightly basic (pH values range between 7,16 and 8,5) and moderately to strongly mineralized (TDS values range between 555,20 and 7980,10 mg/l). Sodium chloride was the dominant hydrochemical facies in the groundwater of the study area, with a percentage reaching (80%) noting the minority of magnesium bicarbonate facies and the absence of sodium bicarbonate and chlorinated calcium type. The tests of the ionic ratio (Cl- /Na+, Cl-/HCO3- versus Cl-, Ca2+/Mg2+, Ca2+/SO4-, Ca2+/Mg2+ versus Cl-, (Ca2+ Mg2+)/ HCO3-), indicate that the order of the dominant cations is Na+ >Ca2+>Mg2+>K+ and of the dominant anions is Cl- >HCO3->SO42-. It suggests that the dominant factors controlling water chemistry are rock dissolution and evaporation, silicate weathering, and ion exchange. Gibbs diagram defines the relationship between water chemistry and the lithology of the aquifer. It showed that most of the groundwater composition in this area is linked to the geochemical processes of evaporation and crystallization, and carbonates and silicate alteration control the minority

Exploring salinity origins in the Ghiss-Nekor aquifer, northern Morocco: A multivariate statistical analysis

The Ghiss-Nekor coastal aquifer is characterized by high salinity stemming from multiple sources, remains poorly investigated. This study aims to address this knowledge gap by employing both univariate (descriptive statistics) and multivariate statistical analyses, including correlation matrix and principal component analysis (PCA). Groundwater samples were collected from 52 sites across the study area and meticulously analyzed for pH, TDS, EC, and the ions such as Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, NH4+, HCO3-, NO3-, NO2-,Cl-, SO42-, PO43-, and SiO2. Descriptive statistics, notably standard deviation (SD), highlight the diverse sources contributing to salinization, among which seawater intrusion (SWI) emerges as a significant factor. Correlation matrix analysis underscores multiple pathways for salinization, implicating SWI, salt dissolution, chemical weathering, secondary salt leaching, and anthropogenic activities. PCA elucidates 81.05% of the total variance in physicochemical parameters, with strong loadings observed for EC, Na+, Cl-, and Mg2+, corroborating the influence of SWI and suggesting evaporation processes. Moreover, PCA reinforces the potential influence of both geogenic and anthropogenic factors in salinization within the study area. This comprehensive investigation provides valuable insights into the elevated salinity levels observed in the Ghiss-Nekor aquifer, contributing to a deeper understanding of its hydrogeochemical dynamics

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P < 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely

An Estimation of Soil Erosion Rate Hot Spots by Integrated USLE and GIS Methods: a Case Study of the Ghiss Dam and Basin in Northeastern Morocco

Soil erosion is a major factor leading to dams’ siltation and reducing their storage capacity. This study mapped the hot spots of soil erosion areas to predict the soil erosion/siltation in the Ghiss basin/dam (northeastern Morocco). In this context, various data has been prepared in the geographical information system for the estimation of soil erosion by integrating the universal soil loss equation (USLE). The result of this study revealed that soil loss rate ranges between 0 and 19 t∙ha−1∙yr−1. Therefore, the hot spots in the soil erosion area are to be found upstream, potentially leading to dam siltation over time. To avoid Ghiss dam siltation, we suggest terrace farming and reforestation in the soil erosion area hot spots

Mapping the spatiotemporal evolution of seawater intrusion in the Moroccan coastal aquifer of Ghiss-Nekor using GIS-based modeling

The impact of seawater intrusion on coastal aquifers is a major concern in managing groundwater resources. The unconfined coastal aquifer of Ghiss-Nekor, located in a semi-arid area, is particularly vulnerable to seawater intrusion (SWI) because of excessive groundwater pumping and climate change impacts. Therefore, the main goal of the present work is to track the spatiotemporal evolution of SWI in the Ghiss-Nekor aquifer by analyzing data from the years 2015 and 2022 using appropriate geochemical approaches. Accordingly, a range of geochemical techniques were employed, including the Piper diagram, Chadha's diagram, Gibbs diagram, Stiff diagram, major ions variation maps, Hydrochemical Facies Evolution Diagrams (HFE-D), and seawater fraction (fsea). As a result, Gibbs diagram clearly indicates the contribution of seawater to the salinization of the Ghiss-Nekor aquifer. Further information is provided by the Piper, Chadha, and Stiff diagrams, which reveal that 29%–38% of the wells studied display Na–Cl water type, a characteristic feature of seawater facies. Additionally, statistical analysis shows a significant increase in salinity levels between 2015 and 2022. Furthermore, the spatiotemporal analysis using the differential mapping technique (DMT) confirmed the increase of salinity, particularly near the shoreline. Additionally, the HFE-D showed that the region impacted by SWI increased from 14% to 20% between 2015 and 2022, and the maximum fsea value rose from 14.84% to 25.77% over the same time frame. Our findings reinforce the assumption that SWI is worsening over time in the Ghiss-Nekor aquifer. In summary, the techniques used in this study were effective in tracking the spatiotemporal evolution of SWI in the aquifer and in quantifying it. The results of this study can inform the development of effective strategies for managing SWI in coastal aquifers

Identification of Groundwater Potential Zones (GWPZ) Using Geospatial Techniques and AHP Method: a Case Study of the Boudinar Basin, Rif Belt (Morocco)

The present study aims to delineate the groundwater potential zones (GWPZ) in the Boudinar Basin using geospatial techniques and through an analytical hierarchal process (AHP) method. For multi criteria decision analysis, fifteen thematic layers were integrated into a geographic information system (GIS) environment. In this analysis, each thematic layer is calculated for normalized weights. Furthermore, the consistency index and consistency ratio were calculated to ensure that the result was significant and reliable. The GWPZ map has been categorized into three classes: poor (50.82%), moderate (49.06%), and good (<1.00%). To compare the result, we used four other scenarios of the GWPZ. Two of them are the most similar to our result. Finally, predictive groundwater production and management strategies that ensure long-term sustainability are highly needed

Le Maghreb

Ce numéro de Perspective est consacré au Maghreb et aux histoires de l’art qui s’y pratiquent comme aux études et aux travaux que suscitent son patrimoine et sa création contemporaine à l’échelle internationale. Ainsi la revue poursuit-elle son projet : proposer régulièrement des numéros thématiques dont la géographie est le point d’ancrage, tout en se détournant, pour la première fois, de l’État-nation au profit d’un territoire à une autre échelle, dont il faut – encore plus qu’ailleurs ? – définir le sens selon les périodes envisagées et selon les sujets abordés. Cette gageure est aussi une occasion pour Perspective d’éprouver l’opportunité des catégories traditionnelles de l’histoire de l’art. Sur ce plan, le numéro présente, entre autres, des voix de personnalités, à l’instar de Rachida Triki, Kader Attia et Yto Barrada, mais aussi des articles collectifs sur les questions de savoirs archéologiques au Maghreb, sur la notion de musée universel telle qu’elle s’élabore depuis la rive sud de la Méditerranée, ou encore sur la façon dont les institutions patrimoniales ont traversé les indépendances. Figurent au sommaire des articles de fond consacrés à l’architecture de l’empire almohade ou encore à l’historiographie des corans maghrébins et, sur la période contemporaine, une contribution retraçant l’histoire urbaine d’Alger. L’ornementation des livres et des manuscrits, l’Algérie de Fanon dans sa relation aux arts, l’habitation vernaculaire juive-tunisienne, les galeries et les artistes contemporains… autant d’interventions qui viennent compléter ce volume et dont la somme révèle la multiplicité des recherches en cours et à venir sur l’art et l’histoire d’Afrique du Nord. Ce numéro est en vente sur le site du Comptoir des presses d’universités. Comité de rédaction du volume Anne-Elisabeth Buxtorf, Claire Bosc-Tiessé, Eric de Chassey, Rossella Froissart, Charlotte Guichard, Béatrice Joyeux-Prunel, Thomas Kirchner, Rémi Labrusse, Anne Lafont, Johanne Lamoureux, Jean-Yves Marc, François Michaud, Zahia Rahmani, Emmanuelle Rosso, Philippe Sénéchal, Bernard Vouillou