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Evaluation of the impacts of climate changes on the coastal Chaouia aquifer, Morocco, using numerical modeling

Evaluation des impacts du changement climatique sur l’aquifère côtier de la Chaouïa,Maroc, en utilisant la modélisation numérique

Evaluación de los impactos de cambios climáticos en el acuífero costero Chaouia,Marruecos, usando modelación numérica

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Abstract

The aquifer of the Chaouia Coast, Morocco constitutes an example of groundwater resources subjected to intensive and uncontrolled withdrawals in a semi-arid region. The analysis of the trends of precipitation and piezometric levels of the Chaouia coastal aquifer, with the use of moving averages, emphasized the impact of the climate on the groundwater resources of the system. The results showed that the periods 1977–1993 and 1996–2000 are characterized by a deficit in precipitation, although the precipitation increased slightly during the periods 1973–1977 and 1993–1996. Numerical modeling of the Chaouia aquifer showed that the groundwater resources of this system are less sensitive to the variations in precipitation. Severe degradation of the resource is related to intensive pumping during the periods of drought, which has forced abandonment of wells due to seawater intrusion.

Résumé

L’aquifère de la Côte de la Chaouïa,Maroc constitue un exemple de ressource en eau souterraine sujette à des prélèvements intensifs et non contrôlés dans une région semi-aride. L’analyse des tendances de l’évolution des précipitations et des niveaux piézométriques de l’aquifère côtier de la Chaouïa, par l’utilisation des moyennes mobiles, a mis en relief l’impact du climat sur les ressources en eau souterraine du système. Les résultats ont montré que les périodes 1977–1993 et 1996–2000 sont caractérisées par un déficit de précipitations, bien que les précipitations aient augmenté légèrement durant les périodes 1973–1977 et 1993–1996. La modélisation numérique de l’aquifère de la Chaouïa a montré que les ressources en eau souterraine de ce système sont moins sensibles aux variations des précipitations. Une dégradation sévère de la ressource est associée à un pompage intensif pendant les périodes de sécheresse, qui ont contraint à l’abandon de puits du fait de l’intrusion d’eau de mer.

Resumen

El acuífero costero de Chaouia, Marruecos, constituye un ejemplo de recursos hídricos subterráneos sujetos a una extracción intensiva y no controlada en una región semiárida. El análisis de las tendencias de precitación y de los niveles piezométricos en el acuífero costero Chaouia, mediante el uso de promedios móviles, enfatiza el impacto del clima en los recursos hídricos subterráneos. Los resultados mostraron que los períodos 1977–1993 y 1996–2000 se caracterizan por un déficit de las precipitaciones, aunque tales precitaciones aumentaron ligeramente durante los períodos 1973–1977 y 1993–1996. La modelación numérica del acuífero Chaouia indica que los recursos subterráneos del sistema son poco sensibles a las variaciones en las precitaciones. La severa degradación de los recursos hídricos subterráneos se relaciona con bombeos intensivos durante períodos de sequía, lo que ha llevado al abandono de pozos debido a intrusión marina.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the ‘Agence du Bassin Hydraulique de Bouregreg’ and Prof. Y. Fakir (University of Marrakesh) for providing some of the data. They are also thankful to the Managing Editor (Prof. P. Renard), the Associate Editor and two reviewers for their helpful comments and suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Poitiers, UFR SFA, UMR 6532, 40 avenue du Recteur Pineau, 86022, Poitiers Cedex, France

    J. Moustadraf & M. Razack

  2. Ecole Hassania des Travaux Publics, Département de l’Hydraulique, KM 7, Route d’El Jadida, BP 8108, Casablanca, Morocco

    M. Sinan

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  1. J. Moustadraf
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  2. M. Razack
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  3. M. Sinan
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Correspondence to M. Razack.

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Moustadraf, J., Razack, M. & Sinan, M. Evaluation of the impacts of climate changes on the coastal Chaouia aquifer, Morocco, using numerical modeling. Hydrogeol J 16, 1411–1426 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-008-0311-4

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