Climate of the Marrakech High Atlas, Morocco: Temperature lapse rates and precipitation gradient from piedmont to summits

Bell, Benjamin; Hughes, Philip D.; Fletcher, William J.; Cornelissen, Henk L.; Rhoujjati, Ali; Hanich, Lahoucine; Braithwaite, Roger J.

doi:10.1080/15230430.2022.2046897

Cited by 21 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 77 publications

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“…[ 107 ] found PLAPS around 444 mm/km in the basin of N’fis within the Marrakech High Atlas. Otherwise, the values found in other studies can vary from 5 mm/km to 623 mm/km [ 13 , 30 , 44 , 109 , 110 ]. Therefore, precipitation increases with elevation, but at varying rates.…”

Section: Appendix A1 Parameters Uncertaintiesmentioning

confidence: 80%

“…Ref. [ 109 ] investigated eleven years of half-hourly climate measurements from the Joint International Laboratory LMI-TREMA (Télédétection et Ressources en Eau en Méditerranée semi-Aride) network of meteorological stations in the Marrakech High Atlas. According to their results, mean temperature lapse rates range from −3.67 °C/km to −5.21 °C/km monthly and, during the day, from −2.75 °C/km to −7.1 °C/km.…”

Section: Appendix A1 Parameters Uncertaintiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Application of SWAT Model and Remotely Sensed Products to Characterize the Dynamic of Streamflow and Snow in a Mountainous Watershed in the High Atlas

Taia

Erraioui

Arjdal

et al. 2023

Sensors

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Snowfall, snowpack, and snowmelt are among the processes with the greatest influence on the water cycle in mountainous watersheds. Hydrological models may be significantly biased if snow estimations are inaccurate. However, the unavailability of in situ snow data with enough spatiotemporal resolution limits the application of spatially distributed models in snow-fed watersheds. This obliges numerous modellers to reduce their attention to the snowpack and its effect on water distribution, particularly when a portion of the watershed is predominately covered by snow. This research demonstrates the added value of remotely sensed snow cover products from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) in evaluating the performance of hydrological models to estimate seasonal snow dynamics and discharge. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was used in this work to simulate discharge and snow processes in the Oued El Abid snow-dominated watershed. The model was calibrated and validated on a daily basis, for a long period (1981–2015), using four discharge-gauging stations. A spatially varied approach (snow parameters are varied spatially) and a lumped approach (snow parameters are unique across the whole watershed) have been compared. Remote sensing data provided by MODIS enabled the evaluation of the snow processes simulated by the SWAT model. Results illustrate that SWAT model discharge simulations were satisfactory to good according to the statistical criteria. In addition, the model was able to reasonably estimate the snow-covered area when comparing it to the MODIS daily snow cover product. When allowing snow parameters to vary spatially, SWAT model results were more consistent with the observed streamflow and the MODIS snow-covered area (MODIS-SCA). This paper provides an example of how hydrological modelling using SWAT and snow coverage products by remote sensing may be used together to examine seasonal snow cover and snow dynamics in the High Atlas watershed.

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Section: Appendix A1 Parameters Uncertaintiesmentioning

confidence: 80%

Section: Appendix A1 Parameters Uncertaintiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Application of SWAT Model and Remotely Sensed Products to Characterize the Dynamic of Streamflow and Snow in a Mountainous Watershed in the High Atlas

Taia

Erraioui

Arjdal

et al. 2023

Sensors

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…have underlined the precipitation understanding complexity in the High Atlas region of Morocco showing that the mean annual precipitation increases by 166 mm.km−1 (150.6 to 183.7 mm km−1) with a significant snow component at the highest elevations (Bell et al, 2022). However, in the last few decades, there have been long periods of drought, irregularities in rainfall (Ouharba et al, 2019), and records of both maximum and minimum temperatures, as significant warming trend has been observed, with maximum and minimum temperatures rising by 1.7°C and 1.4°C, respectively, during the study period.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Impact of climate and demographic changes on the vegetation of the M’goun Geopark UNESCO of Morocco (1984-2021)

Youssef,

Abdelaziz,

Aboubakre

et al. 2024

Ingeo

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The primary goal of this study is to identify changes in the vegetation cover of the geopark M’goun region of Morocco, as a sample area to track the Moroccan vegetation status, and the crucial factors that influenced its evolution between 1984 and 2021. The NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) method has been used, combined with supervised classification manipulated with the Google Earth Engine and through statistical analysis using R, together with field trips and Google Earth records for supervised classification. The percentage of vegetation density, made up of oak groves, Matorrals, red juniper, and thuja, in addition to a highly biodiverse cover, displays a declining trend. Medium-cover vegetation decreased by 29.5%, dense vegetation decreased considerably by 70.9%, and low-cover vegetation saw a minimal decline of 0.02%. As a result, dense and medium vegetation are being replaced by bare lands or poor-quality cover formed by sparse plants and solitary trees. In addition, precipitation increased slightly, showing an irregular trend, with average minimum and maximum temperatures rising by +1.7°C and +1.4°C, respectively. Furthermore, the population increased by 84.47%. Statistical analysis showed that the most important parameters affecting medium and dense vegetation cover are temperatures (Tmin and Tmax) and population density, as evidenced by the strong correlation between them. In contrast, sparse vegetation cover showed less correlation due to its heterogeneity. However, precipitation played a minimal role in vegetation evolution. Change detection maps revealed a significant negative impact on vegetation cover. This degradation was localized in the southern part of the area of study, where, according to the demographic density map, the majority of the population resides. Deforestation continues due to the lifestyle and economic activities of the local population. These factors, combined with climate change, are exerting large-scale pressure on the forest throughout the geopark.

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“…The remote valleys of the High Atlas of Morocco are certainly characterised by a severe climate ( 16 ), lack of grazing ( 17–19 ) and an absence of skilled horsemanship ( 10 ). The Toubkal National Park was established in 1942 under the French Protectorate ( 20 , 21 ) and since then has become a very popular tourist destination ( 22–24 ), in part because of its proximity to Marrakech but also because of the appeal of climbing North Africa’s highest mountain, the Djebel Toubkal.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The history and welfare of working mules in the valleys of the Toubkal massif, in the High Atlas of Morocco

Cousquer,

Alyakine,

Lindsay-McGee

2023

Front. Vet. Sci.

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The appearance of the mule in the remote villages of the Toubkal National Park in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco can be traced back to the early years of the twentieth century. The mule population’s subsequent growth in numbers accompanied the shift away from a subsistence economy that was made possible by the appearance and growth of the mining and mountain tourism industries. This paper reviews this early history, drawing on the accounts provided by early explorers and anthropologists, before developing a mixed methods approach to evaluating the welfare of pack mules in two villages within the National Park. The first village is part of the main access route to the Toubkal, the principle summit of the National Park and therefore much visited. The second is a much more remote, under visited and less developed village. Ethnographic work, studying muleteering practice and undertaken over several years is reported here and supplemented by findings from a detailed survey of the mules of both villages. This allows the work undertaken and the lived realities of the working mule across several generations of inhabitants to be presented together with data about the primary welfare concerns identified on clinical examination. In village one, 72 mule owners and their mules were surveyed and examined. Many of these mules worked in tourism, providing a source of revenue for their families. This work was often undertaken by teenagers/young adults working their father’s mules. Tethering was widely practised and evidence of tethering injuries were identified in most mules. In the more remote village, 18 owners and their equids were surveyed and examined. In this population, mules were more likely to be worked locally in agriculture, building and to collect firewood. Bitting injuries associated with the use of the traditional bit were a significant concern in both villages. The universal use of a closed shoe was also in evidence in both villages; this was associated with atrophy of the frog and hoof imbalances. The reasoning for the use of the traditional bit and closed shoe are presented and alternatives discussed.

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Climate of the Marrakech High Atlas, Morocco: Temperature lapse rates and precipitation gradient from piedmont to summits

Cited by 21 publications

References 77 publications

The Application of SWAT Model and Remotely Sensed Products to Characterize the Dynamic of Streamflow and Snow in a Mountainous Watershed in the High Atlas

The Application of SWAT Model and Remotely Sensed Products to Characterize the Dynamic of Streamflow and Snow in a Mountainous Watershed in the High Atlas

Impact of climate and demographic changes on the vegetation of the M’goun Geopark UNESCO of Morocco (1984-2021)

The history and welfare of working mules in the valleys of the Toubkal massif, in the High Atlas of Morocco

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