The Hydrogeological Behavior of Springs in Face of Rainfall Fluctuations in the Plain of Fez and its Middle Atlas Border, Morocco

Abstract

The scarcity of water resources presents the most threatening risk and its effects are beginning to affect several regions of the planet. It cannot be denied that Morocco, due to its location in the south of the Mediterranean, has been affected by these climatic trends of which the plateau de Sais offers a good example by its location in the center of the country and by its wealth of superficial and groundwater resources. In recent decades, this plateau has experienced water stress, particularly in its groundwater reserves. It has been manifested by the decrease in flows from several springs or even total drying up in particular after successive periods of unusual drought, which marked the whole of the country after the 1980s. It is in this perspective this study aims to understand the behavior of the hydrogeological functioning of the springs located in the plain of Fez and its middle Atlas borders. Its geological complexity, as well as the abundance of carbonate rocks and the presence of volcanic basalt flowing from South to North have favored the resurgence of several springs of different flows and with a hydrological regime influenced according to the years and seasons by rainfall inputs. All these physical factors as well as human intervention on the hydrosystem through hydro-agricultural activities influence the behavior of the hydrological functioning of these springs.

Changes in precipitation and discharge in a Mediterranean catchment as a response to climate change and human activities

“…Taibi & Souag (2012) analysed more than 100 precipitation time series in northern Algeria and found a significant decrease in annual precipitation in north-western Algeria beginning in the 1970s. Qadem et al (2019) reported that mean annual precipitation was nearly 200 mm lower from 1980 to 2015 than that at the beginning of the 20th century in the Fes-Meknes region of Morocco. Several other studies in the Mediterranean region showed a negative trend in precipitation in Algeria (Meddi et al 2010), Spain (Herrera et al 2010;Sinoga et al 2011), Italy (Caloiero et al 2011) and Tunisia (Kingumbi et al 2005).…”

“…Ribes et al (2019) found that extreme precipitation events from 1961 to 2015 have significantly increased by a mean value of 22% in the Mediterranean region of France, while Tramblay et al (2012) reported no significant trends for the extreme precipitation over the same period in Morocco. Nevertheless, in Morocco, Amraoui et al (2011) reported a decrease in annual precipitation since the 1970s, and Singla et al (2010), Taibi & Souag (2012) and Qadem et al (2019) highlighted a significant breakpoint in mean annual precipitation. Then, while climate changes are effective at the scale of the Mediterranean region, due to the high heterogeneity of the climate, local trends in the precipitation amount or regime vary greatly.…”

Identification of Optimal Groundwater Storage Sites in a Semi-Arid Region: A GIS-Based Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) Approach

“…Although these water reservoirs have proven crucial, they are not exempt from modern-day challenges. The karstic aquifers of the Middle Atlas, as described by Tennevin in his 1978 study, along with the Plio-Quaternary and Liassic aquifers in the Saïs region studied by Belhassan et al (2010) and Charroud et al (1978), are beginning to display increasing signs of vulnerability (Qadem et al, 2022). which derives from changes in climate as well as influences spurred by human activities.…”

“…The methodology is built upon the application of RS and GIS, targeting the evaluation of potential groundwater areas (GWP), rendering them indispensable in efforts to enhance water availability in the Saïs Plateau and the surrounding territories in the Middle Atlas -areas persistently grappling with water scarcity. This work focuses on the spatial visualization of water level fluctuations in aquifer storage areas, aiming to optimize groundwater resource management in these regions in Morocco, noted for their abundant groundwater reserves (Howell et al, 2019;Qadem et al, 2022).…”

“…The region's geographical location features an enviable richness of hydrogeological resources being located within the folds of the Rif Mountains to the north, the Saïs Plateau at the core, and the Middle Atlas arching to the south. As pointed out by studies from Amraoui et al (2004) and Qadem et al (2022), this manifests a great hydrogeological potential that arises from the unique geological variety.…”