Contribution of Remote Sensing and GIS to Identify the Potential Area for Artificial Recharge in Fractured Area in the Talmakent Region, Western High Atlas, Morocco

In view of the progressive retreat of groundwater due to rarity, continuous depletion and overexploitation of water, especially in mountainous areas, which are a major source of water, there is a need for artificial recharge for better management of these resources to ensure their long-term sustainability. The approach used is a contribution of new geomatic technologies; Remote Sensing coupled with Geographic Information Systems, for the mapping of potential areas of artificial recharge in the fractured medium of the Talmakent region, which is located in the western high atlas and is characterized by the presence of impermeable rocks. This study requires the consideration of different factors influencing the recharge potential, which are the characteristics of the land surface such as geology lineaments, geomorphology and drainage system. All these criteria are grouped in a GIS prototype in which a multi-criteria overlay analysis has been done for the cartographic restitution of the potential areas for artificial groundwater recharge. The existing basins in the area revealed that only 6% of the total area was identified as having a high potential for groundwater recharge, hence suitable for the implementation of new artificial recharge structures. While 94% of the area has a low to moderate recharge potential, hence unsuitable for groundwater recharge processes.

Apomictic species of Alchemilla from the High Atlas Mountains: revision of the genus Alchemilla (Rosaceae) in Morocco

A taxonomic revision of the Alchemilla in the High Atlas Mountains has been carried out. This genus is represented in Morocco by Alchemilla atlantica, A. gourzai, A. litardieri, A. mairei and by a new taxon A. boratynskii, sp. nov., described here from the High Atlas Mountains range. Data on their chorology, ecology and phenology, as well as an identification key, are provided. The conservation status of this newly described narrow endemic and the other four taxa, also endemics previously known from the Moroccan Atlas Mountains, is provided. Alchemilla hirtipes should be excluded from the flora of Morocco.

Annual and seasonal changes of the air temperature with altitude in the Upper Dades valley, High Atlas, Morocco

The purpose of this study is to determine the size of air temperature changes with altitude in the mountains of the arid zone, on the example of the Upper Dades valley (High Atlas, Morocco). The air temperature change with altitude was determined on the basis of 5 years data from three meteorological stations. The analysis was carried out on an annual and seasonal basis. The annual and daily variations of thermal gradients between pairs of stations were also determined. It was found that the average thermal gradient in the Upper Dades valley was -1.02°C per 100 m. The highest values of the thermal gradient occur in winter and the lowest in summer. In winter, the thermal gradient was characterized by the greatest variability. Minima of the daily variation of air temperature gradients were observed in early morning hours and maxima around midday. In the lower part of the valley, air temperature inversion frequently developed between 10 AM and 3 PM UTC. The obtained results show high thermal gradients in the mountains of the arid zone, with their annual amplitude increasing in the lower parts of the valley. The instantaneous values of the gradients were significantly modified by the supply of latent heat and the occurrence of dust storms. It has been shown that the advection factor plays an important role in shaping large gradient values. The study contains novel results of thermal gradient measurements in high mountains of arid zone.

Enhancing Participatory Development in Morocco: Analyzing the Sketch Mapping Behaviour of Men and Women and Integrating Paper and Digital Participatory Mapping Environments

Twelve participatory paper maps by separate groups of men and women were facilitated by the High Atlas Foundation in six communities in Morocco between 2010–2020 as part of their process of participatory development. In this research, these sketch maps are analyzed for the first time. The twelve participatory paper maps underwent a gender-focused content frequency analysis. Seven communities were located using OpenStreetMap and Google Maps by a High Atlas Foundation expert. It was found that men contributed more overall geographic elements and written Arabic commentary than women, which could indicate a higher level of familiarity with their community and comfortability in communicating their opinions in writing. It was also found that there are many barriers to adding data from the sketch maps to OpenStreetMap due to language, loss of institutional memory, inconsistencies between the sketch maps of the same location, and inconsistencies between the sketch maps and satellite imagery.