Gil Mahe

Abstract

The objective of this study is to investigate the evolution of rainfall and flow in the Bouregreg watershed, and to identify the most vulnerable regions to climate change over a period of 36 years from 1977 to 2013. Results show significant variations between these sub-regions in term of monthly flows and monthly regimes. January and February rainfall amounts are the most affected by the reduction of rainfall since the drought started end of the 1970’s, inducing a reduction of flows at all hydrological stations mainly since 1979. The year 1996 shows very high precipitations over all sub-basins, and also separates two periods with different rainfall time series variations according to two regions over the basin: the region of the Tsalat sub-basin in the Southeast wet and mountainous area (Middle Atlas) shows a durable decrease of rainfall compared to the Ain Loudah sub-basin in the Center-West semi-arid plateau area.

Keywords: climate change, rainfall, standardized index, rupture, watershed, Bouregreg, Morocco

Rajae El Aoula [elaoula.rajae@gmail.com], Research center of GEOPAC, Geophysical laboratory and Natural Hazard University of Mohammed V in Rabat, Scientific Institute Morocco Rabat: Morocco
Gil Mahe [gilmahe@hotmail.com], UMR HydroSciences Montpellier IRD: France
Nadia Mhammdi [nmhammdif@yahoo.com], Research center of GEOPAC, Geophysical laboratory and Natural Hazard University of Mohammed V in Rabat, Scientific Institute Morocco Rabat: Morocco
Abdellatif Ezzahouani [gmezzahouani@gmail.com], Water center, Natural resources, Environment and sustainable development Laboratory of Geoscience, Water and Environment University of Mohammed V in Rabat Rabat: Morocco
Ilias Kacimi, Water center, Natural resources, Environment and sustainable development Laboratory of Geoscience, Water and Environment University of Mohammed V in Rabat Rabat: Morocco
Kenza Khomsi [k.khomsi@gmail.com], National Directorate of Meteorology Casablanca: Morocco