El Jarjini Y., Morarech M., Ouardi J., Arjdal Y., Ayach M., Valles V., Barbiéro Laurent. (2025). Salinization in an Atlantic estuarine zone in Northern Morocco : development of a conceptual operating model. Arid Land Research and Management, [Early access], p. [21 p.]. ISSN 1532-4982.
Titre du document
Salinization in an Atlantic estuarine zone in Northern Morocco : development of a conceptual operating model
Année de publication
2025
Auteurs
El Jarjini Y., Morarech M., Ouardi J., Arjdal Y., Ayach M., Valles V., Barbiéro Laurent
Source
Arid Land Research and Management, 2025,
[Early access], p. [21 p.] ISSN 1532-4982
Often considered as 'sentinel environments', estuarine zones are complex and fragile environments, on the front line of climate change impacts, particularly sea level rise. The development of a conceptual operating model is a crucial first step toward the development of numerical tools for forecasting the consequences of medium- and long-term change. This study, carried out on an estuary in the Mediterranean climate of northern Morocco, aims to understand the main features of hydrosaline functioning, on the basis of classic physico-chemical parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity, redox potential and partial pressure in O2, spatialized in the water table and monitored in the wadi (temporary watercourse) during a tidal cycle. The results highlight (1) the predominance of marine forces, with the water table and wadi over-salted (much higher Electrical Conductivity) relative to the ocean. These conditions are maintained because of the low topographic gradient, with the over-salted water not reaching the outlet before the flood; (2) the low freshwater inflows controlled by the inclination of the geological strata, (3) the role of sediment texture on riparian exchanges and the dynamics of the water table, with the clay texture favoring endorheic flows toward piezometric depressions where salts accumulate between two tides because of climatic aridity. All the processes identified lead to a conceptual model of the estuarine hydrosaline system, explaining the main sources of spatial variability in soil salinity, in line with previous studies, and laying the foundations for numerical modeling aimed at predicting its medium- and long-term evolution under various constraints.
Plan de classement
Sciences fondamentales / Techniques d'analyse et de recherche [020]
;
Sciences du milieu [021]
;
Hydrologie [062]
;
Géologie et formations superficielles [064]
Description Géographique
MAROC ; ATLANTIQUE ; ZONE MEDITERRANEENNE
Localisation
Fonds IRD [F B010094930]
Identifiant IRD
fdi:010094930
