Spatial Imaging of the Water Resource and Natural Environment Coastal Gharb Basin: Downstream Part of the Hydraulic Basin of the Sebou River (Morocco)

Abstract

This research will be further developed with the integration of high resolution remote sensing data, aerial photographs, ground surveys and meteorological data to better define the functional models for these hazardous processes in the Sebou River basin with special emphasis on desertification and land degradation.

The physico-chemical characteristics of groundwater of the aquifer system contained in the plio-quaternary geological of the gharb (Morocco) indicate that a hydrochemical diversity exists depending on the nature of the aquifer, which itself related to the lithology in this semi-arid zone of Morocco.

The salinity of water increases, following a W-E section going from the coastal zone towards the centre, South East and North East of the basin. In the centre and East, the shallow aquifer exhibits cation and anion values going beyond the morocco norm of drinking water. This salinity is due to the abundance of under ground salty domes. The deep aquifer protected by a layer of clay more or less thick presents water of good quality except for the coastal zone where the deep formations appear. Hence, the irrational use of fertilizers influences the geochemical zoning system.

These deductions are based on preliminary studies to determine the principal water-rock interactions which control the composition of groundwater of the Plio-quaternary aquifer of the Gharb and to identify the natural process and the human impact which influence the hydrochemical zoning of this semi-arid zone of north-west of Morocco.