Impact of climate change on surface water resources in arid zones - the case of the Ykem watershed in the central plateau of Morocco

Abstract

Given the importance of natural resources for integrated development, it is necessary to adopt adaptation strategies to face disturbances affecting the globe. Particularly, climate change, with a particular impact on water potential. The aim of this article is to highlight the impact of this world phenomenon on surface water resources in the Ykem watershed situated in the northwest of the central Moroccan plateau, which is characterized by predominantly arid conditions. In order to monitor the spatiotemporal evolution of surface water, a methodology based on geospatialization techniques was used. This involved mapping the evolution of surface water resources in time and space, providing a variation between reference years, specifically 2012–2021, from 132 ha to 32 ha, and of course interpreting the results by climate elements based on rainfall in the study area and temperature readings in this geographic location. Remote sensing was employed to acquire satellite images available between 1992 and 2021. The area covered by water rose from 10 ha to 126 ha between 1992 and 2012, but the amount of land covered by water shrank to 32 ha between 2012 and 2021.