Evidence of recent warming in the north of Morocco from disturbed geothermal gradients

Abstract

Thermal profiles in Morocco present a negative gradient in the first 60 to 150 m depth. The importance of this subsurface disturbance seems to represent a change of soil surface temperature rather than a lithological contrast or a circulation of fluid. This world-wide phenomenon in expressed in Morocco by a warming of approximately 1.5 to 3 °C over last 100 to 300 years. Particularly intensive deforestation in northeastern Morocco adds to climatic variations to give a more marked surface temperature anomaly. (C) 2000 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.