Characterization of the temporal variability of climate and climatic drought in the Doukkala irrigated perimeter (Morocco)

Abstract

Morocco's climate is highly variable in space and time, influenced by its geographical location from north to south and from west to east. In recent decades, this variability has been accentuated by global climate change. In the Doukkala region, which is the subject of this study, this trend towards climatic variation has not been spared. For this reason, climate monitoring has become essential to anticipate and take appropriate measures in the face of the devastating impact on natural resources and the sustainability of agriculture. In our study, we used numerical and geometric methods to characterize climate and its temporal variability, and the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) to characterize drought. All the methods used converge on a finding of aridification of the climate in the study area. Use of the Standardized Rainfall Index revealed alternating wet and dry periods, with a higher proportion of dry years (37.9%). The most significant dry periods occurred between 1980 and 1987, as well as between 2016 and 2022. These prolonged periods of drought have led to severe water stress in the study region, highlighting the challenges posed by climate variations on the sustainability of agriculture and natural resources.