Bousbaa et al. (2025) Assessing groundwater storage response to snow cover dynamics in large Moroccan river basins over the last decades using remote sensing data

Identification

• Journal: Groundwater for Sustainable Development
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-12-30
• Authors: Mostafa Bousbaa, Abdelghani Boudhar, Mohammed Hssaisoune, Haytam Elyoussfi, Ismail KARAOUI, Bouchra Bargam, Karima Nifa, Abdessamad Hadri, Siham Acharki, Gemine Vivone, Christophe Kinnard
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101574

Research Groups

• Center for Remote Sensing Applications (CRSA), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Benguerir, Morocco
• L3G Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco
• Data4Earth Laboratory, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, Morocco
• International Water Research Institute (IWRI), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Ben Guerir, Morocco
• Laboratory of Applied Geology and Geo-Environment, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir, Morocco
• Faculty of Applied Sciences, Ibn Zohr University Agadir, Morocco
• Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
• Research Centre for Watershed–Aquatic Ecosystem Interactions (RIVE), University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
• Institute of Methodologies for Environmental Analysis, National Council of Research, CNR-IMAA, Tito Scalo, Italy
• NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
• Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium

Short Summary

This study investigates the impact of snow cover variability on groundwater storage in large Moroccan river basins over recent decades using remote sensing data. It reveals significant groundwater declines linked to snow cover loss and quantifies snowmelt contributions to recharge with a notable time lag.

Objective

• To assess how snow cover dynamics influence groundwater storage in large Moroccan river basins over the last decades, particularly in the context of increasing pressure from human activities and climate variability.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Large Moroccan river basins.
• Temporal Scale: Over the last decades (implied multi-decadal analysis).

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Not explicitly stated for hydrological modeling; the study primarily uses remote sensing data products.
• Data sources: Remote sensing data, specifically G3P-GRACE data for tracking groundwater storage.

Main Results

• Snow cover variability significantly affects groundwater levels in Moroccan basins.
• G3P-GRACE data reliably track groundwater storage, showing high correlation with observed trends.
• Most studied basins exhibit declines in groundwater storage, which are linked to the loss of snow cover.
• A significant lag of 6–8 months exists between peaks in snow cover and subsequent groundwater recharge signals.
• Snowmelt contributes between 5 % and 50 % to groundwater recharge, with this contribution varying across different basins.

Contributions

• Provides a comprehensive assessment of the relationship between snow cover dynamics and groundwater storage in large Moroccan river basins using remote sensing.
• Quantifies the temporal lag between snow cover peaks and groundwater recharge, offering crucial insights for water resource management.
• Estimates the varying contribution of snowmelt to groundwater recharge across different semi-arid and arid basins.

Funding

• Not explicitly stated in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Bousbaa2025Assessing,
  author = {Bousbaa, Mostafa and Boudhar, Abdelghani and Hssaisoune, Mohammed and Elyoussfi, Haytam and KARAOUI, Ismail and Bargam, Bouchra and Nifa, Karima and Hadri, Abdessamad and Acharki, Siham and Vivone, Gemine and Kinnard, Christophe},
  title = {Assessing groundwater storage response to snow cover dynamics in large Moroccan river basins over the last decades using remote sensing data},
  journal = {Groundwater for Sustainable Development},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101574},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101574}
}