Qadem et al. (2026) Climate drought and resilience of karst hydrosystems in semi-arid regions: Case of the Dir of Beni Mellal Atlas (Morocco)

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Identification

• Journal: Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology)
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-01-15
• Authors: Abdelghani Qadem, Gabriela Adina Moroșanu-Mitoșeriu, Mónica Moreno Falcon
• DOI: 10.1051/bioconf/202621101018/pdf

Research Groups

Not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

Short Summary

This study investigates climatic drought and its impact on the sustainability of karst springs in the Dir of Beni Mellal Atlas, Morocco, by analyzing precipitation and spring flow data. It reveals a clear trend of increasing dry spell frequency and intensity since the 2000s, leading to a persistent cumulative deficit, progressive aridification, and declining resilience of karst systems.

Objective

• To examine climatic drought and its influence on the sustainability of karst springs in the Dir of Beni Mellal Atlas, Morocco.
• To analyze precipitation, spring flows, and hydrological breaks to understand hydroclimatic variability and the resilience of karst systems.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Dir of Beni Mellal Atlas, Morocco (focusing on karst springs).
• Temporal Scale: Multi-decadal analysis of hydroclimatic variability, with a focus on trends observed since the 2000s.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Standardised Precipitation Index (SPI-12) for rainfall series evaluation, CUSUM test for multi-year flow rate variations and hydrological breaks, and baseflow analysis.
• Data sources: Observational series of precipitation and spring flow rates.

Main Results

• High hydroclimatic variability characterized by alternating dry and wet years was observed.
• A clear trend towards more frequent and intense dry spells has been evident since the 2000s.
• CUSUM analysis revealed a persistent cumulative deficit, indicating progressive aridification and a decline in the resilience of karst systems.
• Karst springs exhibit diverse responses to drought, influenced by their specific location and hydrogeological structure.

Contributions

• Highlights the complementary value of SPI-12 and CUSUM indicators for comprehensively assessing both drought intensity and its cumulative impact.
• Provides essential tools and insights for the sustainable management of water resources in semi-arid regions, specifically in Morocco.
• Emphasizes the critical role of local hydrogeological characteristics in determining the flow dynamics and resilience of karst springs under changing climatic conditions.

Funding

Not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Qadem2026Climate,
  author = {Qadem, Abdelghani and Moroșanu-Mitoșeriu, Gabriela Adina and Falcon, Mónica Moreno},
  title = {Climate drought and resilience of karst hydrosystems in semi-arid regions: Case of the Dir of Beni Mellal Atlas (Morocco)},
  journal = {Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology)},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1051/bioconf/202621101018/pdf},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1051/bioconf/202621101018/pdf}
}