Remote Sensing-Based Multiscale Analysis of Total and Groundwater Storage Dynamics over Semi-Arid North African Basins

This study evaluates the use of remote sensing data to improve the understanding of groundwater resources in climate-sensitive regions with limited data availability and increasing agricultural water demands. The research focuses on estimating groundwater reserve dynamics in two major river basins i...

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Main Authors: Abdelhakim Amazirh, Youness Ouassanouan, Houssne Bouimouass, Mohamed Wassim Baba, El Houssaine Bouras, Abdellatif Rafik, Myriam Benkirane, Youssef Hajhouji, Youness Ablila, Abdelghani Chehbouni
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Remote Sensing
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/19/3698
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author Abdelhakim Amazirh
Youness Ouassanouan
Houssne Bouimouass
Mohamed Wassim Baba
El Houssaine Bouras
Abdellatif Rafik
Myriam Benkirane
Youssef Hajhouji
Youness Ablila
Abdelghani Chehbouni
author_facet Abdelhakim Amazirh
Youness Ouassanouan
Houssne Bouimouass
Mohamed Wassim Baba
El Houssaine Bouras
Abdellatif Rafik
Myriam Benkirane
Youssef Hajhouji
Youness Ablila
Abdelghani Chehbouni
author_sort Abdelhakim Amazirh
collection DOAJ
description This study evaluates the use of remote sensing data to improve the understanding of groundwater resources in climate-sensitive regions with limited data availability and increasing agricultural water demands. The research focuses on estimating groundwater reserve dynamics in two major river basins in Morocco, characterized by significant local variability. The study employs data from Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment satellite (GRACE) and ERA5-Land reanalysis. Two GRACE terrestrial water storage (TWS) products, CSR Mascon and JPL Mascon (RL06), were analyzed, along with auxiliary datasets generated from ERA5-Land, including precipitation, evapotranspiration, and surface runoff. The results show that both GRACE TWS products exhibit strong correlations with groundwater reserves, with correlation coefficients reaching up to 0.96 in the Oum Er-rbia River Basin and 0.95 in the Tensift River Basin (TRB). The root mean square errors (RMSE) were 0.99 cm and 0.88 cm, respectively. GRACE-derived groundwater storage (GWS) demonstrated a moderate correlation with observed groundwater levels in OERRB (R = 0.59, RMSE = 0.82), but a weaker correlation in TRB (R = 0.30, RMSE = 1.01). On the other hand, ERA5-Land-derived GWS showed a stronger correlation with groundwater levels in OERRB (R = 0.72, RMSE = 0.51) and a moderate correlation in TRB (R = 0.63, RMSE = 0.59). The findings suggest that ERA5-Land may provide more accurate assessments of groundwater storage anomalies, particularly in regions with significant local-scale variability in land and water use. High-resolution datasets like ERA5-land are, therefore, more recommended for addressing local-scale heterogeneity in regions with contrasted complexities in groundwater storage characteristics.
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spelling doaj-art-f4ae9bbf145a45b59d5907dbb8b7d2102025-08-20T01:47:36ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922024-10-011619369810.3390/rs16193698Remote Sensing-Based Multiscale Analysis of Total and Groundwater Storage Dynamics over Semi-Arid North African BasinsAbdelhakim Amazirh0Youness Ouassanouan1Houssne Bouimouass2Mohamed Wassim Baba3El Houssaine Bouras4Abdellatif Rafik5Myriam Benkirane6Youssef Hajhouji7Youness Ablila8Abdelghani Chehbouni9Center for Remote Sensing Applications (CRSA), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir 43150, MoroccoCenter for Remote Sensing Applications (CRSA), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir 43150, MoroccoIFP Energies Nouvelles, 1&4 Avenue du Bois Préau, 92500 Rueil-Malmaison, FranceCenter for Remote Sensing Applications (CRSA), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir 43150, MoroccoCenter for Remote Sensing Applications (CRSA), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir 43150, MoroccoGeology and Sustainable Mining Institute (GSMI), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Ben Guerir 43150, MoroccoEarth Systems Research Center (UNH-EOS), New Hampshire University, Durham, NH 03824, USAFaculty of Sciences Semlalia, Department of Geology, Cadi Ayyad University, Av. Prince My Abdellah, Marrakech 40000, MoroccoLaboratoire des Procédés pour l’Energie Durable et Environnement (ProcEDE), Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech 40000, MoroccoCenter for Remote Sensing Applications (CRSA), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir 43150, MoroccoThis study evaluates the use of remote sensing data to improve the understanding of groundwater resources in climate-sensitive regions with limited data availability and increasing agricultural water demands. The research focuses on estimating groundwater reserve dynamics in two major river basins in Morocco, characterized by significant local variability. The study employs data from Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment satellite (GRACE) and ERA5-Land reanalysis. Two GRACE terrestrial water storage (TWS) products, CSR Mascon and JPL Mascon (RL06), were analyzed, along with auxiliary datasets generated from ERA5-Land, including precipitation, evapotranspiration, and surface runoff. The results show that both GRACE TWS products exhibit strong correlations with groundwater reserves, with correlation coefficients reaching up to 0.96 in the Oum Er-rbia River Basin and 0.95 in the Tensift River Basin (TRB). The root mean square errors (RMSE) were 0.99 cm and 0.88 cm, respectively. GRACE-derived groundwater storage (GWS) demonstrated a moderate correlation with observed groundwater levels in OERRB (R = 0.59, RMSE = 0.82), but a weaker correlation in TRB (R = 0.30, RMSE = 1.01). On the other hand, ERA5-Land-derived GWS showed a stronger correlation with groundwater levels in OERRB (R = 0.72, RMSE = 0.51) and a moderate correlation in TRB (R = 0.63, RMSE = 0.59). The findings suggest that ERA5-Land may provide more accurate assessments of groundwater storage anomalies, particularly in regions with significant local-scale variability in land and water use. High-resolution datasets like ERA5-land are, therefore, more recommended for addressing local-scale heterogeneity in regions with contrasted complexities in groundwater storage characteristics.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/19/3698groundwater dynamicsGRACEERA5-LandMediterranean regionswater balance
spellingShingle Abdelhakim Amazirh
Youness Ouassanouan
Houssne Bouimouass
Mohamed Wassim Baba
El Houssaine Bouras
Abdellatif Rafik
Myriam Benkirane
Youssef Hajhouji
Youness Ablila
Abdelghani Chehbouni
Remote Sensing-Based Multiscale Analysis of Total and Groundwater Storage Dynamics over Semi-Arid North African Basins
Remote Sensing
groundwater dynamics
GRACE
ERA5-Land
Mediterranean regions
water balance
title Remote Sensing-Based Multiscale Analysis of Total and Groundwater Storage Dynamics over Semi-Arid North African Basins
title_full Remote Sensing-Based Multiscale Analysis of Total and Groundwater Storage Dynamics over Semi-Arid North African Basins
title_fullStr Remote Sensing-Based Multiscale Analysis of Total and Groundwater Storage Dynamics over Semi-Arid North African Basins
title_full_unstemmed Remote Sensing-Based Multiscale Analysis of Total and Groundwater Storage Dynamics over Semi-Arid North African Basins
title_short Remote Sensing-Based Multiscale Analysis of Total and Groundwater Storage Dynamics over Semi-Arid North African Basins
title_sort remote sensing based multiscale analysis of total and groundwater storage dynamics over semi arid north african basins
topic groundwater dynamics
GRACE
ERA5-Land
Mediterranean regions
water balance
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/16/19/3698
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