Isotopic and Chemical Tracing for Residence Time and Recharge Mechanisms of Groundwater under Semi-Arid Climate: Case from Rif Mountains (Northern Morocco)
Karstic aquifers play an important role for drinking and irrigation supply in Morocco. However, in some areas, a deeper understanding is needed in order to improve their sustainable management under global changes. Our study, based on chemical and isotopic investigation of 67 groundwater samples fro...
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MDPI AG
2022-02-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/12/2/74 |
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| author | Mohammed Hssaisoune Lhoussaine Bouchaou Mohamed Qurtobi Hamid Marah Mohamed Beraaouz Jamal Stitou El Messari |
| author_facet | Mohammed Hssaisoune Lhoussaine Bouchaou Mohamed Qurtobi Hamid Marah Mohamed Beraaouz Jamal Stitou El Messari |
| author_sort | Mohammed Hssaisoune |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Karstic aquifers play an important role for drinking and irrigation supply in Morocco. However, in some areas, a deeper understanding is needed in order to improve their sustainable management under global changes. Our study, based on chemical and isotopic investigation of 67 groundwater samples from the karst aquifer in the Rif Mountains, provides crucial information about the principal factors and processes influencing groundwater recharge and residence time. The δ<sup>18</sup>O and δ<sup>2</sup>H isotopic values indicate that the recharge is derived from meteoric water at high, intermediate, and low elevations for Lakraa Mountain, North of Lao River, and Haouz and Dersa Mountain aquifers, respectively. All samples show an isotopic signature from Atlantic Ocean except for those from the Lakraa Mountain aquifer, which shows Mediterranean Sea influence. Groundwater age determined by radiocarbon dating using the IAEA model indicates that the ages range from modern to 1460 years. This short residence time is consistent with the detectable tritium values (>2.7 TU) measured in groundwater. These values are similar to those of precipitation at the nearest GNIP stations of Gibraltar and Fez-Saiss, situated around 100 km north and 250 km south of the study area, respectively. This evidence indicates that groundwater in the Rif Mountains contains modern recharge (<60 years), testifying to significant renewability and the vulnerability of the hydrological system to climate variability and human activities. The results also indicate the efficiency of isotopic tracing in mountainous springs and would be helpful to decision makers for water in this karstic zone. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:50:59Z |
| format | Article |
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| issn | 2076-3263 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:50:59Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
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| series | Geosciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-7fa47212f4704e40af69c116e53b89fe2023-11-23T20:06:35ZengMDPI AGGeosciences2076-32632022-02-011227410.3390/geosciences12020074Isotopic and Chemical Tracing for Residence Time and Recharge Mechanisms of Groundwater under Semi-Arid Climate: Case from Rif Mountains (Northern Morocco)Mohammed Hssaisoune0Lhoussaine Bouchaou1Mohamed Qurtobi2Hamid Marah3Mohamed Beraaouz4Jamal Stitou El Messari5Applied Geology and Geo-Environment Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir 80000, MoroccoApplied Geology and Geo-Environment Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir 80000, MoroccoUnité Eau et Climat, Division des Applications aux Sciences de la Terre et de l’Environnement, CNESTEN, Rabat 10000, MoroccoUnité Eau et Climat, Division des Applications aux Sciences de la Terre et de l’Environnement, CNESTEN, Rabat 10000, MoroccoApplied Geology and Geo-Environment Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir 80000, MoroccoFaculty of Sciences, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan 93002, MoroccoKarstic aquifers play an important role for drinking and irrigation supply in Morocco. However, in some areas, a deeper understanding is needed in order to improve their sustainable management under global changes. Our study, based on chemical and isotopic investigation of 67 groundwater samples from the karst aquifer in the Rif Mountains, provides crucial information about the principal factors and processes influencing groundwater recharge and residence time. The δ<sup>18</sup>O and δ<sup>2</sup>H isotopic values indicate that the recharge is derived from meteoric water at high, intermediate, and low elevations for Lakraa Mountain, North of Lao River, and Haouz and Dersa Mountain aquifers, respectively. All samples show an isotopic signature from Atlantic Ocean except for those from the Lakraa Mountain aquifer, which shows Mediterranean Sea influence. Groundwater age determined by radiocarbon dating using the IAEA model indicates that the ages range from modern to 1460 years. This short residence time is consistent with the detectable tritium values (>2.7 TU) measured in groundwater. These values are similar to those of precipitation at the nearest GNIP stations of Gibraltar and Fez-Saiss, situated around 100 km north and 250 km south of the study area, respectively. This evidence indicates that groundwater in the Rif Mountains contains modern recharge (<60 years), testifying to significant renewability and the vulnerability of the hydrological system to climate variability and human activities. The results also indicate the efficiency of isotopic tracing in mountainous springs and would be helpful to decision makers for water in this karstic zone.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/12/2/74karst aquiferisotopesresidence timeRif MountainsMorocco |
| spellingShingle | Mohammed Hssaisoune Lhoussaine Bouchaou Mohamed Qurtobi Hamid Marah Mohamed Beraaouz Jamal Stitou El Messari Isotopic and Chemical Tracing for Residence Time and Recharge Mechanisms of Groundwater under Semi-Arid Climate: Case from Rif Mountains (Northern Morocco) Geosciences karst aquifer isotopes residence time Rif Mountains Morocco |
| title | Isotopic and Chemical Tracing for Residence Time and Recharge Mechanisms of Groundwater under Semi-Arid Climate: Case from Rif Mountains (Northern Morocco) |
| title_full | Isotopic and Chemical Tracing for Residence Time and Recharge Mechanisms of Groundwater under Semi-Arid Climate: Case from Rif Mountains (Northern Morocco) |
| title_fullStr | Isotopic and Chemical Tracing for Residence Time and Recharge Mechanisms of Groundwater under Semi-Arid Climate: Case from Rif Mountains (Northern Morocco) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Isotopic and Chemical Tracing for Residence Time and Recharge Mechanisms of Groundwater under Semi-Arid Climate: Case from Rif Mountains (Northern Morocco) |
| title_short | Isotopic and Chemical Tracing for Residence Time and Recharge Mechanisms of Groundwater under Semi-Arid Climate: Case from Rif Mountains (Northern Morocco) |
| title_sort | isotopic and chemical tracing for residence time and recharge mechanisms of groundwater under semi arid climate case from rif mountains northern morocco |
| topic | karst aquifer isotopes residence time Rif Mountains Morocco |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/12/2/74 |
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