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El Mandour, A., El Yaouti, F., Fakir, Y., Zarhloule, Y., & Benavente, J. (2007). Evolution of groundwater salinity in the unconfined aquifer of Bou-Areg, Northeastern Mediterranean coast, Morocco. Environmental Geology, 54(3), 491–503.
Abstract: The Bou-Areg plain in the Mediterranean coast at the North-eastern of Morocco is characterized by a semiarid climate. The aquifer consists of two sedimentary formations of Plio-quaternary age: the upper formation of fine silts and the lower one of coarse silts with sand and gravels. The aquifer is underlain by marly bedrock of Miocene age that dips toward the coastal lagoon of Bou-Areg. The
hydrodynamic characteristics vary between 10–4 and 10–3 m/s; and transmissivities range between 10–4 and 10–1 m2 /s. The general direction of flow is SW to NE, toward the lagoon. The aquifer is crossed by the river Selouane, which also ends in the lagoon. The groundwater is characterized by a high salinity that can reach 7.5 g/l. The highest values are observed in the upstream and in the downstream sectors of the aquifer. The temporal evolution of the physicochemical parameters depends on the climatic conditions and
piezometric variations. The analysis of the spatio-temporal distribution of the physico-chemical parameters suggests different sources of groundwater salinization: the seawater intrusion, the influence of marly gypsum-bearing terrains, and the influence of anthropogenic products as the agricultural fertilizers, which cause great nitrate concentrations that vary between 80 and 140 mg/l.
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El Yaouti, F., El Mandour, A., Khattach, D., Benavente, J., & Kaufmann, O. (2009). Salinization processes in the unconfined aquifer of Bou-Areg (NE Morocco): A geostatistical, geochemical, and tomographic study. Applied Geochemistry, 24(1), 16–31.
Abstract: Hydrogeological and geochemical data, in conjunction with the results of an electrical imaging tomographic survey, were examined to determine the main factors and mechanisms controlling the groundwater chemistry and salinity of the unconfined aquifer of Bou-Areg, on the Mediterranean coast of NE Morocco. In addition, statistical and geochemical interpretation methods were used to identify the distribution of the salinity. Multivariate statistical analysis (cluster and principal component factors) revealed the main sources of contamination. Groups A, B, and C in the cluster analysis and Factors 1–3 (Factor 1: CE, Cl−, K+, SO42-, and Mg2+; Factor 2: Ca2+, HCO3-, and pH; Factor 3: NO3-) represent the ‘signature’ of seawater intrusion in the coastal zone, the influence of marly-gypsum outcrops in the upstream zone, and anthropogenic sources, respectively. The ionic delta, the ionic ratio, the saturation index, and Stuyfzand’s method were applied to evaluate geochemical processes. The results obtained indicate, on the one hand, the phenomenon of salinization in both the coastal and the upstream zones, and on the other, the dilution of groundwater by recharge. Cation exchange is shown to modify the concentration of ions in groundwater. Locally, with respect to salinization processes in the coastal zone, the results of electrical imaging tomography show that salinity increases both with depth and laterally inland from the coastline, due to seawater intrusion.
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