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Investigating possible links between the North Atlantic Oscillation and rainfall variability in Marrakech (Morocco)

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Abstract

Eighty-two-year rainfall time series have been studied together with climatic patterns of NAO using classical statistical methods. Then, the wavelet approach has been applied to show annual (1 year (1y)) and inter-annual (2–4 years (2-4y), 5–8 years (5-8y), and 8–16 years (8-16y)) modes distributed following four major discontinuities: 1945, 1960, 1975, and 1995. The 1y, 2-4y, and 5-8y powers show high energy during the wet period 1922–1930 and a low one in 1928–1938. After 1945, the annual mode highlights a high energy while the inter-annual modes present low energy. Between 1975 and 1995, powerful modes of 1 and 2–4 years are identified with low power of 5-8y and 8-16y modes. Since 1995, the low power of 5–8y decreases, while the 8-16y mode emphasizes a high variability. The coherence between NAO and Marrakech precipitation is strongly defined for low frequencies with a total contribution of 75 %. This coherence is in phase in the beginning and presents out phase signs since 1945. The change of phase can be associated to a decreasing of coherence especially around 1990. This finding is useful to understand the relationship between the hydrological variability and NAO climate patterns in the southern side of the Mediterranean Sea.

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Acknowledgments

This work is achieved in the framework of  PHC Maghreb 30254WL. The authors would like to thank the AUF, Tassili-Cooperation, and Upper Normandy Scientific Program for the financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UMR CNRS 6143 Continental and Coastal Morphodynamics ‘M2C’, University of Rouen, 76821, Mont-Saint-Aignan Cedex, France

    Imen Turki & Benoit Laignel

  2. GEOHYD Laboratory, Acady Ayad University, Marrakech, Morocco

    Noureddine Laftouhi & Zineb Zamrane

  3. CNRS, FED 4116 SCALE, University of Rouen, 76821, Mont-Saint-Aignan Cedex, France

    Zeneddine Nouaceur

Authors
  1. Imen Turki
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  2. Benoit Laignel
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  3. Noureddine Laftouhi
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  4. Zeneddine Nouaceur
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  5. Zineb Zamrane
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Correspondence to Imen Turki.

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Turki, I., Laignel, B., Laftouhi, N. et al. Investigating possible links between the North Atlantic Oscillation and rainfall variability in Marrakech (Morocco). Arab J Geosci 9, 243 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-015-2174-z

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