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Mapping total suspended matter along Moroccan coast using satellite data series

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Abstract

Remote-sensing techniques are a powerful technique for monitoring turbidity over the whole littoral areas. Different sensors can be used to quantify and analyze water quality parameters such as colored dissolved organic matter, total suspended sediments, chlorophyll-a, and pollutants. Therefore, the goal of this paper is to investigate the inter-annual and spatio-temporal variability’s of total suspended matter (TSM) concentration in the water surface layer. The coastal of the Atlantic Ocean, Morocco is taken an application area. The results show that high TSM (18 g m−3) is observed during winter season, and lower TSM (2 g m−3) is observed during summer season. In addition, the relationship between TSM and wind speed; and with ocean current was analyzed, and the results show that: (1) sand dredging areas usually coincide with region that have high TSM levels; (2) the wind and ocean current were both important to TSM variation; (3) the increased level of sand dredging in response to rapid economic growth has deeply influenced the TSM pattern since 2012 due to the resuspension of sediment in some areas. Visual interpretation of location led to the conclusion that the dredging activities were more located on the northern and western Morocco. Time series of MODIS images revealed a significant increase in water turbidity from 2012 onwards on the northern Morocco. Moreover, strong wind events in the northern Sahara can significantly increase the TSM in turbid coastal waters.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge two anonymous reviewers for their scientific suggestions and constructive comments which led to significant improvements to the manuscript. The first author would like to thank the Centre of Excellence (CofE)-NF-POGO-Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI)-Germany for various effort supporting this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Sciences, Department of Geology, Ibn Tofail University, B.P. 133, Kenitra, Morocco

    H. Azidane

  2. Faculty of Science, Department of Physics, Ibn Tofail University, B.P. 133, Kenitra, Morocco

    S. Haddout

  3. Faculty of Marine Sciences, Marine Physics Department, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia

    K. A. Alawad

  4. Laboratory of Climatology, National University of Benin, Cotonou, Benin

    M. Boko

  5. National School of Mines, B.P. 753, 14000, Agdal-Rabat, Morocco

    M. E. Bouhaddioui

  6. Water Service of Kenitra City, Ministry of Energy, Mines, Water and Environment, B.P 203, 14000, Kenitra, Morocco

    B. Magrane

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  1. H. Azidane
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  2. S. Haddout
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  4. M. Boko
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Correspondence to H. Azidane.

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Azidane, H., Haddout, S., Alawad, K.A. et al. Mapping total suspended matter along Moroccan coast using satellite data series. Model. Earth Syst. Environ. 8, 1683–1692 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40808-021-01179-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40808-021-01179-4

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