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Understanding the deep structure of the Essaouira basin using gravity data: hydrogeological inferences for a semiarid region in central-western Morocco

datacite.subject.sdg11:Cidades e Comunidades Sustentáveispt_PT
dc.contributor.authorKhouz, Abdellah
dc.contributor.authorJaffal, Mohammed
dc.contributor.authorTrindade, Jorge
dc.contributor.authorBougadir, Blaid
dc.contributor.authorEl Bchari, Fatima
dc.contributor.authorKchikach, Azzouz
dc.contributor.authorMustapha, El Ghorfi
dc.contributor.authorIbouh, Hassan
dc.contributor.authorJadoud, Mourad
dc.contributor.authorKadiri, Omar
dc.contributor.authorManar, Ahmed
dc.date.accessioned2024-11-25T16:12:41Z
dc.date.available2024-11-25T16:12:41Z
dc.date.issued2023
dc.description.abstractThe Essaouira Basin, located in central western Morocco, faces a significant threat of water shortage due to both the substantially reduced rainfall caused by climate change and the continuously increasing demand for this essential resource. Groundwater resources are being increasingly exploited to meet the needs of the population, whether for agricultural or domestic purposes. Therefore, it has become necessary to intensify investigations across the entire basin, particularly through indirect methods such as geophysical techniques, to accurately delineate the productive zones. In this context, the present study was undertaken to investigate the deep structure of this basin with the aim of comprehending the functioning of its aquifer system. This study is based on the interpretation of gravity data covering the Essaouira Basin. In addition to their qualitative analysis, these data underwent a methodological approach involving transformations to extract meaningful insights. The observed anomalies were interpreted in terms of (i) thickness variations within the slightly folded sedimentary series of the basin; (ii) Paleozoic basement topography; and (iii) the presence of salt deposits. In fact, among the negative anomalies, some coincide with evaporitic deposits that are known either from the geological outcrops or the seismic surveys carried out in the Essaouira Basin within the framework of petroleum exploration programs, while others coincide with areas of increased thickness of sedimentary sequences. The latter include synclines and basement depressions, where the accumulation of groundwater tends to occur; as a result, they constitute suitable zones for the drilling of water extraction wells. Groundwater flows observed in some existing wells are consistent with this hypothesis. The results of the contact analysis approach implemented within the framework of the study reveals the Essaouira Basin is affected by a fault network whose main direction is parallel to the Atlantic margin (i.e., NNE–SSW). This implies that the extensional tectonic phase responsible for initiating the rifting of the Central Atlantic in the Triassic era has primarily impacted the structural configuration of this basin. This study demonstrates the strong potential of the gravity method as a tool to delineate the deep structure of sedimentary basins and to identify potentially productive groundwater zones. The final results will provide important support to decision makers in sustainable groundwater management, especially in vulnerable areas.pt_PT
dc.description.versioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionpt_PT
dc.identifier.doi10.3390/geosciences13110345pt_PT
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10400.2/16831
dc.language.isoengpt_PT
dc.peerreviewedyespt_PT
dc.publisherMPDIpt_PT
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/pt_PT
dc.subjectGravitypt_PT
dc.subjectFilteringpt_PT
dc.subjectContact analysispt_PT
dc.subjectStructurept_PT
dc.subjectHydrogeologypt_PT
dc.subjectEssaouira Basinpt_PT
dc.subjectMoroccopt_PT
dc.titleUnderstanding the deep structure of the Essaouira basin using gravity data: hydrogeological inferences for a semiarid region in central-western Moroccopt_PT
dc.typejournal article
dspace.entity.typePublication
oaire.citation.issue11pt_PT
oaire.citation.startPage345pt_PT
oaire.citation.titleGeosciencespt_PT
oaire.citation.volume13pt_PT
person.familyNameJAFFAL
person.familyNameTrindade
person.familyNameKCHIKACH
person.familyNameMustapha
person.givenNameMohammed
person.givenNameJorge
person.givenNameAzzouz
person.givenNameEL GHORFI
person.identifier1205450
person.identifier.ciencia-id1411-A43D-9266
person.identifier.orcid0000-0003-2691-3601
person.identifier.orcid0000-0001-5610-5942
person.identifier.orcid0000-0002-8350-4532
person.identifier.orcid0009-0001-2764-6384
person.identifier.ridAAR-7992-2021
person.identifier.ridM-9060-2013
person.identifier.scopus-author-id6508097911
person.identifier.scopus-author-id7003458343
person.identifier.scopus-author-id6506920669
rcaap.rightsopenAccesspt_PT
rcaap.typearticlept_PT
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relation.isAuthorOfPublicationab80ebde-e734-424d-9df2-a211973d5827
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relation.isAuthorOfPublication1f59d0ea-6a65-4220-aae3-baaaec41302a
relation.isAuthorOfPublication.latestForDiscoveryab80ebde-e734-424d-9df2-a211973d5827

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