Application of Sentinel 2 Satellite Imagery for Sustainable Groundwater Management in Agricultural Areas—Chtouka Aquifer, Morocco

Abstract

In semi-arid regions that are characterized by large agricultural activities, a high volume of water is needed to cover the water requirements for agricultural production. Due to low precipitation and the associated limited availability of surface water, aquifers often represent the main source of irrigation water in these regions. Especially in coastal aquifers, high groundwater abstraction rates may change the flow dynamics of the aquifer and may lead to saltwater intrusion. In this study, within the framework of German–Moroccan international cooperation, the agricultural areas for the summer period 2019 of the Chtouka coastal aquifer in southern Morocco are classified using optical and multi-spectral Sentinel 2 data. Based on the developed land use maps, the groundwater abstraction for irrigation is then quantified by referring to local farmers’ irrigation practices. Following this approach, the total amount of groundwater abstraction is estimated at 157 million m3 for the summer period 2019 in the Chtouka aquifer.

Keywords

• groundwater abstraction
• crop water requirements
• crop irrigation
• Sentinel 2
• land use classification