Water Erosion Monitoring and Prediction in Response to the Effects of Climate Change Using RUSLE and SWAT Equations: Case of R’Dom Watershed in Morocco
Abdennabi Alitane,
Ali Essahlaoui,
Mohammed El Hafyani,
Abdellah El Hmaidi,
Anas El Ouali,
Amina Kassou,
Yassine El Yousfi,
Ann van Griensven,
Celray James Chawanda,
Anton Van Rompaey
Affiliations
Abdennabi Alitane
Geoengineering and Environment Laboratory, Research Group “Water Sciences and Environment Engineering”, Geology Department, Faculty of Sciences, Moulay Ismail University, Presidency, Marjane 2, Meknes BP 298, Morocco
Ali Essahlaoui
Geoengineering and Environment Laboratory, Research Group “Water Sciences and Environment Engineering”, Geology Department, Faculty of Sciences, Moulay Ismail University, Presidency, Marjane 2, Meknes BP 298, Morocco
Mohammed El Hafyani
Geoengineering and Environment Laboratory, Research Group “Water Sciences and Environment Engineering”, Geology Department, Faculty of Sciences, Moulay Ismail University, Presidency, Marjane 2, Meknes BP 298, Morocco
Abdellah El Hmaidi
Geoengineering and Environment Laboratory, Research Group “Water Sciences and Environment Engineering”, Geology Department, Faculty of Sciences, Moulay Ismail University, Presidency, Marjane 2, Meknes BP 298, Morocco
Anas El Ouali
Functional Ecology and Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Faculty of Science and Technology, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez BP 262, Morocco
Amina Kassou
Geo-Resource, Geo-Environment and Oasis Geological Heritage Research Group, Engineering Sciences and Techniques Laboratory, Geosciences Department, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Moulay Ismail University, Presidency, Marjane 2, Meknes BP 298, Morocco
Yassine El Yousfi
Water and Environment Management Group, Civil Engineering and Environment Department, National School of Applied Sciences Al Hoceima, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tangier BP 211, Morocco
Ann van Griensven
Water Resources and Ecosystems Department, IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, 2611 AX Delft, The Netherlands
Soil erosion is an increasingly issue worldwide, due to several factors including climate variations and humans’ activities, especially in Mediterranean ecosystems. Therefore, the aim of this paper is: (i) to quantify and to predict soil erosion rate for the baseline period (2000–2013) and a future period (2014–2027), using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model in the R’Dom watershed in Morocco, based on the opportunities of Remote Sensing (RS) techniques and Geographical Information System (GIS) geospatial tools. (ii) we based on classical statistical downscaling model (SDSM) for rainfall prediction. Due to the lack of field data, the model results are validated by expert knowledge. As a result of this study, it is found that both agricultural lands and bare lands are most affected by soil erosion. Moreover, it is showed that soil erosion in the watershed was dominated by very low and low erosion. Although the area of very low erosion and low erosion continued to decrease. Hence, we hereby envisage that our contribution will provide a more complete understanding of the soil degradation in this study area and the results of this research could be a crucial reference in soil erosion studies and also may serve as a valuable guidance for watershed management strategies.
