Atlas Mountains Research Articles

Assessments of groundwater recharge process and residence time using hydrochemical and isotopic tracers under arid climate: Insights from Errachidia basin (Central-East Morocco)

The aquifer systems in the Errachidia basin, located to the south of the High Atlas limestone, are constituted by three superimposed and exploitable aquifers (Senonian, Turonian, and Infracenomanian). These aquifers hold economic significance for the central-east region of Morocco. This area experiences an arid to Saharan climate characterized by low precipitation, high temperatures, and very high evaporation. It is one of the most exposed and vulnerable regions to climate change in Morocco. The low local rainfall cannot explain the recharge of the deep aquifers. However, the significant spring discharges from these aquifers indicate the existence of other recharge contributions.The aim of this study is to elucidate the recharge processes of the Cretaceous aquifers in the investigated basin, clarify hydraulic relationships between them and the Jurassic aquifers of the High Atlas Mountains and estimate the residence time of groundwaters. Water samples from aquifers are collected and analyzed for chemical and isotopic elements. Several statistical methods (SOM, discriminant factorial analysis, CPA) are employed. The results reveal that many samples from different aquifers exhibit clear similarities in chemical characteristics, providing evidence of water transfer between aquifers. Isotopic findings are consistent with chemical characterization and mineralization anomalies.Recharge of the investigated aquifers originates from the Jurassic limestone of the High Atlas Mountains, facilitated by the karstic nature of the Jurassic in contact with the permeable formations of the Cretaceous basin. Age dating results, using 3H and 14C values, confirm that most of the investigated groundwater results from a mixing of old and recent recharges. This process of groundwater renewability is relevant. All the findings are valuable for decision-makers to enhance their understanding of the aquifer system's functioning and inform sustainable management strategies for future sustainability.

Geological features of the Zn-Pb prospect in the Bou-Izourane district (Morocco)

The Zn-Pb mineralization in the Bou-Izourane district, located in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco, contains estimated reserves of 40 200 tons of ore with an average grade of 20% Zn and 3.5% Pb. It is developed on N–S to NNW–SSE-trending faults that cut Liassic carbonate marl deposits. The paragenetic mineral sequence consists of galena, sphalerite and late-stage calcite. Oxidation phases of galena into cerussite and sphalerite into smithsonite are common in the Bou-Izourane ore, linked to the infiltration of meteoric waters and the oxidation of these sulphides. The Zn-Pb mineralization runs parallel to the fluorite veins associated with the igneous rocks of Tamazeght, but no petrographic or field relationship has been demonstrated between these two mineralizations (i.e., Zn-Pb and fluorite). The distribution of rare earth elements and yttrium (REY) in the Zn-Pb mineralization of Bou-Izourane shows a notable similarity with the Mississippi Valley Type (MVT) mineralization of the Central High Atlas of Morocco, although the concentrations more closely resemble those of REY in fluorite linked to the magmatic-hydrothermal activity of Tamazeght. However, the analysis of their distribution in post-fluorite calcite and post-Zn-Pb calcite reveals a strong concordance, suggesting that these two calcites are associated with the same phase and have a common origin. The classification of the Zn-Pb prospect in Bou-Izourane remains controversial, fluctuating between an MVT-type mineralization, similar to most Zn-Pb mineralizations in the Central High Atlas of Morocco, and a mineralization linked to the magmatic-hydrothermal activity of Tamazeght, which could provide heat and metallogenic material. Characterizing the Zn-Pb ore of Bou-Izourane is crucial for the future exploration of zinc and lead deposits in the High Atlas of Morocco and could advance the development of Zn-Pb mining in the region, from artisanal exploitation to professional mining

Pollen indices of Cedrus atlantica Manetti populations vary with geographical localities in the Moroccan Atlas Mountains

North Africa’s forests of Cedrus atlantica Manetti have declined drastically, by more than 58% in the last 130 years, and many stands are likely to disappear entirely in the coming decades. This study on the interactions between C. atlantica pollen characters (production, germination, and pollen tube length) and locality characters in Morocco, using seventy individuals from seven geographically distant populations, showed that pollen indices varied according to station. Pollen production was high in the populations of the Moudemam-1 and Seheb stations, intermediate in the Ait Oufella and Ait Ayach stations, and low in the Zerrouka, Ras Elma and Moudemam-2 stations. Pollen germination was very low for the populations in the Seheb and Moudemam-1 stations but high in the other stations. On the other hand, the longest pollen tubes were recorded in the Moudemam-1 population, while those in the other stations were shorter. These results show an inverse variation between the pollen indices characterizing the populations of the stations studied. The shortest pollen tube length classes [0-100] to [300-400] accounted for 85.98% of all classes and were assessed for the Zerrouka, Ait Oufella and Ait Ayach stations. The other classes were more represented or exclusive to the population of the Moudemam-1 station. These results could have implications not only for assessing pollen variations according to geographical localities but also for optimizing fertilization in cedar forests by selecting the best clones for this species.

Trajets bistables dans la liminalité des imaginaires de métamorphose du massif de l’Atlas. Notes d’anthropologie neurocognitive

De la structuration des rites de passage, depuis le célèbre ouvrage d’Arnold Van Gennep (1909), à l’essence de la liminalité appréhendée par Victor Turner (1967), nous proposons une approche d’anthropologie neurocognitive pour faire face à la liminalité bistable que nous retrouvons dans les imaginaires narratifs humains. Dans un nexus cerveau-culture, nous interrogerons la phase liminale des rites de passage en nous appuyant sur la propriété de bistabilité cognitive énactive du cerveau humain. Sachant que la propriété fondamentale des systèmes bistables est l’alternance de deux états d’équilibre stables distincts, nous proposons un modèle qui précise les bases neurocognitives sur lesquelles peuvent se tisser les variations transculturelles des motifs narratifs liés à la métamorphose.

Biosorption of Hexavalent Chromium by Freshwater Microalgae Craticula subminuscula from Aqueous Solutions

Recently, microalgae have tended to be used as a biological treatment for wastewater decontamination. The present study aimed to investigate the Cr(VI) removal using the freshwater microalgae ‘Craticula subminuscula’ and their biobased adsorbant, isolated from a Moroccan river in the High Atlas Mountain. The optimum operational conditions for maximum Cr(VI) biosorption by the biobased adsorbent form (95.32%) were determined at (pH = 1.09, adsorbent dose = 10.91 mg L−1, and treatment duration = 129.47 min) using response surface methodology (RSM). Under those optimal conditions, the biosorption process of Cr(VI) by C. subminuscula is endothermic, spontaneous and follows Langmuir and a pseudo-second-order model with a constant rate; the theoretical and experimental biosorption capacity of 0.0004 g/mg/min was 289.01 mg g−1 and 277.57 mg g−1, respectively. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses of the biomass and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the principal mechanism to remove Cr(VI) by C. subminuscula was the affinity of Cr(VI) by the cell walls of microalgae. Thus, the positive results of desorption cycles promise increased potential utilization of these algae in continuous systems within industrial processes. The findings contribute valuable insights into the effectiveness of C. subminuscula as a biobased remediation agent for Cr(VI) in wastewater treatment.

The 8 September 2023, MW 6.8, Morocco Earthquake: A Deep Transpressive Faulting Along the Active High Atlas Mountain Belt

AbstractOn 8 September 2023 an MW 6.8 earthquake struck the High Atlas Mountains of western Morocco, about 70 km southwest from Marrakesh, causing significant devastation and casualties. In this study, we investigate a comprehensive geodetic data set, employing interferometric synthetic aperture radar measurements to assess the fault segment responsible for the seismic event. Our findings suggest two potential fault scenarios: either a transpressive NNW‐dipping high‐angle (70°) fault related to the Tizi n'Test alignment or a transpressive SSW‐dipping low‐angle (22°) fault associated with the North Atlas Fault, with slip (up to 2.2 m) only occurring on deeper parts of the fault. While seismic catalogs couldn't definitively determine the dip direction of the fault, evidence from mainshock locations, gravity and heat flow data and modeling, and active shortening direction suggest the activation of a low‐angle south‐westerly dipping oblique thrust of the North Atlas fault during the 2023 Moroccan earthquake.

A method for robust estimation of snow seasonality metrics from Landsat and Sentinel-2 time series data over Atlas Mountains scale using Google Earth Engine

Seasonal snow cover provides the majority of freshwater supplies for human society and natural ecosystems especially in semi-arid regions. For water resource managers, precise data regarding the spatiotemporal variability of snow cover and snow phenology is of paramount importance. Owing to the great spatial and temporal heterogeneity of the snowpack and the inaccessibility of high mountainous areas, gapless satellite remote sensing presents an unprecedented opportunity to monitor snow cover effectively and affordably on a fine scale, from different aspects, and with regular revisit time. This study derives the snow seasonality metrics (first day of snowfall, last day of snow melt; and snow cover duration) over a large semi-arid region in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains. We calculate these metrics by combining over 10,000 images from Landsat 8 and Sentinel 2 satellites for four hydrological years (2016–2021) to create a harmonized product with a time interval of about 3 days using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. This dense and large time series facilitates a gap-filling method to minimize and overcome the effect of cloud cover, and its assessment shows a positive correlation between the masked pixels and the interpolated ones. These methods allowed us to realize a map of the snow cover area and extract a homogeneous Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI) profile over the four years whereby we were able to determine the optimal threshold to separate the presence of snow from its absence. The results showed that derived snow cover metrics provide considerable variation in both time and space, where an increase in snowpack measurement values at higher elevations can be noted. Overall, the snow duration ranges between November and April depending on the characteristics of each hydrological year. The retrieved Landsat 8 and Sentinel 2 snow dates had a high level of agreement with in-situ data observations with almost a day-and-a-half delay with an overall accuracy equal to 0.96. The analysis of snow cover dynamics via GEE has offered the ability to calculate the first day of snowfall, last day of snowmelt, and snow cover duration annually at a pixel level, providing the user with the ability to track the seasonal and interannual variability in the timing of snowmelt toward a better understanding of how the hydrological cycles of higher latitude and mountainous regions are responding to climate change.

Relocation of Uppermost Mantle Earthquakes in the Atlas Mountains, Morocco

Relocation of Uppermost Mantle Earthquakes in the Atlas Mountains, Morocco

Productivity and water saving of ‘Fortune’ plum under different water regimes

This study was conducted over four consecutive years (2015-2018) in the Sefrou region of Morocco, between Sais and the Middle Atlas Mountains. The goal of the study was to assess how plum trees respond to three different irrigation strategies: a normal supply of water (T2) to meet 100% of crop water needs; an irrigation deficit (T1) that provides only 75% of the water needs; and an additional water supply of 25% (T3) above the crop needs. The study found that deficient irrigation (T1) had no significant effect on plum yield or average fruit weight at harvest, but an excess water supply of 25% (T3) over the requirements (T2) resulted in higher yields and average fruit weight than the control. T3 also showed an increase in fruit size at harvest compared to the control, but not in T1 compared to T2. However, the excess water input for T3 did not justify the excess yield in terms of water use efficiency (WUE). On the other hand, T1 maintained the same level of production as the control while saving water, which resulted in a higher WUE compared to T2 and T3..

Taxonomy of Linyphiidae (Arthropoda, Araneae) in Théniet El Had National Park with new records for Algeria.

Cedrusatlantica, a species of coniferous tree in the Pinaceae family, is endemic to Algeria and Morocco. It originated in the Atlas Mountains of North Africa, hence the name Atlas Cedar. Cedar forests are home to a diverse range of flora and fauna. Yet despite their importance as a rich reservoir of fauna, very few faunistic studies have been carried out in Algeria in this type of ecosystem, particularly for the Araneae. Théniet El Had National Park (34.25 km2) is a unique national park in the western part of Algeria with centuries-old cedars. The present work is the first of its kind, consisting of establishing a preliminary list of Lyniphiidae in this typical ecosystem. A preliminary checklist of Linyphiidae of the National Park is provided, following a sampling period between January and December 2019. A total of 24 species were collected belonging to 15 genera of which Pelecopsis is the richest genus with six species. Pelecopsisoujda Bosmans & Abrous, 1992 and Walckenaeriaheimbergi Bosmans, 2007, only known from Morocco so far, were collected for the first time in Algeria. Their distribution area is, thus, more extensive than present.

TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF ECOTOURISM IN THE OULED-NAIL MOUNTAINS: A CASE STUDY OF THE DJELFA MUNICIPALITY IN ALGERIA

Algeria's tourism sector plays a critical role in its economy, especially as the country faces an economic crisis due to its reliance on fossil fuels. However, despite its potential, the tourism industry has remained limited to coastal and desert tourism in the north and south, respectively. Therefore, diversifying the tourism product by exploring inland regions is necessary to restore regional balance and create geographical homogeneity. Djelfa, a city located in the central highlands of the Atlas Mountains, offers unique natural resources and cultural heritage, making it an ideal destination for ecotourism. This study evaluates the potential of Djelfa for tourism planning purposes, using scientific documentation, field survey techniques, and analytical methods like SWOT analysis. In addition, a survey was conducted amongst tourists to collect their opinions on the city's attraction characteristics. The data was processed using principal component analysis (PCA) in SPSS software. The study emphasizes the importance of tourism planning in the area and proposes suitable tourism projects for ecotourism and investment in the Senelba forest site. These projects will positively influence the environment, local population, and lead to real development at the local and national levels while preserving the area's cultural and natural heritage.

Complementarity of wind and solar power in North Africa: Potential for alleviating energy droughts and impacts of the North Atlantic Oscillation

With growing gas and oil prices, electricity generation based on these fossil fuels is becoming increasingly expensive. Furthermore, the vision of natural gas as a transition fuel is subject to many constraints and uncertainties of economic, environmental, and geopolitical nature. Consequently, renewable energies such as solar and wind power are expected to reach new records of installed capacity over the upcoming years. Considering the above, North Africa is one of the regions with the largest renewable resource potential globally. While extensively studied in the literature, these resources remain underutilized. Thus, to contribute to their future successful deployment and integration with the power system, this study presents a spatial and temporal analysis of the nature of solar and wind resources over North Africa from the perspective of energy droughts. Both the frequency and maximal duration of energy droughts are addressed. Both aspects of renewables’ variable nature have been evaluated in the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) context. The analysis considers the period between 1960 and 2020 based on hourly reanalysis data (i.e., near-surface shortwave irradiation, wind speed, and air temperature) and the Hurrel NAO index. The findings show an in-phase relationship between solar power and winter NAO index, particularly over the coastal regions in western North Africa and opposite patterns in its eastern part. For wind energy, the connection with NAO has a more zonal pattern, with negative correlations in the north and positive correlations in the south. Solar energy droughts dominate northern Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco, while wind energy droughts mainly occur in the Atlas Mountains range. On average, solar energy droughts tend not to exceed 2–3 consecutive days, with the longest extending for five days. Wind energy droughts can be as prolonged as 80 days (Atlas Mountains). Hybridizing solar and wind energy reduces the potential for energy droughts significantly. At the same time, the correlation between their occurrence and the NAO index remains low. These findings show the potential for substantial resilience to inter-annual climate variability, which could benefit the future stability of renewables-dominated power systems.

Thymus atlanticus (Ball) Roussine Aqueous Extract Exerts Lipid-lowering and Anti-atherosclerotic Effects in Hyperlipidemic Guinea Pigs.

Thymus atlanticus (Ball) Roussine (T. atlanticus) is traditionally used in the Moroccan high Atlas Mountains to treat several disorders, including cardiovascular disease. In the present study, the lipid-lowering and anti-atherosclerotic activities of the traditionally used aqueous extract of T. atlanticus were evaluated on guinea pigs subjected to chronic hyperlipidemia. Animals were given a diet containing 2% cholesterol and 20% lard for 12 weeks. Moreover, thyme extract was given daily at 400 mg/kg. At the end of the experiment, lipid levels and paraoxonase arylesterase activity were measured, and aorta histology was studied. Our findings revealed that there was an important elevation of blood lipids in the HFD group along with a significant decrease in paraoxonase arylesterase activity (-40.06%). Moreover, the consumption of fat altered the histology of aorta by thickening the intima media and forming atherosclerotic lesions and foam cells in these tissues. However, the administration of thyme extract attenuated HFD-caused alterations by decreasing blood lipids, elevating paraoxonase activity (+24.04%), and limiting the progression of atherosclerotic lesions. We conclude that the supplementation with the aqueous extract of T. atlanticus could potentially protect against hyperlipidemia and consequently, the development of atherosclerosis.

Using Satellite Data to Characterize Land Surface Processes in Morocco

This study endeavors to produce a comprehensive land cover map for Morocco, addressing the absence of such a detailed map in the country. Our research encompasses ecological and climatic aspects specific to Morocco, while the methods used can be adapted to various regions and countries, considering their unique climatic conditions and land cover types. A combination of MODIS and Landsat datasets was employed to create a 5 km resolution Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) map for the entire nation. The process involved the aggregation and advanced processing of these datasets using surface processes algorithms. The resulting LULC map is the first of its kind for Morocco, shedding light on land cover distribution nationwide. It shows that approximately 13.5% of the country is covered by forests, predominantly in the Atlas and Rif mountains, Rabat–Sale, and the southern regions. Grasslands occupy over 16% of the study area, mainly in the north-east and west. Urban areas, including major cities like Casablanca, Rabat, and Marrakech, span nearly 3400 km². Moreover, large areas of shrublands and bare lands are evident across the country, while agricultural lands account for almost 20% of the national territory, mainly in the interior plains and north-western Atlantic coast. This study forms a crucial basis for ecological and climatic research in Morocco and serves as a valuable reference for various disciplines such as agriculture, natural resource management, and climate modeling. The mapping of biophysical parameters for each land cover class is a key feature of our research, and these parameters will be instrumental in a subsequent study examining the impact of urban development on surface climate in Morocco. Overall, our study underscores the importance of understanding biophysical parameters in addressing environmental and societal challenges.

First Annoted Checklist of Aquatic Diptera (Insecta) of Two Ramsar Sites (Ahançal and Aït Bouguemaz Rivers) at the Central High Atlas (Morocco): Families Ceratopogonidae, Chironomidae, Tipulidae, Empididae, and Tabanidae

This paper presents the first results of 1-year survey of aquatic Diptera, carried out in two Moroccan High Atlas rivers, Assif Ahançal and Assif n’Aït Bouguemaz, which are registered as Ramsar sites and drain a large part of the mountainous Geopark of Mgoun. This survey, which consists in a first study of the longitudinal distribution of these insects, occurs during the period September 2019–July 2020, at high and medium altitudes (1086–2408 m). Limited to immature stages, this study permitted to collect 561 specimens of Diptera from 16 river sections, mainly using a Surber-net sampler. Among the collected material, we were able to identify 38 genera and 11 species, belonging to five families. This fauna is relatively rich in new taxa for Morocco or for the High Atlas mountains. Indeed, two Chironomidae species, Macropelopia notata (Meigen, 1818) and Psectrocladius (Allopsectrocladius) flavus (Johannsen, 1905), and one Tipulidae, Tipula (Yamatotipula) pierrei, Tonnoir, 1921, are newly recorded in Morocco, as well as five genera: three Chironomidae (Krenopelopia, Fittkau; Natarsia, Fittkau; and Psilometriocnemus, Saether), one Empididae (Chelifera, Macquart), and one Ceratopogonidae (Atrichopogon, Kieffer). Two other species, Parachironomus frequens (Johannsen) and Heterotrissocladius marcidus (Walker), and seven genera are reported as new taxa in the High Atlas. The two rivers have similar richness (21 taxa each), mainly due to Chironomidae (94%), the most abundant and diversified family. The Empididae (4.8%) are relatively under-represented in the two rivers, as well as the other families (Ceratopogonidae, Tipulidae, and Tabanidae), which do not exceed 1% of the total dipteran abundance. The vertical distribution of the taxa revealed significant influence of the altitude on community compositions and distributions. In waiting to collect adults, immature dipteran stages prove the high abundance and diversity of the benthic entomological assemblages, which give hope that a more deep study of the dipteran fauna in the two Ramsar sites will provide remarkable novelties, in both systematic and ecological domains. It is also expected that this study will permit to assess the aquatic biodiversity of these ecosystems and its sensitivity to the increasing human disturbances.

The history and welfare of working mules in the valleys of the Toubkal massif, in the High Atlas of Morocco.

The appearance of the mule in the remote villages of the Toubkal National Park in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco can be traced back to the early years of the twentieth century. The mule population's subsequent growth in numbers accompanied the shift away from a subsistence economy that was made possible by the appearance and growth of the mining and mountain tourism industries. This paper reviews this early history, drawing on the accounts provided by early explorers and anthropologists, before developing a mixed methods approach to evaluating the welfare of pack mules in two villages within the National Park. The first village is part of the main access route to the Toubkal, the principle summit of the National Park and therefore much visited. The second is a much more remote, under visited and less developed village. Ethnographic work, studying muleteering practice and undertaken over several years is reported here and supplemented by findings from a detailed survey of the mules of both villages. This allows the work undertaken and the lived realities of the working mule across several generations of inhabitants to be presented together with data about the primary welfare concerns identified on clinical examination. In village one, 72 mule owners and their mules were surveyed and examined. Many of these mules worked in tourism, providing a source of revenue for their families. This work was often undertaken by teenagers/young adults working their father's mules. Tethering was widely practised and evidence of tethering injuries were identified in most mules. In the more remote village, 18 owners and their equids were surveyed and examined. In this population, mules were more likely to be worked locally in agriculture, building and to collect firewood. Bitting injuries associated with the use of the traditional bit were a significant concern in both villages. The universal use of a closed shoe was also in evidence in both villages; this was associated with atrophy of the frog and hoof imbalances. The reasoning for the use of the traditional bit and closed shoe are presented and alternatives discussed.

Quantification of phytochemical and antioxidant properties of aqueous apple extracts from the high atlas mountains in Morocco and their anti-inflammatory effect on Wistar rats

Apples are a valuable source of health-promoting polyphenols. However, a considerable variation in the polyphenol contents and bioactivities may exist among different apples from different origins. As the apples derived from traditional agriculture in the Moroccan High Atlas Mountains (above 2000 m of altitude) are less explored. This study aimed to investigate the polyphenol contents, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of aqueous extracts derived from five varieties of apples from the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco compared to two imported European varieties of apples. The content of phenol acids, flavonoids, tannins, and reducing sugars were spectrophotometrically measured. Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), radical scavenging activity (RSA), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were assessed in vitro. The anti-inflammatory activity was conducted using paw edema induced by sub-plantar injection of formalin (0.05 mL, 4%) in rats. The results showed that local apples, particularly the Imilchil extract, contained the highest content of polyphenols (9.11 ± 0.36 GAE mg/gE), flavonoids (7.59 ± 0.23 RE mg/gE), and tannins (2.94 ± 0.05 CE mg/gE) but lower content of reducing sugars. Among all the tested extracts, Imilchil also exhibited the highest antioxidant activity in 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl RSA (IC50= 1.12 ± 0.02 mg/mL), FRAP (110.55 ± 1.55 Fe2+E mMol/gE) and TAC (731.48 ± 3.02 AAE µg/gE) when compared with imported apples (Alpe and Golden), that have the lowest antioxidant activities in RSA (IC50 3.46 ± 0.12 and 3.92 ± 0.10 mg/ml), FRAP (18.30 ±.08 and 21.27 ± 0.99 Fe2+E mMol/gE) and TAC assays (133.22 ± 6.42 and 225.06 ± 2.88 AAE µg/gE), respectively. The administration of a single dose (500 mg/kg BW) of local apple extracts significantly inhibited about 54.77% of paw edema, while the imported apples produced about 30.60%. It is concluded that apples from the Moroccan High Atlas Mountains could be a rich source of natural polyphenols with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potentialities.

A High‐Resolution Shear Velocity Model of the Crust and Uppermost Mantle Beneath Westernmost Mediterranean Including Radial Anisotropy

AbstractUsing seismic data from 1,186 stations deployed across the westernmost Mediterranean, we construct a high‐resolution 3‐D radially anisotropic model from a joint inversion of receiver functions and Rayleigh and Love wave dispersions. The Rayleigh and Love data are extracted from both ambient noise interferograms and earthquake waveforms, and a new three‐station ambient noise interferometry method is used to further improve the data coverage. The obtained crustal thickness map reproduces independently the Moho depth maps compiled from previous data, showing crustal roots beneath the Pyrenean‐Cantabrian range and the Gibraltar Arc and thicker crust beneath the Variscan Iberian Massif than in the area affected by Alpine orogenesis. The Vsv crustal model outlines the Iberian Massif as a high shear wave velocity block and shows extremely low velocities in the Gulf of Cadiz and Gibraltar Arc. At mantle levels, a sharp boundary between the Aquitanean Basin and the Massif Central is imaged, with low Vsv beneath the Massif Central probably reflecting a remaining signature of the magma. To the south of Iberia, the geometry of the Alboran slab is captured by the model, while beneath the Atlas Mountains, widespread low Vsv and positive radial anisotropy is observed, favoring the edge‐driven convection model explaining the lithospheric thinning. The most relevant contribution of this work is mapping, for the first time at this scale, the radial anisotropy anomalies at crustal level, with higher values observed in the Alpine Iberia, dominated by present‐day extensional tectonics.

New Middle to ?Late Jurassic dinosaur tracksites in the Central High Atlas Mountains, Morocco.

Besides bones, fossil tracks and trackways are important sources of knowledge about dinosaur palaeobiology. Here, we report three new tracksites from two different synclines in the Imilchil area, Central High Atlas, Morocco. The tracks and trackways are preserved in fluvial deposits in different levels of the Isli Formation (Early Bathonian-?Upper Jurassic), and contain impressions made by sauropods, theropods and ornithopods, as well as tracks that might represent bird-like non-avian theropod dinosaurs. In addition to traditional field measurements, three-dimensional digital models of the track sites were created using photogrammetry. These new tracksites add to the rich faunal ichnoassemblage already recorded from the High Atlas Mountains and North Africa, which is considerably richer than the contemporaneous body fossil record, and also provide new data on dinosaurs-substrate interactions.

Snowpack and groundwater recharge in the Atlas mountains: New evidence and key drivers

Study regionThe Atlas Mountains of Morocco, specifically the High Oum Er-rbiaa (HOER) and Ourika catchments. Study focusto identify the recharge processes within the semi-arid watersheds, in the Atlas Mountains, through monthly monitoring of snow, rainfall, surface water, and groundwater isotope signal, but also the usage of remote sensing data. New hydrological insights for the regionThe spatial-temporal analysis of groundwater and precipitation isotopes reveals significant spatial heterogeneity, primarily influenced by the geological variations in each aquifer. Temporal variations indicate that direct recharge occurs in response to winter precipitation, whereas a delayed response is observed during the summer when snow replenishes groundwater towards the end of the melting season. The findings are further supported by the "Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment" (GRACE) dataset, which demonstrates that high values of Total Water Storage (TWS) align with groundwater isotopes. This highlights the substantial groundwater abstraction rate between March and June to compensate for the lack of precipitation during this period. The analysis of isotope data indicates that 50% of groundwater recharge in the upstream Jurassic aquifer and 80% in the downstream Triassic-Paleozoic aquifers in the HOER catchment is sourced from snowmelt. Similarly, in the Ourika catchment, snowmelt contributes 30% and 50% of groundwater recharge in the upstream and downstream portions of the catchments respectively. This disparity is due to different melting rates across altitudinal ranges and variations in the lithology of each catchment.