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In order to facilitate the monitoring of groundwater quality in France, the groundwater bodies (GWB) in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region have been grouped into 11 homogeneous clusters on the basis of their physico-chemical and bacteriological characteristics. This study aims to test the legitimacy of this grouping by predicting whether water samples belong to a given sampling point, GWB or group of GWBs. To this end, 8673 observations and 18 parameters were extracted from the Size-Eaux database, and this dataset was processed using discriminant analysis and various machine learning algorithms. The results indicate an accuracy of 67% using linear discriminant analysis and 69 to 83% using ML algorithms, while quadratic discriminant analysis underperforms in comparison, yielding a less accurate prediction of 59%. The importance of each parameter in the prediction was assessed using an approach combining recursive feature elimination (RFE) techniques and random forest feature importance (RFFI). Major ions show high spatial range and play the main role in discrimination, while trace elements and bacteriological parameters of high local and/or temporal variability only play a minor role. The disparity of the results according to the characteristics of the GWB groups (geography, altitude, lithology, etc.) is discussed. Validating the grouping of GWBs will enable monitoring and surveillance strategies to be redirected on the basis of fewer, homogeneous hydrogeological units, in order to optimize sustainable management of the resource by the health agencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Morocco, the scarcity of rainfall is linked to global warming and to the overexploitation of groundwater due to demographic and socio-economic pressures, which generates a major problem, namely a significant decline of the piezometric level. The goal of this study is to assess the piezometric and rainfall levels of the groundwater in the Angads aquifer, which is one of the most important in the Eastern part of Morocco. To do so, graphs were drawn from the piezometric data of three piezometers, namely AP1, AP2, and AP3 located respectively in the Eastern, Central, and Western part of the country, and from the rainfall data of the Oujda station during the period from 1985 to 2015. The main results revealed a fluctuation in rainfall over time, with an increase recorded in 2009. Indeed, the results of the variation of piezometric levels over the years generally showed a downward trend, especially in the area between the aquifer outlet and the Maghnia plain in Algeria, while the results of the assessment of the piezometric land rainfall levels over time generally show a downward trend. In the face of this decline, effective strategies need to be considered to protect these resources from depletion, including artificial recharge of the aquifer, wastewater reuse which aims to restore an aquifer overexploited by excessive pumping, whose drawdown is detrimental, and multi-purpose water storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing resilience is critical for coastal urban systems to cope with and minimize flood disaster risks. Global increases in the frequency of floods is a major concern for many areas in Africa. In this regard, urban planners need increasingly accurate approaches to set up a standard for measuring the resilience to floods. In Morocco, this issue is still not fully covered by the scientific community, despite the obvious need for a new approach adapted to local conditions. Using three northern coastal municipalities, this study applied a composite index and geographic information system approach to measure and map resilience to floods. The approach is also based on a linear ranking of resilience parameters, offering a more optimal classification of spatial resilience variation. The findings allowed to identify specific areas with different resilience levels and revealed the relationship between urban dimensions and the flood resilience degree. This approach provides an efficient decision support tool to facilitate flood risk management especially in terms of prioritization of protective actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Cuadernos Geograficos is the property of Cuadernos Geograficos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)