Search

The present study aims to delineate the groundwater potential zones (GWPZ) in the Boudinar Basin using geospatial techniques and through an analytical hierarchal process (AHP) method. For multi criteria decision analysis, fifteen thematic layers were integrated into a geographic information system (GIS) environment. In this analysis, each thematic layer is calculated for normalized weights. Furthermore, the consistency index and consistency ratio were calculated to ensure that the result was significant and reliable. The GWPZ map has been categorized into three classes: poor (50.82%), moderate (49.06%), and good (

Sustainable public procurement (SPP) is an effective and an increasingly adopted means used by many countries to promote sustainable development (SD). In Morocco there are no official data and / or studies relating to SPP. Therefore, the objective of our work is to assess the predisposition of the Moroccan administration to introduce the process. The research problem concerns the identification of factors that can influence the implementation of the SPP approach in a developing country such as Morocco. In order to find a solution, we initiated a survey using a questionnaire combining open-ended and closed-ended questions intended for the purchasing departments of the Moroccan central administration. The main question relates to the definition of the causal link between the predisposition to take charge of SPP and the level of knowledge and involvement of public buyers in relation to sustainable development challenges. We conclude by showing that for the implementation of SPP in Morocco, it is, not only necessary to focus on the awareness and involvement of public buyers, but also on strengthening regulations. In addition, the survey was an opportunity to assess the expectations of decision-makers in terms of approach and decision-making tools.

The rapid growth of information and communication technologies (ICTs) worldwide is increasing the consumption of energy and raw materials at unprecedented levels. As a result, the environmental footprint of the ICT sector is constantly increasing in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, hazardous substances and the unsustainable use of raw materials. To address these effects, countries can use Green Public Procurement (GPP) as an effective instrument to encourage compliance with environmental norms. The present study aims to assess the infiltration rate of sustainability in the procurement process in the public administration in Morocco. For this, we used Text Mining techniques with the purpose of analysing and evaluating tenders for the purchase of IT equipment. The results revealed that the infiltration rate of environmental issues is very low, which shows that more SPP efforts need to be deployed. In this context, we undertook the task of developing a decision-making tool inspired by our present work to support practitioners and other stakeholders in terms of the decision-making process and environmental monitoring.

This paper proposes a new configuration of an Endfire wide-scaning phased array antenna operating at millimeter wave at 28 GHz. The proposed antenna is considered as low-cost device designed on standard FR4 substrate with a thickness of 0.5 mm, a permittivity of 4.4, and a total size of 44 × 16 mm2. Eight Vivaldi antenna elements fed by microstrip lines have been used to form a linear array at the top side of the cellphone PCB. The gain antenna is improved by using a periodic printed metallic strip that act as a directors. This technique achieves a large bandwith of 3 GHz from 26.5 to 29.5 GHz, and a high gain of 15 dBi which is almost stable over a wide scanning angle.

In the North East of the Moroccan Mediterranean coast, 15 km south east of the Al Hoceima city, the coastal aquifer of Ghiss-Nekkour occupies an area of 100 km2 . Its exploitation constitutes a priority economic imperative for the city of Al Hoceima and its hinterland, due to the tourist character of the city and the agricultural orientation of the region. In the surface of this study area, alternate rural-type habitats with autonomous sanitation systems, agricultural plots, uncultivated land, a few small industrial units, a local road network, in addition to the International Airport Charif El Idrissi. These are various potential sources of local anthropogenic groundwater contamination. Their intensity may grow with the socio-economic development that knows the region as a whole. In this work, the authors apply a new multicriteria approach of acronym “PRK Plus” to assess the sensitivity of the coastal aquifer Ghiss-Nekkour to anthropogenic pollution. The results obtained from this application show that despite the aggressiveness of the Ghiss-Nekkour groundwater pollution sources, 98% of the total surface area of the water table is “very little sensitive” to anthropogenic contamination.

Assessing the degree of vulnerability of surface water intended for drinking water supply has become a major necessity in water resource management and decision-making; it allows to identify high-risk areas and provide all the necessary measures for its protection. Specialized analysis techniques using geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing are increasingly being used to qualitatively assess this vulnerability. For his purpose, the aim of this study is to present the results of the application of the “DKPR” approach for evaluating of the degree of vulnerability that concerns water contamination of the Ghiss dam sub-watershed, a hydraulic structure under construction to ensure the supply of drinking water to the city of Al Hoceima and the surrounding centers, as well as the protection of the downstream area against floods generated during the Ghiss river floods. The latter drains agricultural plots, natural areas, uncultivated land, and rural settlements. The approach adopted involves four parameters: accessibility of the aquatic environment (D), soil and subsoil water functioning (K), watershed physiography (P), and rainfall erosivity (R). The final result is a map obtained by additionally combining the index maps of these four parameters. The overall vulnerability index obtained by this combination varies in a range of values from 0 to 4 and is divided into five classes of vulnerability ranging from “very low” to “very high.” The results achieved show that the Ghiss dam sub-watershed is dominated by the moderate vulnerability class. It occupies 59.63% of the total area of the sub-watershed studied.

The objective of this work is the pedological characterization of soils in the watersheds of Oueds Nekôr and Ghiss. Several profiles were identified and sampled for Physico-chemical and sedimentological analyses (color index, magnetic susceptibility, pH, granulometry, water content, organic matter, and carbonates). The watersheds in question are roughly characterized by a soft and diversified lithology, a sparse vegetation cover, and a semi-arid Mediterranean climate. The soils in the Oued Nekôr watershed are of the silty type (> 50%), not very developed and relatively well-drained, and become well-drained stony in the steep and eroded areas. Soil pH varies between 7 and 8, reflecting low alkaline to alkaline soils. In the Oued Ghiss watershed, the sandstone-limestone or marl-schist soils are poorly differentiated in the steep slopes. The well-drained soils are gravelly, relatively alkaline, and show the beginning of rubefaction. Very locally on wooded flats, the soil profiles can become deep and well-differentiated due to colluvial accumulation. The dark brown eluvial A horizon is relatively rich in organic matter (3.6%). The well individualized illuvial B horizon has strongly rubbed concretions and is richer in organic matter (4.6%). The light beige C horizon corresponds to the strongly altered marl and limestone parent rock with low organic matter content (1.3%) and very low magnetic susceptibility values.

In the present work, an analytical fractional Schrodinger equation solution is exploited via studying the fractional evolution in time of a two interacting two-level atoms. We investigate the entanglement degree by means of concurrence of the density operator described the atom-atom interaction. Our results show that the concurrence fluctuate periodically between its maximum and minimum bounds, where in general the concurrence takes large numbers for standard fractional Schrodinger equation.

The main aim of this work is to teleporte a two qubit state via quantum teleportation protocol, where a single atomic-field entangled state is considred as a quantum channel. By controlling the relevant parameters encoded in the teleported state we investigate the quantum Fisher information evolution. Our results show that, it is possible to estimate in terms of quantum Fisher information the weight and the phase parameters encoded in the initial teleported state. It shown that, the maximum amount Fisher information appears periodically. Interestingly, heigh estimation is investigated for the maximum amount Fisher information bounds and vice versa.

A scheme of quantum teleportation using Jaynes–Cummings model is proposed. It consists of using a partial entangled state generated from the interaction between a two-level atom and single mode of radiation field as a quantum channel. By controlling the number of photons inside cavity and detuning parameter, the dynamical evolution of quantum correlation and entanglement degree in terms of quantum discord and concurrence, respectively, in the nonresonance case are investigated. Moreover, a comparative study between the teleported entanglement, teleported quantum correlation and average fidelity shows a good similarity between their dynamical evolution. Consequently, we conclude that quantum discord may be considered as a good information source in quantum teleportation process.

A single atomic field state is used as a quantum channel to teleport a state of two-qubit system. The possibility of estimating the teleported initial state parameters is discussed by means of quantum Fisher information. It is shown that by controlling the initial atomic field parameters, one may freeze the quantum Fisher information of the teleported parameters. Meanwhile, the teleported state keeps its local information. The sizes of the frozen areas depend on the initial state settings and the atomic field parameters. We show that the estimation degree of teleporting a single qubit is larger than that depicted for two-qubit system. Moreover, the estimation degree increases in the resonance case. It is shown that the maximum bounds of the quantum Fisher information are reached periodically. The phenomena of the sudden changes of quantum Fisher information are displayed at larger values of detuning parameters and the number of photons inside the cavity.

The Ghiss-Nekor coastal aquifer is considered among the most important aquifers in the Moroccan Mediterranean. It covers about 100 km2 and consists of plio-quaternary alluvium composed of detrital sediments crossed by discontinuous clay levels. This aquifer plays an important role in the agriculture and drinking water supply of the Al Hoceima city and its hinterland. Indeed, water demand has increased and the aquifer faced challenges that threaten its sustainability. Overexploitation, pollution and seawater intrusion have been identified as major risks weighing heavily on the groundwater resource of this area. In this context, and to assess the vulnerability of the Ghiss-Nekor aquifer against seawater intrusion, a qualitative approach “GALDIT” dedicated to coastal aquifers and integrating the notion of rising sea level has been adopted. In the present work, two scenarii of sea level rise are adopted 2017 and 2100. Similarly, the evolution of the trait or coastal line will be calculated according to these two scenarii.

International audience; The Betic-Rif orocline surrounding the Alboran Sea, the westernmost tip of the Mediterranean Sea, accommodates the NW–SE convergence between the Nubia and Eurasia plates. Recent GPS observations indicate a ∼4 mm/yr SW motion of the Rif Mountains, relative to stable Nubia, incompatible with a simple two-plate model. New gravity data acquired in this study define a pronounced negative Bouguer anomaly south of the Rif, interpreted as a ∼40 km-thick crust in a state of non-isostatic equilibrium. We study the correlation between these present-day kinematic and geodynamic processes using a finite-element code to model in 2-D the first-order behavior of a lithosphere affected by a downward normal traction (representing the pull of a high-density body in the upper mantle). We show that intermediate viscosities for the lower crust and uppermost mantle (View the MathML source1021–1022Pas) allow an efficient coupling between the mantle and the base of the brittle crust, thus enabling (1) the conversion of vertical movement, resulting from the downward traction, to horizontal movement and (2) shortening in the brittle upper crust. Our results show that incipient delamination of the Nubian continental lithosphere, linked to slab pull, can explain the present-day abnormal tectonics, contribute to the gravity anomaly observed in northern Morocco, and give insight into recent tectonics in the Western Mediterranean region.

GPS velocities and seismicity across the Betic-Rif Arc structural domains (Morocco and Iberia) provide a basis to evaluate present-day seismotectonic processes between different deformation belts. The results show asymmetric movements in the complex Alboran system accommodating the convergence between the African (Nubian) and Eurasian plates. While the Betic Mountains are attached to Iberia, moving toward the southeast with respect to Africa, the Rif is divided into three blocks with distinct displacements relative to Nubia: (1) the Tangier block moving southeastward, (2) the Central Rif block moving SSW, and (3) the Oriental Rif block undergoing clockwise rotation. GPS-derived motions decrease in rate from the Rif nappes complex to the foreland.

An edited version of this paper was published by the American Geophysical Union. Copyright 2000, AGU. See also: http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2000/2000JB900024.shtml; http://atlas.geo.cornell.edu/morocco/publications/calvert2000.htm

North Africa is one of the most earthquake-prone areas of the Mediterranean. Many devastating earthquakes, some of them tsunami-triggering, inflicted heavy loss of life and considerable economic damage to the region. In order to mitigate the destructive impact of the earthquakes, the regional seismic hazard in North Africa is assessed using the neo-deterministic, multi-scenario methodology (NDSHA) based on the computation of synthetic seismograms, using the modal summation technique, at a regular grid of 0.2 × 0.2°. This is the first study aimed at producing NDSHA maps of North Africa including five countries: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt. The key input data for the NDSHA algorithm are earthquake sources, seismotectonic zonation, and structural models. In the preparation of the input data, it has been really important to go beyond the national borders and to adopt a coherent strategy all over the area. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of the teams involved, it has been possible to properly merge the earthquake catalogues available for each country to define with homogeneous criteria the seismogenic zones, the characteristic focal mechanism associated with each of them, and the structural models used to model wave propagation from the sources to the sites. As a result, reliable seismic hazard maps are produced in terms of maximum displacement (D max), maximum velocity (V max), and design ground acceleration.

International audience; We use velocities from 65 continuous stations and 31 survey-mode GPS sites as well as kinematic modeling to investigate present day deformation along the Africa-Iberia plate boundary zone in the western Mediterranean region. The GPS velocity field shows southwestward motion of the central part of the Rif Mountains in northern Morocco with respect to Africa varying between 3.5 and 4.0 mm/yr, consistent with prior published results. Stations in the southwestern part of the Betic Mountains of southern Spain move west-southwest with respect to Eurasia (similar to 2-3 mm/yr). The western component of Betics motion is consistent with partial transfer of Nubia-Eurasia plate motion into the southern Betics. The southward component of Betics motion with respect to Iberia is kinematically consistent with south to southwest motion of the Rif Mountains with respect to Africa. We use block modeling, constrained by mapped surface faults and seismicity to estimate the geometry and rates of strain accumulation on plate boundary structures. Our preferred plate boundary geometry includes one block between Iberia and Africa including the SW Betics, Alboran Sea, and central Rif. This geometry provides a good fit to the observed motions, suggesting a wide transpressive boundary in the westernmost Mediterranean, with deformation mainly accommodated by the Gloria-Azores fault system to the West and the Rif-Tell lineament to the East. Block boundaries encompass aspects of earlier interpretations suggesting three main deformation styles: (i) extension along the NE-SW trending Trans-Alboran shear zone, (ii) dextral strike-slip in the Betics corresponding to a well defined E-W seismic lineament, and (iii) right lateral strike-slip motion extending West to the Azores and right-lateral motion with compression extending East along the Algerian Tell. We interpret differential motion in the Rif-Alboran-Betic system to be driven both by surface processes related the Africa-Eurasia oblique convergence and sub-crustal dynamic processes associated with the long history of subduction of the Neotethys ocean lithosphere. The dextral slip identified in the Betic Mountains in Southern Spain may be related to the offshore fault that produced the Great 1755 Lisbon Earthquake, and as such may represent a significant seismic hazard for the West Mediterranean region.

International audience; We present GPS observations in Morocco and adjacent areas of Spain from 15 continuous (CGPS) and 31 survey-mode (SGPS) sites extending from the stable part of the Nubian plate to central Spain. We determine a robust velocity field for the W Mediterranean that we use to constrain models for the Iberia-Nubia plate boundary. South of the High Atlas Mountain system, GPS motions are consistent with Nubia plate motions from prior geodetic studies. We constrain shortening in the Atlas system to

The magnitude M-w=6.3 earthquake in Al Hoceima, Morocco of 24 February, 2004 occurred in the active plate boundary accommodating the oblique convergence between Africa and Eurasia. Three different sets of estimates of its source parameters have already been published. We try to resolve the discrepancies between them by using additional data including two remote sensing satellite systems (ENVISAT and SPOTS). Using a model with a dislocation in an elastic half-space, we constrain the source parameters. The hypothesis of two subevents on distinct faults as inferred from seismological inversions is confirmed here by adopting a cross-fault mechanism. The rupture began on a left-lateral strike-slip fault striking at N10 degrees azimuth with 90 cm of horizontal slip and then transferred to a right-lateral strike-slip fault striking at N312 degrees azimuth with 85 cm of horizontal slip. The first fault is at 500 m depth from the free surface and the second fault is at 3 km depth. This model is consistent with ground-based observations, including GPS, seismology, and mapped surface fissures. The pair of faults activated in 2004 appears to constitute part of a complex seismogenic structure striking NNE-SSW that separates the Rif tectonic blocks.

Surface deformation in Morocco, derived from five years of global positioning system (GPS) survey observations of a 22-station network, four continuously recording GPS (CGPS) stations, and four International GNSS Service (IGS) stations in Iberia, indicates roughly southward motion (∼3 mm/yr) of the Rif Mountains, Morocco, relative to stable Africa. Motion of the Rif is approximately normal to the direction of Africa-Eurasia relative motion, which is predominantly strike slip, and results in shortening of the Rif and subsequent crustal extension of the adjacent Alboran Sea region. The sense, and the N-S asymmetry of the observed deformation (i.e., no evidence for north-directed shortening in the Betic Mountains north of the Alboran Sea) cannot be easily explained in terms of crustal plate interactions, suggesting that dynamic processes below the crust are driving the recent geologic evolution of the western Mediterranean. The model that best fits the observations involves delamination and southward rollback of the African lithospheric mantle under the Alboran and Rif domains.