Groundwater Dynamics in the Haouz Plain: Analysis of the Interactions Between Vegetation, Water and Climate Data

The Haouz aquifer faces multiple environmental and socioeconomic challenges largely related to climatic aridity and to the growth of the agriculture sector. By combining several methods such as cascade analysis, cross-correlation and Principal Component Analysis (PCA), this study conducts a comprehensive analysis of hydroclimatic data in order to comprehend the interactions between water management components. The findings indicate that there are three different groundwater functioning systems. The first system is noticeable in areas with extensive irrigation from groundwater. The water cycle’s natural balance is disturbed, and surface water's contribution to groundwater recharge is negligible. The second and the third systems are manifested in areas where pumping is low. The hydrological cycle balance is preserved, which exhibits a cascading effect in all of its studied elements and a noticeable contribution from surface water to groundwater recharge. To promote effective groundwater management, this study has made data and graphics available to reveal the challenges related to groundwater vulnerability to climatic aridity and overexploitation in the Haouz region.