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Assessment and Monitoring of Water Resources and Ecosystems for Sustainable Development in Mauritanian Arid and Semi-Arid Regions
| Content Provider | Semantic Scholar |
|---|---|
| Author | Ahmed, Ahmedou Ould Cherif |
| Copyright Year | 2008 |
| Abstract | The aridity and its consequences are the main environmental problems in Mauritania in general and in the northern region particularly. The cultivations of palm trees and associated gardening are the main economical activities in Adrar province. Farmers in this area depend directly on the water points at the alluviums of Wadis for irrigation and water supply. However, this sensitive resources are under the threat of sever natural conditions and increasing demand. Therefore, we attempted first to analyze the characteristics of rainfall time series and their links with sea surface temperature (SST) in this region. Trends for meteorological stations time series (Atar, Akjoujt and Chenguetti) were evaluated using the non-parametric test of Mann-Kendall (MK) and Spearman, regression analysis, and autocorrelation for persistence analysis. In addition, power spectrum of Maximum Entropy Method (MEM) and Fourier fit analysis were deployed for frequency and periodicity analysis. Then, cross correlations were computed between August and September average rainfall, as they constitute the most important rainy months for northern Mauritania, and SST to check the areas that have significant correlations. Furthermore, relationship of El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and sunspot number with rainfall was investigated. The MK test showed a significant decreasing trend for Akjoujt and an insignificant trend for the rainfall time series of other stations. However, the decreasing linear trends shown by regression were highly significant for the different time series. On the other hand, persistence analysis indicated the presence of a linear Markov type. We speculated the possibility of a teleconnection between precipitation in this region and sunspot numbers. SSTs of the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Mediterranean Sea showed significant cross-correlations with precipitation in the study area. The ENSO effect can be considered as marginal. On the other hand, the tendency of Atar rainfall (1923-2004) showed rainy periods in 1920’s and 1950’s and decreased rainfall since the late of 1950s. On the other hand, the prolonged drought periods appeared during 1970’s in contemporaneous with the Sahelian drought. The persistency analysis indicated the presence of biennial components during last three decades. SSTs of Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans modulated Atar rainfall during 1923-1992 period. |
| File Format | PDF HTM / HTML |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://repository.lib.tottori-u.ac.jp/files/public/0/3983/20180622155117222187/G31_15101A00493R.pdf |
| Language | English |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
