Investigating possible links between the North Atlantic Oscillation and rainfall variability in Marrakech (Morocco)

• Published in: Arabian Journal of Geosciences
• Main Authors: Turki, Imen, Laignel, Benoît, B., Laftouhi, Noureddine, Nouaceur, Zeneddine, Zamrane, Zineb
• Other Authors: Morphodynamique Continentale et Côtière (M2C), Université de Caen Normandie (UNICAEN), Normandie Université (NU)-Normandie Université (NU)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université de Rouen Normandie (UNIROUEN), Normandie Université (NU)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Cadi Ayyad Marrakech (UCA), Sciences Appliquées à L'Environnement (SCALE), Université Le Havre Normandie (ULH), Normandie Université (NU)-Normandie Université (NU)-Université de Rouen Normandie (UNIROUEN)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2016
• Subjects: Marrakech; rainfall variability; NAO; Statistical analysis; Continuous wavelet transform; Modes of variability; Discontinuities; [SDU.STU.ME]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Meteorology; [SDE.MCG]Environmental Sciences/Global Changes; [SDU.OCEAN]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Ocean; Atmosphere; North Atlantic; North Atlantic oscillation
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-01551131; https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-015-2174-z

International audience Eighty-two-year rainfall time series have been studied together with climatic patterns of NAO using classical statistical methods. Then, the wavelet approach has been applied to show annual (1 year (1y)) and inter-annual (2–4 years (2-4y), 5–8 years (5-8y), and 8–16 years (8-16y)) modes distributed following four major discontinuities: 1945, 1960, 1975, and 1995. The 1y, 2-4y, and 5-8y powers show high energy during the wet period 1922–1930 and a low one in 1928–1938. After 1945, the annual mode highlights a high energy while the inter-annual modes present low energy. Between 1975 and 1995, powerful modes of 1 and 2–4 years are identified with low power of 5-8y and 8-16y modes. Since 1995, the low power of 5–8y decreases, while the 8-16y mode emphasizes a high variability. The coherence between NAO and Marrakech precipitation is strongly defined for low frequencies with a total contribution of 75 %. This coherence is in phase in the beginning and presents out phase signs since 1945. The change of phase can be associated to a decreasing of coherence especially around 1990. This finding is useful to understand the relationship between the hydrological variability and NAO climate patterns in the southern side of the Mediterranean Sea.