Hydrological Assessment of Climate Change Impacts on the Upper Tassaoute Watershed, Morocco

Abstract

The Tassaoute watershed, a significant tributary of the Oum Er-Rbia basin in central Morocco, is experiencing increasing water stress due to climate variability and declining precipitation trends. This study aims to assess the impacts of recent climatic changes on water resources in the watershed using the HBV (Hydrologiska Byrâns Vattenbalansavdelning) conceptual hydrological model. Monthly meteorological and hydrological data were collected and used to calibrate and validate the HBV model, enabling simulation of runoff and the evaluation of the watershed's hydrological response to observed climate variability. The results highlight a noticeable reduction in streamflow and changes in seasonal water availability, which are closely linked to variations in rainfall and temperature patterns over recent decades. These findings underline the growing vulnerability of the Tassaoute watershed to climatic fluctuations and provide a scientific basis for improving water resource management in the region.