Rainfall trends in Khénifra National Park and its surrounding areas

Research Unit: Natural Environments, Planning and Socio-Spatial Dynamics. Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University. Fez. Morocco

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Abstract

This study examines interannual and intra-annual rainfall trends in Khénifra National Park, a prominent pastoral mountain area located in the central Middle Atlas Mountains. This trend analysis is based on the Mann-Kendall, Buishand, and Pettit statistical tests. The results provided by the latter show a generalized annual rainfall trend towards decrease, accompanied by the absence of a break date in the rainfall series. At the same station, the seasonal or monthly rainfall trend changes from one season to another and from one month to another (before and after the reporting of the break date). This constitutes the dominant sign of significant irregularity. In general, a non-significant increase in rainfall during the autumn season, compared to a significant decrease in rainfall during the spring, was reported throughout the study period. Therefore, this situation has been explained by the intensity of thunderstorms during the summer season, which was followed from time to time by winter drought.