Is the North-Western Sahara aquifer system sustainable?

These activities along with natural interventions have caused severe problems (e.g., quality degradation, depletion, and contamination) to the groundwater resources of the North Africa’s transboundary aquifer system, the North-Western Sahara Aquifer System ( NWSAS). The sustainability of these valuable resources is facing increasing threats.

What is intensive farming in the North Western Sahara aquifer system?

Intensive farming in sandy soils with a high water table (1 to 2 m below the sand) in the North Western Sahara Aquifer System: (a) aquaculture, (b) date plantation, with surface drains installed to remove brackish water, and (c) a large canal network to drain the brackish water.

What is traditional agriculture in the Sahara?

Traditional agriculture, developed around some oases, has been used in the Sahara for millennia. One such example is that of the ghouts system practiced in the El Oued region of Algeria primarily for growing dates (Phoenix dactylifera L.; figure 1).

Does the Green Sahara have a rainfall regime?

Rainfall regimes of the Green Sahara. Science Advances 3(1). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1601503. 2012. We’ll drink to that: Massive underground reserves of water found in some of Africa’s desert areas—including the Sahara Desert.

What is a traditional Sahara landscape?

(a) Traditional Sahara landscape, (b) the traditional ghout system of farming date palm. The ghout system consists of digging into the sand to plant date palm at the top of the groundwater.

Are there underground water reserves in the Sahara Desert?

Consequently, massive underground reserves of water have been found and mapped in several of Africa’s desert areas, including those beneath the Sahara Desert (Tornhill 2012).