Fan-shaped landforms, particularly fluvial fans, are inherently prone to multiple geohazards because steep slopes, weak lithology, sparse vegetation, and rapid runoff response often coincide within limited spatial areas. This study evaluates multi-hazard susceptibility in the Crnička Reka catchment, eastern North Macedonia, by comparing GIS-based parametric models with FAHP-based multi-criteria analysis. Excessive soil erosion, landslide susceptibility, and flash-flood susceptibility were first assessed individually using the Erosion Potential Model, Landslide Susceptibility Index, and Flash Flood Potential Index, and were then integrated through spatial overlay to identify multi-hazard zones. The EPM results indicate an average erosion coefficient of Z = 0.5, with total erosion production of 5,304 m³/year and a specific erosion rate of 780.9 m³/km²/year, mainly concentrated in the lower catchment. LSI classified 41.7% of the catchment as high to very high landslide susceptibility, while FFPI identified 57.4% as high to very high flash-flood susceptibility. The parametric multi-hazard overlay delineated 6.3% of the catchment as overlapping high-susceptibility zones, mainly in the central and lower sections. FAHP identified broader susceptibility patterns, including 19.1% high erosion susceptibility, 32.7% high to very high landslide susceptibility, 44.8% high to very high flash-flood susceptibility, and 15.4% multi-hazard overlap. ROC-AUC validation showed higher predictive performance for the parameter-based models, with 85.1% for LSI and 84.2% for FFPI, compared with 76.7% and 72.2% for the corresponding FAHP models. These results indicate that parametric GIS models are more effective for hazard-specific prediction, whereas FAHP is more sensitive to combined conditioning factors and provides complementary information for multi-hazard interpretation. The approach should be interpreted as an overlay-based susceptibility framework rather than a dynamic cascading-hazard model. This multi-method approach enhances the robustness of multi-hazard assessment and informs integrated catchment management. Future integration of LiDAR and UAV-based monitoring could further improve understanding of sediment transport, slope instability, and flash-flood dynamics.
This study evaluated the spatial distribution, bioaccumulation, and soil-to-plant transfer of heavy metals in agricultural soils and cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) cultivated in two contrasting regions of Kosovo: the industrially influenced Prishtina region (Drenas, Fushë Kosovë, Obiliq, Vushtrri, and Podujevë) and the predominantly agricultural Prizren region (Dragash, Prizren, Suharekë, Rahovec, and Malishevë). Concentrations of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), and chromium (Cr) were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) following acid digestion. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses, including Pearson correlation, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Welch\'s independent-samples t-test, were performed to evaluate regional differences, spatial variability, and soil-to-plant transfer patterns. The results demonstrated significantly higher concentrations of Pb, Cd, Ni, and Cr in agricultural soils and cabbage from the Prishtina region than from the Prizren region (p < 0.01), reflecting the greater influence of mining, lignite-fired power plants, and other industrial activities. Statistical analyses confirmed significant regional differences in heavy metal concentrations and bioaccumulation patterns, particularly for Cd, Ni, and Cr (p < 0.001). Bioaccumulation factor (BAF) values remained below 1 for all investigated metals, indicating limited transfer from soil to cabbage under the prevailing environmental conditions. Cadmium exhibited the highest bioaccumulation potential, whereas lead showed the lowest transfer efficiency. Pearson correlation analysis revealed significant positive soil-to-plant relationships in the Prizren region, whereas weaker and statistically non-significant relationships were observed in the Prishtina region, indicating that heavy metal transfer is influenced by both regional environmental conditions and metal-specific behavior. Overall, the study demonstrates pronounced regional differences in heavy metal contamination and bioaccumulation in agricultural soils and cabbage across Kosovo. These findings provide valuable information for understanding soil-to-plant transfer processes, support environmental monitoring of agricultural areas affected by anthropogenic activities, and provide a scientific basis for future studies evaluating the implications of heavy metal contamination for food safety.
Kef Boulehmame is a carbonate massif belonging to the Tellian zone of the Alpine orogeny in northeastern Algeria. Covering approximately 10 km2, it is bordered to the north and northeast by the Paleozoic metamorphic basement and forms an elongated dome extending in a NNW–SSE direction. This Jurassic-age massif is characterized by a thick limestone sequence (800 m), with rare dolomitic interbeds, exhibiting a dome-like structure traversed by two main fault systems-oriented NW–SE and NNE–SSW. The iron-bearing mineralization hosted within these microcrystalline limestones of the lower Lias occurs as clusters and veins ranging in size from tens of centimeters to meters, with a surface extent of several meters. Our study aimed to characterize this mineralization from petro-mineralogical and geochemical perspectives using a multidisciplinary approach: microscopic analysis, X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, and the analysis of stable isotopes (C, O) to identify the mineralization and origin of the mineralizing fluid. The petro-mineralogical study revealed various iron oxides and hydroxides (hematite, goethite, and limonite) associated with gangue minerals (calcite, quartz, and barite) in the presence of metallic mineralization (bornite and tennantite/tetrahedrite), as well as a supergene alteration phase (malachite/azurite). Geochemical analyses revealed a high Fe2O3 content (84.73%), with significant proportions of CaO (10.75%) and SiO2 (10.52%), as well as notable enrichment in metallic trace elements (Cu, Zn, Pb, and As) and non-metallic elements (Ba and S), probably reflecting late-stage hydrothermal circulation responsible for the baryte–sulphide–sulfosalt association. The analysis of stable isotopes of carbon and oxygen (C and O), conducted on calcite–ankerite gangue minerals, showed δ13C PDB values ranging from −2.01 ‰ to +3.537 ‰, suggesting an inorganic origin for the carbon, probably derived from the thermal decarbonation of the surrounding limestone rocks. Simultaneously, the δ18O SMOW values obtained ranged from +18.21 ‰ to +28.65 ‰, indicating the effect of high temperatures, probably caused by the circulation of deep hydrothermal fluids. Overall, the results supported the hypothesis that hydrothermal remobilization is responsible for this iron-bearing mineralization.
Wild ungulates represent valuable bioindicators of environmental quality due to their exposure to contaminants through diet and habitat. This study assessed concentrations of selected toxic and trace elements and evaluated biochemical parameters in red deer (Cervus elaphus, n = 37) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus, n = 8) to determine their health status, characterize environmental conditions, and compare interspecific differences. Blood samples were analysed for elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Hg, Tl, Zn) using ICP-MS and for biochemical parameters (TP, ABL, GLO, ALT, AST, ALP, GLU, CHOL, TG, CRE, BUN, Ca, P). Cadmium and zinc concentrations were significantly higher in roe deer (p = 0.012; p = 0.018), while other elements did not differ significantly (p > 0.05). Manganese showed high variability in both species. No statistically significant interspecific differences were found in biochemical parameters. Slight elevations in ALT, AST, and ALP were likely associated with capture-and handling-related stress rather than pathological conditions. The animals were kept in a game reserve and supplemented with feed during the winter months, which may contribute to a more stable nutritional status and reduced variability in biochemical profiles. Overall, the low levels of toxic elements and absence of major biochemical alterations suggest a relatively unpolluted environment.
This study quantified Cu, Fe, Ni, and Zn concentrations in multiple jellyfish populations collected from selected coastal locations in the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and evaluated the associated human health risks using estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), and percentages of estimated weekly intake (EWI) to provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI). The metal concentrations (mg/kg dry weight) varied across species and sites, ranging from 1.62 to 11.5 for Cu, 20.8 to 2733 for Fe, 8.35 to 105 for Ni, and 8.95 to 135 for Zn. Correspondingly, EWI to PTWI % contributions remained very low (<0.20%) for all four metals. Despite measurable metal burdens, exposure assessments consistently indicated low health risks, with all THQ values well below the safety threshold of 1. These findings suggest negligible non-carcinogenic risk from jellyfish consumption under the present intake assumptions. Beyond food safety considerations, the results highlight the ecological importance of jellyfish as integrative biomonitors of coastal metal dynamics, providing baseline data to support routine spatial- temporal monitoring for coastal sustainability and environmental governance.
This study aims to investigate the shifts in rainfall patterns in the southwestern Mediterranean. It focuses on the upper Oum Er-Rbia basin in Morocco. Rainfall series from six stations, spanning over half a century (1970-2022), were analyzed at multiple temporal scales. Three key aspects of climate dynamics were targeted: variability using the coefficient of variation (CV), drought using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), and trend based on the Mann-Kendall test, Sen's slope, and Innovative Trend Analysis (ITA). Results show a high rainfall variability, with an annual CV reaching 36 %. It exceeds 50 % at the seasonal scale. The SPI analysis highlights a structural drought, as 44 to 54 % of years are dry. Seasonal severe to extreme droughts are recurrent during spring and summer. Mann-Kendall and Sen's slope analysis indicates a general rainfall decrease, reaching-6.3 mm/yr. A significant reduction of winter and spring precipitation explains this trend. The ITA confirms this overall tendency. It further reveals a decline in low annual precipitation and an intensification in high values. These findings point to a shift toward more irregular and less predictable rainfall regimes, characterized by increased variability and concentration of precipitation. Such changes have critical implications for water resource management, particularly in terms of groundwater recharge, dam inflows, and long-term system resilience in semi-arid environments.
This study presents a comprehensive assessment of metal contamination and associated ecological and human health risks in three freshwater systems (Azmak, Ak & ccedil;ap & imath;nar, and & Ccedil;etibeli Creeks) discharging into G & ouml;kova Bay, a Special Environmental Protection Area on the southwestern coast of T & uuml;rkiye. Surface water and sediment samples were collected monthly from six stations between April 2023 and March 2024, and concentrations of Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, and Cd were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry. Sediment contamination was evaluated using the Contamination Factor (CF), Enrichment Factor (EF), Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo), and Potential Ecological Risk Index (ER and RI), while non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks were assessed through Average Daily Dose (ADD), Hazard Quotient (HQ), Hazard Index (HI), and Cancer Risk (CR) according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency methodologies. Multivariate statistical analyses, including Spearman correlation, principal component analysis, and non-parametric tests, were employed to identify spatial and seasonal patterns. Sediment concentrations followed the order Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu > Cd, with Cd exhibiting exceptionally high levels (mean: 8.75 mg kg(-1)), substantially exceeding international sediment quality guidelines. Cd showed very high contamination (CF = 89.35), extreme enrichment (EF = 455.05), and strong geoaccumulation (Igeo = 5.77), indicating severe anthropogenic input. The overall ecological risk index (RI = 2688.42) revealed a very high ecological risk, overwhelmingly driven by Cd. Spatial analyses identified Ak & ccedil;ap & imath;nar downstream station as the principal contamination hotspot, whereas seasonal variation was limited except for Cd, which peaked during spring. Human health risk assessment indicated that sediment ingestion poses significant non-carcinogenic risks, particularly for children (HI = 181.34), and carcinogenic risk from Cd exposure in children (CR = 6.25 x 10(-4)) exceeded the acceptable threshold recommended by the USEPA.
This paper aims to record the hydromorphological changes of meandering sections of the Vardar and Bregalnica rivers in North Macedonia, using GIS. Data for 59 years (from 1964 to 2023) for the meandering of the Bregalnica and the most prominent meandering section of the Vardar River were downloaded and processed. The following planimetric characteristics have been calculated in the paper, such as the width of the river channel, the sinusoidality of the river channel, the radius of curvature, the width of the meandering, the slope of the said flow, and the migration of the river bed The results indicate that Bregalnica River is characterized by a small meandering, while selected meander section of Vardar River, the changes are significant. In Bregalnica section, the sinusoidality varies from 2.078 to 2.168, while in the Vardar River section, the sinusoidality varies from 1.128 to 1.287. Also, changes have been observed in the radius of curvature, where for Bregalnica section, is varied from 266 m to 517 m, and from 387 m to 1269 m for the Vardar River section. Changes also differ in the given periods of research for both selected sections, with the hydromorphological changes over time.
The Ramsar Convention recognizes the Macta marshes as a wetland of international importance due to their high biological diversity. However, the existence of plastic debris poses a risk to this environment. This study is the first in Algeria to investigate the abundance, physical and chemical identification of microplastics (MPs) in sediments and surface water of the Macta marshes. MPs were extracted using organic matter removal with 30% H2O2 and density separation with ZnCl2. We examined the physical characteristics (shapes and colors) of MPs under a stereomicroscope, the size was measured using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and their polymer types were identified using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The average abundance of MPs was 253.54 +/- 273.84 MPs/kg in sediments and 3.82 +/- 3.14 MPs/L in surface water. Observation under the stereomicroscope revealed four MPs shapes: fibers, fragments, pellets, and films. Fibers are dominant in both sediments (80.73%) and surface water (74.41%). Red (37.27%) > black (21.52%) > transparent (15.33%) particles were the most frequent colors in sediments, whereas transparent (27.91%) > red (23.84%) > black (18.60%) dominated in surface water. SEM analysis indicated a predominance of small-sized MPs, while FTIR identified the presence of several polymer types, including HDPE (High Density Polyethylene), PET (Polyethylene (Acrylonitrile-Styrene-Acrylate), and PAN (Polyacrylonitrile). In the study area, domestic, industrial, marine, and recreational activities are the main sources of microplastic contamination in the Macta marshes. This pollution can be reduced through improved waste management, wastewater treatment, industrial regulation, and public awareness.
Soil and groundwater contamination by petroleum substances is a long-standing problem in both developing and developed countries. One of the key prerequisites for determining the extent and scope of contamination is the accurate identification of the contaminant. Based on long-term practice, gas chromatography is considered the most representative method for petroleum substances. However, this analytical method also has its pitfalls. The contamination may contain components that are incorrectly identified by the analysis as petroleum hydrocarbons, even though they are polar substances. These can be removed in the analytical process using silica gel cleanup (SGC). The article presents the results of analyses of groundwater samples from three sites contaminated with petroleum substances. The analyses were performed on native samples as well as after SGC. Differences in contamination concentrations and chromatographic records are discussed. The results demonstrated the possibility of using the SGC process to identify the composition of contamination. Specific differences in the records were mainly observed in samples with lower concentrations of contamination (up to approximately 1,000 & micro;g L-1).
The NASA Prediction of Worldwide Energy Resources (POWER) system delivers globally consistent, satellite-based climate and solar data that support applications in renewable energy, agriculture, and hydrology. Its open access and robust processing chain have made it a widely used source of long-term environmental information for both scientists and decision-makers. This study evaluates NASA POWER precipitation estimates against observations from 23 meteorological stations across Tunisia for the period 1981-2023. The network covers sites located in humid, semi-arid, and Saharan climate regimes. The analysis included regression performed by station and by month. Descriptive statistics were also used to describe the main features of rainfall variability. This framework allowed the assessment of both average performance and the ability of the product to reproduce interannual and spatial variability. Results show that NASA POWER reproduces the large-scale spatial pattern of mean annual rainfall well, but systematically underestimates orographic extremes and markedly dampens variability, especially in summer. The relationship between NASA POWER and observed precipitation is strongest in autumn and spring (R2 > 0.75), when rainfall is primarily driven by large-scale synoptic systems. In contrast, performance degrades sharply in August (R2 < 0.30 at central and southern stations), reflecting the product's limited capacity to capture localized convective events. The coefficient of variation is consistently underestimated throughout the country, indicating a structural mismatch between the product's coarse spatial resolution (about 50 km) and the fine-scale characteristics of Mediterranean rainfall. These shortcomings substantially constrain the direct use of NASA POWER for hydrological and agricultural applications in water-stressed regions without local bias correction.
On 8 July 2015, a violent tornado rated EF4 affected the Veneto region of northeastern Italy, causing severe impacts in a densely populated and culturally significant area. The event was officially documented in the European Severe Weather Database (ESWD) and represents one of the strongest tornadoes reliably recorded in the Mediterranean region. This study presents an integrated synoptic-to-local reanalysis of the atmospheric conditions associated with this event, combining reanalysis data, radiosonde observations, Doppler radar products, and satellite imagery. Results show that the tornado developed within a supercell thunderstorm embedded in a dynamically favorable environment characterized by strong vertical wind shear, pronounced atmospheric instability, and upper-level forcing associated with an approaching trough and jet-stream divergence. Mesoscale processes, including low-level convergence and orographic modulation by the Alpine barrier, played a key role in storm organization and intensification. Radar observations revealed classic supercell signatures, including a persistent mesocyclone and hook-shaped reflectivity, while satellite products indicated strong and sustained updrafts during the storm's mature phase. The findings demonstrate that, although rare, the Mediterranean environment can support intense tornadic supercells when synoptic forcing, mesoscale dynamics, and thermodynamic instability coincide. This case study contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of tornado-producing environments in southern Europe and provides insights relevant for regional hazard assessment, early-warning strategies, and risk awareness in areas with complex topography and high societal exposure.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exhibit similar environmental behavior, as both classes of compounds are persistent, hydrophobic, and tend to accumulate in soils, sediments, and biota. The present study aims to determine whether, and to what extent, these compounds contribute to soil contamination as a result of combustion processes such as waste incineration, landfill fires, petroleum product combustion, vegetation burning, and domestic burning activities. For this purpose, 33 soil samples were collected and the concentration of PCBs and PAHs were quantified by gas chromatography and ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography, respectively. Regarding PCBs, 52% of the analyzed samples exhibited concentrations within the normal range, while the remaining samples exceeded the upper limit of normal values but remained below the alert threshold. The highest PCB concentration (0.147 mg/kg) was detected in soil collected from the Vidra landfill area. Regarding PAHs, 27.3% of the samples showed concentrations within normal limits, whereas the rest exceeded normal values but remained below the alert threshold of 7.5 mg/kg. The highest PAH level (4.636 mg/kg) was recorded in soil samples collected from the vicinity of the steel plant in T & acirc;rgoviste. Overall, the study demonstrates that combustion processes represent notable sources of soil contamination by persistent organic pollutants.
The spatial distribution of risk elements and the impacts of acidification on mountain soils affected by anthropogenic emissions are poorly understood due to the limited number of corresponding case studies. This work examines the distribution of Ca, Mn, and Zn in topsoils of the mountain terrains of the Beskids along the eastern part of the Czech-Polish state border, which have been locally impacted by emissions of acid gases and dust from metallurgy in the 20th century. Samples of the top stratum of mineral soil horizons, rock fragments, and birch leaves were collected from 140 sites within an approximately 12 x 12 km area in mountain ridges and slopes, primarily covered by forests. Concentrations of Mn and Zn in soils and leaves were subjected to interelement correlations and spatial distribution analyses. Soil Mn and Zn concentrations were corrected using Fe as a lithogenic reference element to correct a part of natural geochemical variability of the bedrock. While topsoil Mn and Zn concentrations directly reflect contamination, the uptake of Mn and Zn by birch was also enhanced by low soil Ca levels. The probabilistic nature of the factors controlling soil contamination and the topographically-driven distribution of emission loads necessitate the use of less conventional data-mining tools. The variable probability that emission contamination has been really recorded in individual environmental samples requires the application of robust regression, quantile statistics, and/or rational data post-stratification. Visual examination of geochemical maps with quantile-classified layers and geographically weighted regression (GWR) proves advantageous in data mining, because conventional hotspot analysis using geostatistics is weakened by considerable spatial noise. Point contamination of the Beskid soils is maximal on slopes exposed to T & rcaron;inec at a distance of approximately 15 km and at elevations between 600 and 700 m a.s.l. The spatial heterogeneity of soil Mn and Zn concentrations arises from uneven emission scavenging depending on landscape topography, horizontal emission deposition, and the translocation of Ca and Mn ions downslopes.
The aim of this study is to assess pluvial flood hazard in the Nitra River Basin, which is located in western Slovakia. Four physical-geographical indicators and land use/land cover were processed using geographic information systems (GIS) and high-resolution spatial data. Specifically, these indicators include morphometric properties of terrain (topographic wetness index, sediment transport index, and curvature), infiltration potential of soils (soil texture), lithological conditions, and land use/land cover. The original indicators were processed to 1 m spatial resolution to match the airborne laser scanned (LiDAR) DEM used. Subsequently, categorical indicators were reclassified based on the potential of individual indicator classes for pluvial flooding while the quantitative indicators were rescaled to continuous scale from 1 to 5. The reclassified/rescaled indicators were equally weighted and linearly combined in order to calculate the pluvial flood hazard index (PFHI), which allows spatial distribution of the different flood hazard classes in the Nitra River Basin. Based on the resulting map of PFHI, the basin was divided into five hazard classes with the following share on the basin area: very high (2.58%), high (31.73%), moderate (39.14%), low (18.9%), and very low (7.89%). The results can be useful for Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment in Slovakia, as pluvial flooding has evolved of the same importance as fluvial floods.
This study aims to investigate the distribution of soil erosion and examine its association with slope and land-use types in the Song Cong basin, Thai Nguyen Province, Vietnam. The GIS-based RUSLE model was utilized to estimate the amount of soil loss and ANOVA was used to test whether the differences among slope classes and land use types were significant. The findings showed that the soil erosion value increased dramatically with slope steepness, which suggested that topography was highly positively related to erosion risk. The two-way ANOVA indicates that slope and land-use types had a significant effect on erosion (p < 0.001) with a significant interaction between them. These results could provide technical support for land-use planning and soil conservation measures, which advocate vegetation recovery on hillslopes and slope dependent management to mitigate risk of soil erosion and promote sustainable watershed development.
The evaluation of active tectonics in a crystallophyllian basement context is of scientific interest because these terrains record polyphase deformations and exhibit some of the most complex structures that can be observed. In Grande Kabylie, an integral part of the internal domain of the Maghrebides chain, the initial structural anisotropy of the basement formations (schistosity and foliation) is intersected by other discontinuities of tectonics origin, and their geometry is strongly affected by the regional geological heritage. Neotectonics are constantly modifying the relief of the terrain, causing changes in the organization and hierarchy of the hydrographic network and in the geomorphological evolution of the region. The tectonics processes resulting from the convergence of the African and Eurasian plates generate active deformations causing variable uplifts in the relief. The crystallophyllian formations in the study area are also exposed to intense weathering and natural hazards (landslides and floods). We therefore present a new approach to assessing active tectonics in anisotropic metamorphic terrain. It consists of correlating alterites (alloterites and isalterites) and the relative tectonic activity index (Iat) derived from geomorphic indices, namely the basin shape index (Bs), the hypsometric integral (Hi), the stream length gradient (SL), the mountain front sinuosity (Smf), the basin asymmetry factor (Af) and the valley floor width to valley height ratio (Vf). The results obtained from the multi-criteria analysis of these indices using GIS and the correlation with alterites and field surveys corroborate the values of the relative tectonic activity index (Iat) obtained, thus validating the usefulness of the method as a tool for assessing neotectonics.
Climate, environmental, and hydrological changes are an increasing concern, as they affect both ecosystems and human well-being. By studying past changes, we can better understand the current impacts and consequences of current transformations and take informed action regarding the future. In this study, we analyzed a peat sequence from Taul Fara Fund (Padurenii-Top area - Transylvanian Basin) using abiotic methods (lithology, radiocarbon dating, loss on ignition, magnetic susceptibility) and biotic methods (testate amoebae, microscopic charcoal particles) to reconstruct the evolution of the peatland and the environmental and hydrological changes that occurred over the last millennium. We identified drier periods between AD 1000-1150, AD 1400-1650, and AD 1850-1950, and wetter periods between AD 900-1000, AD 1150-1400, AD 1650- 1850, and from AD 1950 to the present. Comparing our results with other studies from Romania, we found that they are relatively consistent, with local conditions at Padurenii-Top closely matching regional trends.
Urban floods are among the most threatening natural hazards to Moroccan cities, particularly in light of rapid urban expansion that often disregards the original courses of rivers and streams. This situation is compounded by inadequate stormwater drainage infrastructure, which is unable to cope with extreme climatic events. In this context, the present study assesses urban flood risks in the city of Agadir (lower Souss Valley), a city that remains continuously exposed to recurrent flood hazards. The HEC-RAS(5.0.4) model, specialized in two-dimensional hydraulic modeling, was employed to simulate flood-prone areas and flow velocities during flood events. To perform a spatial cartographic analysis, the modeling results were integrated into a Geographic Information System (ArcGIS 10.01) using the Arc Hydro extension, in order to delineate natural watercourses and identify high-risk zones within the urban fabric. The results revealed a concentration of risks in low-lying neighborhoods such as Hay Al Amal, Tamersit, Azrou, Al Qods, Derb Tissir, and Mohammed V Avenue. The study emphasizes the need to incorporate digital modeling outputs into future urban planning documents and to develop comprehensive management plans aimed at improving stormwater drainage networks and protecting residential and economic infrastructures. Beyond its local context, the research demonstrates the scientific relevance of coupling hydraulic models with GIS for flood risk assessment in North African cities, offering insights that can guide both policy design and climate risk management strategies
The study presents the results of hydrogeological parameter measurements in the near-surface soil layer at locations within the Steinvik catchment. Due to the geographical setting, groundwater appears during the polar summer, when the so-called active layer thaws, thereby activating subsurface flow. At 26 selected sites, vertical hydraulic conductivity (kz) was measured using the Porchet method. Additionally, at several locations, sieve-based grain-size analysis was performed at various depths at the piezometer installation sites. This research made it possible to assess the hydraulic conductivity (k) of weathered rocks. The obtained values, ranging from 0.005 to 131 m/d, reflect a wide spectrum of permeability - from very low in clay-rich materials to very high in coarse gravel or rock debris. In the coastal plain zone, tracer measurements of water flow velocity in the active layer, conducted along two sections, revealed an exceptionally high hydraulic conductivity of 753 m/d. These results enabled the characterization of potential water flow within the active layer of the Steinvik catchment.
