1,721,134 research outputs found
Water Balance Trends along Climatic Variations in the Mediterranean Basin over the Past Decades
No full textThe heterogeneous ecosystems in the Mediterranean Basin (MB) are becoming sensitive to water stress. To investigate the climatic stress, a water budget study was conducted over the basin using TerraClimate simulations for a long temporal range (1990-2020). According to the budget accounting, forested regions received the highest precipitation (P) on average compared to other land use types (annual mean similar to approximate to 633 mm yr(-1)), and even then, they were in a water deficit state (-0.42 mm yr(-1)). Tree plantations in North Africa (Libya and Morocco) were also in a water deficit state; however, their average P was very low (approximate to 12 mm yr(-1)) compared to that of northern parts of the MB, and the average Actual Evapotranspiration (AET) was approximate to 15 mm yr(-1). Also, the water balance in other land use systems (rain-fed, irrigated croplands, and rangelands) was either negative or near zero. As a whole, the basin's average annual P was approximate to 538 mm yr(-1), the annual average AET was approximate to 415 mm yr(-1), and the runoff (Q) was equivalent to 123 mm yr(-1), which shows a strong influence of ET over the region. Since runoff was negligible in most dry areas, the AET's large contribution was notable in the North African base of the Atlas Mountains including the Nile delta region. This indicates that precipitation and evaporation are the principal mechanisms of the water balance in the MB. The result shows strong climate variability over Southern Europe, Turkey, and the western Balkans in the recent years, affecting the AET and making their land use systems more vulnerable to water stress. This benchmark study signifies the consistent need for water storage in the Mediterranean vegetation systems of the basin. It also indicates two distinct climate clusters for water balance modeling
A holistic framework towards developing a climate-smart agri-food system in the Middle East and North Africa: a regional dialogue and synthesis
No full textAgriculture and agri-food systems of the highly vulnerable Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region needs a radical transformation under a changing climate. Based on a two-year effort, initially we developed a mega hypothesis on how to achieve climate-smart agri-food transformation in the region. In the study, we hypothesized that “Climate-Smart Lifts” implemented in the enabling environments can rapidly facilitate agri-food transformation in the region. In order to gather the stakeholders’ perception about this, we organized a collective conversation among ~400 stakeholders that represent various scales and sectors within the agriculture sector in MENA. These “listening cum learning consultations” were conducted through a survey followed by a series of webinars. The webinar discussions were strategically guided based on our hypothesis, the responses from the surveys and the regional needs. These discussions provided a forum to bring-out the stakeholders’ perspective on what new knowledge, partnerships, instruments and projects were needed in the MENA. The deliberation focused on the opportunities of public–private partnerships focusing in all the four major agroecosystems in MENA (irrigated, rainfed, rangelands, and deserts). In result, we developed an effective framework for strategic resource mobilization in the region, keeping in view the strong regional needs for climate actions and the requisite long-term commitments for the SDGs implementatio
E-Extension and Digital Augmentation of the Egyptian Agricultural Sector
No full textA major challenge is how to create authentic information and innovations for agricultural extension in the digital age. It can be challenging for extension agents and agriculture extension workers to provide farmers with the knowledge and innovations they need given the limited resources available. Many development projects that were planned outside of the village turned out to be unfamiliar with its issues and needs, making them less effective in resolving the farmers' agricultural concerns, particularly those related to agricultural operations. Due to the high percentage of illiteracy among farmers and the declining number of extension officers in Egypt, most farmers do not receive agricultural advice, which lowers crop yields. Therefore, even if e-extension was the keystone to enabling extension workers and farmers to distribute information to the farmers through voice messages and other means, the current situation depends on closing the knowledge gap among end users (farmers). The use of participatory action research in this study was focused on the agricultural community. By utilizing the impact of social media and cyber extensions, new information was disclosed on how ready decision makers, extension workers, and farmers were to be employed for e-extension. One option to adapt to the fall in the number of extension workers is to use cyber extensions or other digital information media, together with additional supporting media that can help the employees disseminate information and carry out their jobs. This study also highlighted the kinds of digital communications, platforms, and content that farmers actually required in order for the new normal period to be more beneficial to agricultural productivity. The outcome was positive because it showed that extension agents had the tools they needed to teach farmers in the new normal era and that they were prepared for the digital era. Farmers require assistance with their farming operations as well as knowledge of how to control weeds, plant diseases, and pests. The study also identified the most efficient electronic agricultural extension methods that farmers will favor going forward. These findings will be the main guiding principle for future work in Egypt on electronic agricultural extension
Understanding Changes in the Hydrometeorological Conditions towards Climate-Resilient Agricultural Interventions in Ethiopia
No full textClimate resilient agriculture (CRA) is very important to achieve long-term improvement in productivity and farm incomes under climate uncertainty. The present study focuses on investigating the plausible changes in the hydrometeorological conditions using big-data analysis techniques in the study of Ethiopia. The original contribution of this work envisages the importance of the CRA system in water-scarce areas for sustainable agriculture planning and management under changing climatic conditions. In the present research, a TerraClimate model was the basis for weather (precipitation and temperature) and hydrological data (runoff, actual evapotranspiration, potential evapotranspiration, vapor pressure deficit and climate water deficit); these data were used to determine the spatial distribution of the standardized anomaly index (SAI) and the slope of the linear regression for long-term (1958–2020) trend analysis. Future climate trend analysis (2021–2100) has been performed through the CMIP6 (EC-Earth3) shared socio-economic pathway (SSP 2) 4.5 dataset. Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) with CSR and JPL data were utilized for the generation of water storage heat maps from 2002 to 2021. The results show that the average annual rainfall data for over 62 years was found to be 778.42 mm and the standard deviation is 81.53 mm. The results also show that the western part of the study area has the highest temperature trend, which diminishes as one moves eastward; the minimum temperature trend has been found in the western part of the study area. It was found that the equivalent water thickness (EWT) range of both CSR and JPL products was −15 to 40 cm. These results can help local climate-resilient development planning and enhance coordination with other institutions to access and manage climate finance
Water, agriculture, and climate: a study of Moroccan agricultural water management policy
No full textMorocco is grappling with the severe effects of climate change, causing droughts and decreasing annual precipitation. Agriculture, a significant sector of the economy and livelihood for a significant portion of the population, is facing the brunt of this, necessitating the adoption of water-efficient technologies. This paper examines agricultural water management practices in Morocco and the state policies, such as Law 10-95, the Green Morocco Plan, and the National Program for Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation. The Green Morocco Plan successfully promoted water-efficient techniques like drip irrigation, but inadvertently increased water intensity, exacerbating the scarcity. The paper suggests a reorientation of Morocco's agricultural strategy towards self-sufficiency in traditional crops and a sustainable approach to water resource management. It also calls for the involvement of the greater community, education, and women's integration in the agricultural workforce to build a more resilient population. The analysis concludes with recommendations for policy adjustments that balance economic growth with environmental sustainability, suggesting a shift towards renewable energy and alternative water sources like desalination, albeit with caution due to associated environmental and economic costs
Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) Protocols Used in Carbon Trading Applied to Dryland Nations in the Global South for Climate Change Mitigation
No full textClimate change mitigation involves carbon sequestration that can be supported by Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCMs) and counted as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in national climate change strategies. Integrating these allows for the determination of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and carbon sequestration at the national level. The case for Egypt and other nontropical dryland nations is made in this systematic review article through consideration of monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) protocol challenges and initiatives. Improvements are indicated based on the literature, encompassing the academic literature as well as organizational reports and governmental policy documents. Agricultural MRV protocols depending on soil organic carbon (SOC) measurements are specifically considered, delineating the challenges and barriers for SOC MRV methods. Considering the impacts of climate zones affecting soils and providing as much standardization as possible for MRV protocols will improve the accuracy and generalizability of data. Measurements in carbon sequestration monitoring based on SOC MRV protocols need to be informed by soil experts alongside climatologists and policymakers in a multidisciplinary approach
Using Remote Sensing Data in the Cloud to Monitor Climate Change in Senegal Regions Based on Seasonal Variables from 2000 to 2020. An Opportunity to Sustainable Policies
No full textSatellite remote sensing offers an alternative method to assess the impact of climate change in high-risk regions with limited resources. Senegal, an African country, is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change. This study aims to find an alternative way to monitor and adapt to climate change. By evaluating correlations between vegetation, using NDVI, land surface temperature (LST), mean temperature, and precipitation from remote sensing data collected over the last 20 years (2000 to 2020) through Google Earth Engine, we have discovered a high negative correlation between NDVI and LST, a high positive correlation between NDVI and precipitation, and the lowest correlation between NDVI and mean temperature. These findings have practical implications, helping us understand the limitations and adaptations required for climate-risk countries. They can guide decisions and policies in the climate change sector, making them more relevant and applicable
Assessing the effectiveness of low-enthalpy geothermal energy for greenhouse temperature regulation towards enhancing desert agriculture
No full textThis study investigates the viability and potential of the Earth-Air Heat Exchanger (EAHE) lowenthalpy geothermal system for greenhouse climate control in arid regions, specifically addressing the prevalent challenge of limited meteorological data. Our approach integrates ERA5-Land data with a subsurface soil temperature model, enabling accurate EAHE design and performance prediction in data-scarce environments like Bahariya Oasis, Egypt. The research confirmed the significant thermal stability of the subsurface soil, establishing its potential as a consistent heat source/sink. Initial simulations highlighted effective winter heating but revealed a need for enhanced summer cooling. We demonstrated that optimizing the EAHE system by increasing airflow successfully maintained greenhouse temperatures within near-optimal ranges (below 35 ◦C in summer, above 20 ◦C in winter) throughout the year. This achievement validates EAHE’s effectiveness for dual heating and cooling in extreme climates. This work provides a robust, data-driven methodology for designing and implementing sustainable, climate-controlled greenhouses in challenging arid zones
Assessing climate and land use changes in Morocco (2001–2023): from a geospatial and farmers’ perspective
No full textThis study examines climate variability and land use dynamics in Morocco from 2001 to 2023 by integrating satellite-derived indicators with farmers’ reported climate risk perceptions. Using MODIS and ERA5-Land datasets within the Google Earth Engine platform, we analyzed trends in cropland extent, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), normalized difference water index (NDWI), land surface temperature (LST), air temperature, and precipitation. Findings reveal cropland areas increased from 10% in 2001 to 13.5% in 2010, but declined to 10% by 2023, coinciding with a significant expansion of barren land. Slope analysis revealed moderate to extreme warming trends (LST slope up to + 0.0714 °C/year; air temperature slope > + 0.05 °C/year) and reductions in precipitation (down to − 59.34 mm/year), with over 60% of agricultural zones showing NDVI and NDWI decline and rainfall variability exceeding 100% in the coefficient of variation (CV). It contrasts with the georeferenced household survey of 3,350 farmers, where the farmers’ opinion highlights droughts and heatwaves as the predominant climate risks. Moreover, the survey reported adaptation strategies, which include the adoption of drought-resistant varieties, improved irrigation practices, and altered sowing dates. Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN) revealed spatial correspondence between perceived risks and environmental trends. These findings underscore the need for targeted, climate-smart interventions and ecosystem-based practices to strengthen agricultural resilience in Morocco’s most vulnerable regions
Measuring What Matters: Advancing Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Accounting in Egypt
No full textAgriculture is one of the most climate-sensitive sectors in Egypt and is central to national food security, employment, and economic stability. Climate change is already affecting agricultural systems through shifts in cropping seasons, increased frequency and intensity of extreme events such as heat stress, sand and dust storms, flooding, and through sea-level rise and saltwater intrusion in coastal zones. These impacts are exacerbated by water scarcity, groundwater over-abstraction, and ecosystem degradation. Accordingly, Egypt’s National Climate Change Strategy 2050 and its Updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) identify agriculture, irrigation, and water resources as priority sectors for adaptation and resilience building.
Agriculture is also a significant source of national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. National inventories submitted to the UNFCCC estimate that agriculture and AFOLU accounted for approximately 15–16% of Egypt’s total GHG emissions in 2005 and 2015, driven primarily by nitrous oxide (N₂O) and methane (CH₄) from soils and irrigated systems. However, most estimates rely on IPCC default emission factors due to the absence of country-specific data, introducing substantial uncertainty under Egypt’s arid, irrigated conditions.
Country-specific emission factors are essential to improve inventory accuracy, support credible monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV), and guide effective mitigation planning. Field-based GHG measurements provide the empirical foundation for deriving these factors, understanding key emission drivers, validating models for national scaling, and assessing the effectiveness of climate-smart agricultural practices. A phased national measurement strategy; combining standardized protocols, representative field campaigns, and institutional integration into MRV systems; will enable Egypt to reduce uncertainty, strengthen policy decisions, and advance integrated adaptation and mitigation in the agricultural sector
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