Extreme heat in several areas in Morocco… Why?

Agadir24

The summer of 2024, which is about to end, was marked by intense heat in several regions of Morocco, where temperatures reached record levels, similar to global trends in the phenomenon of global warming.

Thus, the month of July and a large part of the month of August witnessed long and successive heat waves, characterized by an increase in the frequency and intensity of hot periods across the Kingdom.

Specialists and experts agree that these heat waves are directly or partially linked to the climate changes that the world has been witnessing for several years, especially to the phenomenon of global warming linked to greenhouse gas emissions, and the resulting severe heat waves that are about to become a new norm.

In this regard, Kenza Khamsi, head of the Climate and Climate Change Department at the General Directorate of Meteorology, explained in an interview with the Maghreb Arab Press Agency that “climate models predict an increase in average temperatures and an increase in extreme weather phenomena, which indicates that severe heat waves may become an increasingly regular feature.”

July 2024 is the second hottest month on record worldwide, according to the European Copernicus Meteorological Service, while the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimates that 2024 could be 77 percent the hottest year on record.

This observation is confirmed by the extreme temperatures recorded during the successive heat waves recorded this summer, which affected several cities and destinations across the Kingdom.

Thus, the temperature reached 48.3 degrees in Kasbah Tadla, 47.7 degrees in Beni Mellal, and 47.6 degrees in Marrakech, on July 23. Chefchaouen also set a new record, reaching 43.4 degrees on July 19, while Ifrane, known for its mild summers, recorded 37.8 degrees Celsius on July 23.

Midelt also recorded a record of 40.7 degrees Celsius on July 11, surpassing the previous record set in July 1945, according to data from the General Directorate of Meteorology.

The first half of August 2024 also witnessed high temperatures in several regions, peaking at 46 degrees Celsius in Marrakech, 41 degrees in Oujda, 42 degrees in Fez, and 45 degrees in Smara.

If these heat waves recorded in Morocco are partly due to the “Sharki” phenomenon, a natural phenomenon that carries hot air masses from the desert, it is not wrong to say that they also fall within the context of the repercussions of global warming observed in recent years, according to Ms. Al-Khamsi.

Indeed, over the past four decades, average annual temperatures in Morocco have shown an upward trend, reaching +1.8 degrees Celsius, according to the Moroccan climate expert, who noted that heat waves have become more frequent and intense than in the past.

For his part, Jamal Alibou, a climate change expert and research professor at the Hassan II School of Public Works, explained that heat waves, which are climatic phenomena characterized by long periods of abnormally high temperatures, have become “more frequent, more intense and longer lasting” due to climate change.

For example, the summer of 2023 saw some of the most intense heat waves ever recorded in Morocco, with a new national record of 50.4 degrees, recorded in Agadir on August 10, 2023.

Long heat waves are also exacerbated by atmospheric phenomena, such as persistent high-pressure systems that trap hot air and prevent the movement of cold weather systems.

Scientists also point the finger at urbanization, as asphalt surfaces in urban areas absorb and retain more heat, exacerbating the impact of urban heat, especially at night. Mr. Alibou, who teaches in the Department of Water, Environment and Climate, pointed out that heat waves also affect water resources, increasing the evaporation of water reserves, rivers and lakes, reducing the water reserves available for irrigation, drinking water supply and other uses. As a result, the agricultural sector is particularly affected by these climate changes.

The expert noted that “recent heat waves have affected agriculture by increasing water stress on crops, reducing soil fertility and increasing the spread of plant pests and diseases, which has exacerbated agricultural losses.”

According to him, excessive temperatures can also reduce the productivity of heat-sensitive crops, such as wheat, maize and rice, leading to lower yields.