Suchergebnisse

Morocco's energy system is highly dependent on external energy markets. According to the Ministry Energy, Mines and Sustainable Development today more than 93 % of energy resources are imported to Morocco. In 2008 the Moroccan Government has developed a National Energy Strategy, and one of its priority areas is to increase the share of renewable technologies in the country's energy sector. Morocco is rich in solar energy resources. Studies on the assessment of the Morocco's solar energy potential indicate, among other benefits, low additional costs when using solar installations compared to losses associated with the solution of future climate problems and lack of resources. The plan envisages the commissioning of solar power plants in Ouarzazate, Ain Ben Mathar, Boujdour, Tarfaya and Laayoune by 2020. The aim of this research is determination of the characteristics of the distribution of Surface Downwelling Shortwave Radiation in the area of the solar power Boujdour, Tarfaya and Laayoune, located in the Laayoune − Sakia El Hamra region in 2021−2050. The data from regional climate modeling with high spatial resolution of the CORDEX-Africa project are used in this research. The RCM modeling is carried out for the region of Africa, in a rectangular coordinate system with a spatial resolution of ~ 44 km. Then, from the modeling data, values are highlighted for the territory of Laayoune − Sakia El Hamra region. Model calculation is performed taking into account the greenhouse gas concentration trajectory of RCP 4.5 calculated using 11 regional climate models. As a result of the simulation for the period 2021−2050, average monthly values of the Surface Downwelling Shortwave Radiation "RSDS" (W/m2) are derived, on the basis of which the mean values for the period of time are calculated. For more detailed information, average monthly total cloud cover values "TC" (%) for the period under study are calculated. Analysis of the change in RSDS in 2021–2050 relative to the recent climatic period is shown that in the Laayoune − Sakia El Hamra region we can expect an increase or retention of its values. The annual run of the RSDS has one maximum in June and one minimum in December. In the future, the distribution of RSDS in the Laayoune − Sakia El Hamra region will have a significant impact on proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, where an increased amount of total cloud cover significantly reduces the amount of incoming radiation. In the location of solar power plants in the near future, the current RSDS values are expected to be maintained, which creates favorable conditions for the further development of the renewable energy industry in this area and increasing its productivity.

This article shares the experiences, observations, and discussions that occurred during the completing of an ecosystem services (ES) indicator framework to be used at European Union (EU) and Member States' level. The experience base was drawn from 3 European research projects and 14 associated case study sites that include 13 transitional-water bodies (specifically 8 coastal lagoons, 4 riverine estuaries, and 1 fjord) and 1 coastal-water ecosystem. The ES pertinent to each case study site were identified along with indicators of these ES and data sources that could be used for mapping. During the process, several questions and uncertainties arose, followed by discussion, leading to these main lessons learned: 1) ES identification: Some ES that do not seem important at the European scale emerge as relevant at regional or local scales; 2) ES indicators: When direct indicators are not available, proxies for indicators (indirect indicators) might be used, including combined data on monitoring requirements imposed by EU legislation and international agreements; 3) ES mapping: Boundaries and appropriate data spatial resolution must be established because ES can be mapped at different temporal and spatial scales. We also acknowledge that mapping and assessment of ES supports the dialogue between human well-being and ecological status. From an evidence-based marine planning-process point of view, mapping and assessment of marine ES are of paramount importance to sustainable use of marine natural capital and to halt the loss of marine biodiversity. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2016;12:726-734. © 2016 SETAC.

The natural conservation of coastal lagoons is important not only for their ecological importance, but also because of the valuable ecosystem services they provide for human welfare and wellbeing. Coastal lagoons are shallow semi-enclosed systems that support important habitats such as wetlands, mangroves, salt-marshes and seagrass meadows, as well as a rich biodiversity. Coastal lagoons are also complex social-ecological systems with ecosystem services that provide livelihoods, wellbeing and welfare to humans. This study assessed, quantified and valued the ecosystem services of 32 coastal lagoons. The main findings of the study are: (i) the definitions of ecosystem services are still not generally accepted; (ii) the quantification of ecosystem services is made in many different ways, using different units; (iii) the evaluation in monetary terms of some ecosystem service is problematic, often relying on non-monetary evaluation methods; (iv) when ecosystem services are valued in monetary terms, this may represent very different human benefits; and, (v) different aspects of climate change, including increasing temperature, sea-level rise and changes in rainfall patterns threaten the valuable ecosystem services of coastal lagoons. ; DEVOTES project, from the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration [308392]; networks and communities of Eurolag; Future Earth Coasts; SCOR; Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT) Investigador Programme [IF/00331/2013]; Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia [UID/MAR/04292/2013]; CESAM by FCT/MEC national funds (PIDDAC) [UID/AMB/50017/2013 - POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007638]; FEDER; European Commission, under the 7th Framework Programme through the collaborative research project LAGOONS [283157]; FCT [SFRH/BPD/107823/2015, SFRH/BPD/91494/2012]