MODIS-Terra for Long-Term Environmental Monitoring: Insights into Drought Dynamics in Morocco

Abstract. Effective drought monitoring is fundamental in the context of climate change, especially in regions where agriculture and urban systems are highly vulnerable. This study evaluates drought trends in Morocco's Rabat-Salé-Kénitra and Casablanca-Settat regions using MODIS-Terra satellite data spanning 2003 to 2023. The study analyzes Evapotranspiration (ET), Leaf Area Index (LAI), and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to understand patterns of water stress, vegetation dynamics, and ecosystem health. MODIS products MOD16A2, MOD15A2, and MOD13A3 were used to derive ET, LAI, and NDVI, respectively. The analysis reveals an upward trend in ET, a fluctuating LAI, and a decline in NDVI, indicative of increasing drought stress. These findings un- derscore the urgency of adaptive water resource management and sustainable land-use strategies to bolster ecosystem resilience in Morocco’s coastal urban zones.