Application of remote sensing, GIS, thermal anomalies and piezometric data in detecting potential geothermal zones, Essaouira basin (southwest Morocco)

Abstract

The Essaouira basin, situated in the western High Atlas Mountains in southwestern Morocco, boasts significant geothermal potential which remains largely unexplored. While the area is promising, the precise geothermal zones have not yet been mapped and the available resources remain poorly assessed. This study takes an integrated geospatial approach, combining remote sensing, GIS, piezometric data and fuzzy logic, in order to identify and delineate promising geothermal zones. Three key parameters were considered: areas of high permeability (derived from structural lineaments mapped from Landsat 8 PCA1 and the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission Digital Elevation Model (SRTM DEM)), surface temperature anomalies (LST) extracted from nine Landsat 8 TIRS scenes processed via Google Earth Engine, and low-to-medium piezometric gradients determined from field measurements. Superimposing these datasets revealed three major target areas: one near Bouabout, one near Bouzemmour, and one in the south-west between Aqesri, Tamri, and Ain Skhouna. Field validation confirmed the consistency of the results. Beyond identifying potential sites, this study proposes a robust, transferable methodology for geothermal prospecting in basins with complex structures. This contributes to sustainable energy planning in Morocco and similar geotectonic contexts.