Contenu du sommaire

Abstract. — Situated in the center of the corsican mountains, next to Castagniccia, both the cantons of Bozio and Mercurio are strinking examples of the process of desertification. An analysis of the demographic structures and rural activities demonstrates the widespread occurence of desertification, a phenomenon which is typically found in the French mediterranean mountains.

Summary. — Although aridity prevails, the Atlas moutains of Morocco get plenty of snow during the rainy season. Snowfall is rather unevenly distributed both in time and space, but tends to favour the northern side of the range. Snowcover is exposed to severe thermo- climatic influences, of which sun and wind are the strongest. Although late snow lies well into summer, permanent patches are infrequent. Actual duration of snowcover has dramatic repercussions on the local way of life: herds, cultivation, supply and communication.