Publications des scientifiques de l'IRD

Mahé Gil, Lienou G., Descroix Luc, Bamba F., Paturel Jean-Emmanuel, Laraque Alain, Meddi M., Habaieb H., Adeaga O., Dieulin Claudine, Kotti F. C., Khomsi K. (2013). The rivers of Africa : witness of climate change and human impact on the environment. Hydrological Processes, 27 (15), p. 2105-2114. ISSN 0885-6087.

Titre du document
The rivers of Africa : witness of climate change and human impact on the environment
Année de publication
2013
Type de document
Article référencé dans le Web of Science WOS:000325218100002
Auteurs
Mahé Gil, Lienou G., Descroix Luc, Bamba F., Paturel Jean-Emmanuel, Laraque Alain, Meddi M., Habaieb H., Adeaga O., Dieulin Claudine, Kotti F. C., Khomsi K.
Source
Hydrological Processes, 2013, 27 (15), p. 2105-2114 ISSN 0885-6087
In this paper, we study the impact of climate change on river regimes in several parts of Africa, and we look at the most probable causes of these changes either climatically or anthropogenically driven. We study time series of updated monthly and annual runoff of rivers of North Africa, West Africa (Sahelian and humid tropical regions) and Central Africa, including the largest river basins: Niger and Volta rivers in West Africa, and Congo and Ogooue rivers in Central Africa. The recent years are studied in the perspective of multi-decadal variability. In West Africa and in a part of Central Africa, the climate has changed since 1970, and rainfall has not returned to previous annual amounts, except in Equatorial Africa. The consequences of the long-lasting drought are, depending on the area concerned, the modification of seasonal regimes (Equatorial area), the groundwater table decrease (Tropical humid area) and the land cover degradation (Sahelian area). The increasing number of dams and of agricultural areas also plays a major role on the modification of river regimes. The population increase will continue to impact on the environment: land cover change, deforestation, agriculture and increasing number of dams will be associated with a reduction of water and sediment discharges to the sea, and major impacts on downstream ecosystems and coastal areas. It seems necessary to share with stakeholders a comprehensive approach of the water cycle from the basin to the sea, to prevent long-lasting damages to ecosystems and infrastructures.
Plan de classement
Sciences du milieu [021] ; Hydrologie [062]
Description Géographique
AFRIQUE
Localisation
Fonds IRD [F B010061188]
Identifiant IRD
fdi:010061188
Contact