@article{fdi:010061188,
  title = {{T}he rivers of {A}frica : witness of climate change and human impact on the environment},
  author = {{M}ah{\'e}, {G}il and {L}ienou, {G}. and {D}escroix, {L}uc and {B}amba, {F}. and {P}aturel, {J}ean-{E}mmanuel and {L}araque, {A}lain and {M}eddi, {M}. and {H}abaieb, {H}. and {A}deaga, {O}. and {D}ieulin, {C}laudine and {K}otti, {F}. {C}. and {K}homsi, {K}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{I}n this paper, we study the impact of climate change on river regimes in several parts of {A}frica, and we look at the most probable causes of these changes either climatically or anthropogenically driven. {W}e study time series of updated monthly and annual runoff of rivers of {N}orth {A}frica, {W}est {A}frica ({S}ahelian and humid tropical regions) and {C}entral {A}frica, including the largest river basins: {N}iger and {V}olta rivers in {W}est {A}frica, and {C}ongo and {O}gooue rivers in {C}entral {A}frica. {T}he recent years are studied in the perspective of multi-decadal variability. {I}n {W}est {A}frica and in a part of {C}entral {A}frica, the climate has changed since 1970, and rainfall has not returned to previous annual amounts, except in {E}quatorial {A}frica. {T}he consequences of the long-lasting drought are, depending on the area concerned, the modification of seasonal regimes ({E}quatorial area), the groundwater table decrease ({T}ropical humid area) and the land cover degradation ({S}ahelian area). {T}he increasing number of dams and of agricultural areas also plays a major role on the modification of river regimes. {T}he 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. {I}t 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.},
  keywords = {{A}frica ; rivers ; climate change ; river regime ; dams ; land cover ; {AFRIQUE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{H}ydrological {P}rocesses},
  volume = {27},
  numero = {15},
  pages = {2105--2114},
  ISSN = {0885-6087},
  year = {2013},
  DOI = {10.1002/hyp.9813},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010061188},
}