@article{fdi:010075722,
  title = {{W}ater transit time and active recharge in the {S}ahel inferred by bomb-produced {C}l-36},
  author = {{B}ouchez, {C}. and {D}eschamps, {P}ierre and {G}oncalves, {J}. and {H}amelin, {B}. and {N}our, {A}. {M}. and {V}allet-{C}oulomb, {C}. and {S}ylvestre, {F}lorence},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he lack of data and suitable methods to quantify regional hydrological processes often hinders sustainable water management and adaptation to climate change in semiarid regions, particularly in the {S}ahel, which is known for its climatic variability. {H}ere we show that {C}l-36 from nuclear tests is a promising method to estimate water transit times and groundwater recharge rates on the catchment scale, and to distinguish water and chloride cycles. {C}l-36 was measured in 131 surface and groundwater samples in the {C}hari-{L}ogone sub-catchment of the emblematic {L}ake {C}had {B}asin, located in central {S}ahel. {I}t was found that only 12 +/- 8% of the catchment is connected to the main rivers. {G}roundwater supporting rivers in the upper humid part of the catchment has a mean transit time of 9.5 +/- 1 years and a recharge rate of 240 +/- 170 mm yr(-1). {I}n the lower {S}ahelian part of the catchment, stream-focused recharge yields recharge rates up to 78 +/- 7 mm yr(-1) in riparian groundwater against 16 +/- 27 mm yr(-1) elsewhere. {O}ur estimates suggest that aquifers in the {S}ahel host a significant amount of renewable water, which could therefore be used as a strategic freshwater resource.},
  keywords = {{SAHEL} ; {ZONE} {SEMIARIDE} ; {TCHAD} {LAC}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{S}cientific {R}eports - {N}ature},
  volume = {9},
  numero = {},
  pages = {art. 7465 [8 p.]},
  ISSN = {2045-2322},
  year = {2019},
  DOI = {10.1038/s41598-019-43514-x},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010075722},
}