Field and river

20th International Conference of Ethiopian Studies (ICES20)
Mekelle University, Ethiopia

"Regional and Global Ethiopia - Interconnections and Identities"
1-5 October, 2018

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IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON GROUNDWATER RECHARGE AND BASE FLOW IN THE SUB-CATCHMENT OF TEKEZE BASIN, ETHIOPIA [Abstract ID: 0605-05]

KIFLOM Degef Kahsay, Tigray Agricultural Research Institute, Alamata center, Ethiopia
Santosh PINGALE, Department of Water Resources and Irrigation Engineering, Arba Minch Institute of Technology, Arba Minch University, Ethiopia
SAMUEL Dagalo Hatiye, Department of Water Resources and Irrigation Engineering, Arba Minch Institute of Technology, Arba Minch University

Climate change has a significant impact on both surface and groundwater resources. However, little attention has been given to the effect of climate change on groundwater resources. The present study therefore looks at the effect of climate change on groundwater recharge and base flow in the Tekeze sub-catchment in Ethiopia. The future climate variables were obtained from Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX) Africa program for Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) for RCP 2.6 and RCP 4.5 scenarios. The Mann-Kendall test and Sen’s slope estimator were used for trend detection using the XLSTAT software package. Further, downscaled and bias corrected precipitation, temperature, and potential evapotranspiration were used as input to the WetSpa model to simulate future water balance changes. The results indicated a decreasing trend in annual rainfall and an increasing trend in average temperature and evapotranspiration for selected scenarios. At the catchment level, precipitation decreases by 20% for both RCP 2.6 and RCP 4.5 scenarios, and actual evapotranspiration shows 0.4% and 8.1% increment for RCP 2.6 and RCP 4.5, respectively. Consequently, groundwater recharge decreases by 3.4% for RCP 2.6 and 1.3% for RCP 4.5. Base flow will also decrease by 1.5%and 0.55% for RCP 2.6 and RCP 4.5, respectively. The results of this study would help policymakers, scientists, government officials, and local stakeholders in planning and managing surface and groundwater resources in the Ethiopian regions.