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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
environmental science
Trend analysis of runoff and sediment fluxes in the Upper Blue Nile basin: A combined analysis of statistical tests, physically-based models and landuse maps
Journal of Hydrology, Volume 482, Year 2013
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Description
The landuse/cover changes in the Ethiopian highlands have significantly increased the variability of runoff and sediment fluxes of the Blue Nile River during the last few decades. The objectives of this study were (i) to understand the long-term variations of runoff and sediment fluxes using statistical models, (ii) to interpret and corroborate the statistical results using a physically-based hydrological model, Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), and (iii) to validate the interpretation of SWAT results by assessing changes of landuse maps. Firstly, Mann-Kendall and Pettitt tests were used to test the trends of Blue Nile flow (1970-2009) and sediment load (1980-2009) at the outlet of the Upper Blue Nile basin at El Diem station. These tests showed statistically significant increasing trends of annual stream flow, wet season stream flow and sediment load at 5% confidence level. The dry season flow showed a significant decrease in the trend. However, during the same period the annual rainfall over the basin showed no significant trends. The results of the statistical tests were sensitive to the time domain. Secondly, the SWAT model was used to simulate the runoff and sediment fluxes in the early 1970s and at the end of the time series in 2000s in order to interpret the physical causes of the trends and corroborate the statistical results. A comparison of model parameter values between the 1970s and 2000s shows significant change, which could explain catchment response changes over the 28. years of record. Thirdly, a comparison of landuse maps of 1970s against 2000s shows conversion of vegetation cover into agriculture and grass lands over wide areas of the Upper Blue Nile basin. The combined results of the statistical tests, the SWAT model, and landuse change detection are consistent with the hypothesis that landuse change has caused a significant change of runoff and sediment load from the Upper Blue Nile during the last four decades. This is an important finding to inform optimal water resources management in the basin, both upstream in the Ethiopian highlands, and further downstream in the plains of Sudan and Egypt. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.
Authors & Co-Authors
Gebremicael, Tesfay Gebretsadkan
Netherlands, Delft
Ihe Delft Institute for Water Education
Mohamed, Y. A.
Netherlands, Delft
Ihe Delft Institute for Water Education
Netherlands, Delft
Delft University of Technology
Sudan
Hydraulic Research Station
Betrie, Getnet D.
Canada, Kelowna
University of British Columbia Okanagan
Van der Zaag, Pieter
Netherlands, Delft
Ihe Delft Institute for Water Education
Netherlands, Delft
Delft University of Technology
Teferi, Ermias Tesfaye
Netherlands, Delft
Ihe Delft Institute for Water Education
Ethiopia, Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa University
Statistics
Citations: 239
Authors: 5
Affiliations: 5
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1016/j.jhydrol.2012.12.023
ISSN:
00221694
Research Areas
Environmental
Study Locations
Egypt
Sudan