Hydrological Response to Land Use and Land Cover Changes of Ribb Watershed, Ethiopia
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 1, March 2021
Pages:
1-12
Received:
11 December 2020
Accepted:
21 December 2020
Published:
12 March 2021
Abstract: The study analyzed the present land covers that have taken place in the catchment and its effect on the hydrological responses of the catchment. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT2009) model was used to investigate the impact of land cover change on hydrological responses of the study area. Sensitivity analysis result shown SCN curve number (CN), Soil Evaporation Compensation Factor (ESCO), Soil Depth (m) (Sol_Z), Threshold water depth in the shallow aquifer for flow (GWQMN), Base flow alpha factor (Alpha_Bf), (REVAPMN) and Soil Available Water Capacity (SOL_AWC) were found the most influential parameters affecting flow and USLE equation support practice (USLE_P), Linear parameter for maximum sediment yield (SPCON), Exponential parameter for maximum sediment yield in channel sediment routing (SPEXP), Cropping practice factor (USLE_C), channel cover factor (CH_COV1), channel erodiability factor (CH_ERODMO) were the most sensitive parameters affecting sediment yield of the catchment respectively. Scenarios were developed to analyze the impact of land use/cover changes to the hydrological regime. Base scenario: current land use practices has cultivated land, grass land, shrub and bush land, forest land, built up area and water body, scenario1: shrub and bush lands completely changed to forest land and scenario2: Grass land changed to cultivated land. The result for different land use scenarios show that: conversion of shrub land to forest area reduced surface runoff, reduced the amount of sediment transported out and increase base flow but conversion of grass land in to cultivated land areas increased surface runoff during wet seasons and reduced base flow during the dry seasons and also as the peak flow increases it is suspected of carrying more sediment.
Abstract: The study analyzed the present land covers that have taken place in the catchment and its effect on the hydrological responses of the catchment. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT2009) model was used to investigate the impact of land cover change on hydrological responses of the study area. Sensitivity analysis result shown SCN curve number (...
Show More
Indigenous Knowledge Practices and Community Adaptation to Coastal Flooding in Ada East District of Ghana
Seth Cudjoe,
Samuel Kwabla Alorvor
Issue:
Volume 9, Issue 1, March 2021
Pages:
13-20
Received:
30 October 2020
Accepted:
12 November 2020
Published:
26 March 2021
Abstract: The role of indigenous knowledge in flood risk reduction and management has not received the attention it deserves in Ghana as little is known about how coastal communities use indigenous knowledge to deal with coastal flooding. The study sought to find out how indigenous knowledge is used as an adaptation response to coastal flooding in Totope, a coastal community in Ada East District of Ghana, which is affected by coastal flooding. A total of fifty-three (53) household heads and seven (7) key informants were purposively selected for questionnaire administration and focus group discussions. The study revealed that storm surges was the cause of coastal flooding in the study community. The study found that the people of Totope have rich indigenous knowledge which they use to deal with the coastal flooding. The people used sandbags to serve as barriers preventing flood water from getting into their compounds and rooms; they raised the foundations of their buildings; they reinforced their windows using trampoline to prevent floodwaters from entering their rooms; they created platforms in their rooms on which they pack their valuables when floodwaters breach the barriers created; they created pathways for floodwater to pass; and varied their livelihoods and the crops they produce as a response to flooding. The study further revealed that there was an increase in the intensity of storm surges in recent times in the community. The study concluded that a lasting solution to the coastal flooding menace in the community was the construction of a sea defense systems.
Abstract: The role of indigenous knowledge in flood risk reduction and management has not received the attention it deserves in Ghana as little is known about how coastal communities use indigenous knowledge to deal with coastal flooding. The study sought to find out how indigenous knowledge is used as an adaptation response to coastal flooding in Totope, a ...
Show More
