Analysis of flow and baseflow trends in the Usangu Catchment, Tanzania

Perceived increased water scarcity in the Usangu catchment, Tanzania has raised social conflict that requires proper water management. Proper management of water resources requires understanding long-term trends of hydrological change. Information of baseflow is critical in the assessment of changes...

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Autores principales: Shu, Yunqiao, Villholth, Karen G.
Formato: Conference Paper
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2012
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/38347
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author Shu, Yunqiao
Villholth, Karen G.
author_browse Shu, Yunqiao
Villholth, Karen G.
author_facet Shu, Yunqiao
Villholth, Karen G.
author_sort Shu, Yunqiao
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Perceived increased water scarcity in the Usangu catchment, Tanzania has raised social conflict that requires proper water management. Proper management of water resources requires understanding long-term trends of hydrological change. Information of baseflow is critical in the assessment of changes as it is the main contributor to stream flow in the dry season, while also indicating potential shifts in flow pathways in a catchment, including that of groundwater. Three upper perennial tributaries as well as a lower main channel downstream of the Usangu catchment were analysed in this study. The recursive digital filter (RDF) method was used to quantify baseflow with monthly stream flow records. Baseflow decline over the 50-year period (1960-2009) was a generally observed phenomenon across the catchment in all the streams investigated. A significant downward sloping change point was detected in 1989/1990. Total stream flows also decreased for the western part (because baseflow constituted a major share), whereas total stream flows did not change for the eastern and lower section. These phenomena may be partially explained by climate factors (including rainfall and potential evapotranspiration (ET)) as well as human activities (e.g. deforestation, irrigation, and groundwater abstraction) taking place in the lower as well as upper parts of the catchment.
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spelling CGSpace383472023-02-15T12:05:55Z Analysis of flow and baseflow trends in the Usangu Catchment, Tanzania Shu, Yunqiao Villholth, Karen G. hydrology water resources water management catchment areas flow discharge stream flow evapotranspiration groundwater recharge climate change Perceived increased water scarcity in the Usangu catchment, Tanzania has raised social conflict that requires proper water management. Proper management of water resources requires understanding long-term trends of hydrological change. Information of baseflow is critical in the assessment of changes as it is the main contributor to stream flow in the dry season, while also indicating potential shifts in flow pathways in a catchment, including that of groundwater. Three upper perennial tributaries as well as a lower main channel downstream of the Usangu catchment were analysed in this study. The recursive digital filter (RDF) method was used to quantify baseflow with monthly stream flow records. Baseflow decline over the 50-year period (1960-2009) was a generally observed phenomenon across the catchment in all the streams investigated. A significant downward sloping change point was detected in 1989/1990. Total stream flows also decreased for the western part (because baseflow constituted a major share), whereas total stream flows did not change for the eastern and lower section. These phenomena may be partially explained by climate factors (including rainfall and potential evapotranspiration (ET)) as well as human activities (e.g. deforestation, irrigation, and groundwater abstraction) taking place in the lower as well as upper parts of the catchment. 2012 2014-06-13T11:41:27Z 2014-06-13T11:41:27Z Conference Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/38347 en Open Access Shu, Yunqiao; Villholth, Karen G. 2012. Analysis of flow and baseflow trends in the Usangu Catchment, Tanzania. Paper presented at the 16th SANCIAHS National Hydrology Symposium, Pretoria, South Africa, 1-3 October 2012. 13p.
spellingShingle hydrology
water resources
water management
catchment areas
flow discharge
stream flow
evapotranspiration
groundwater recharge
climate change
Shu, Yunqiao
Villholth, Karen G.
Analysis of flow and baseflow trends in the Usangu Catchment, Tanzania
title Analysis of flow and baseflow trends in the Usangu Catchment, Tanzania
title_full Analysis of flow and baseflow trends in the Usangu Catchment, Tanzania
title_fullStr Analysis of flow and baseflow trends in the Usangu Catchment, Tanzania
title_full_unstemmed Analysis of flow and baseflow trends in the Usangu Catchment, Tanzania
title_short Analysis of flow and baseflow trends in the Usangu Catchment, Tanzania
title_sort analysis of flow and baseflow trends in the usangu catchment tanzania
topic hydrology
water resources
water management
catchment areas
flow discharge
stream flow
evapotranspiration
groundwater recharge
climate change
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/38347
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AT villholthkareng analysisofflowandbaseflowtrendsintheusangucatchmenttanzania