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Modelling natural conditions and impacts of consumptive water use and sedimentation of Lake Abaya and Lake Chamo, Ethiopia
Author(s) -
Awulachew Seleshi Bekele
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
lakes and reservoirs: research and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.296
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1440-1770
pISSN - 1320-5331
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1770.2006.00293.x
Subject(s) - sedimentation , watershed , water balance , hydrology (agriculture) , bathymetry , environmental science , resource (disambiguation) , sediment , natural (archaeology) , deposition (geology) , hydrometeorology , siltation , water resources , water resource management , geology , precipitation , geography , oceanography , ecology , geomorphology , geotechnical engineering , computer network , paleontology , machine learning , meteorology , computer science , biology
There is few available information regarding the water resource systems of Abaya Lake and Chamo Lake, which are found in the Southern Rift Valley Region of Ethiopia. This paper describes modelling of the water balance components of these lakes, as well as the impacts of water uses, and sediment transport and deposition in the lakes. The various parameters and data needed for the water balance model are derived on the basis of various surveys, analysis of data and modelling efforts. The watershed characteristics are derived using geographical information system, whereas the morphometry of the lakes is investigated by undertaking bathymetry surveys. The hydrometeorological components of this lake system also were investigated through the development of relevant database and information systems, by identifying regional relationships, and by a rainfall‐run‐off model. These information systems have subsequently been integrated to model the water balance of the two lakes, and simulating the in‐lake water levels. Several scenarios reflecting the natural conditions, water consumptive development possibilities, and sedimentation impacts have been investigated in this study. Based on the model simulation results, and on the computation of the life expectancies of the two lakes, it was found that sediment inflow and deposition significantly threaten their existence.