nerc.ac.uk

Residence times of shallow groundwater in West Africa: implications for hydrogeology and resilience to future changes in climate

Lapworth, D.J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7838-7960; MacDonald, A.M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6636-1499; Tijani, M.N.; Darling, W.G.; Gooddy, D.C.; Bonsor, H.C.; Araguás-Araguás, L.J.. 2013 Residence times of shallow groundwater in West Africa: implications for hydrogeology and resilience to future changes in climate. Hydrogeology Journal, 21 (3). 673-686. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-012-0925-4

Before downloading, please read NORA policies.
[img]
Preview
Text
Compiled_Final.pdf

Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract/Summary

Although shallow groundwater (<50 mbgl) sustains the vast majority of improved drinking-water supplies in rural Africa, there is little information on how resilient this resource may be to future changes in climate. This study presents results of a groundwater survey using stable isotopes, CFCs, SF6, and 3H across different climatic zones (annual rainfall 400–2,000 mm/year) in West Africa. The purpose was to quantify the residence times of shallow groundwaters in sedimentary and basement aquifers, and investigate the relationship between groundwater resources and climate. Stable-isotope results indicate that most shallow groundwaters are recharged rapidly following rainfall, showing little evidence of evaporation prior to recharge. Chloride mass-balance results indicate that within the arid areas (<400 mm annual rainfall) there is recharge of up to 20 mm/year. Age tracers show that most groundwaters have mean residence times (MRTs) of 32–65 years, with comparable MRTs in the different climate zones. Similar MRTs measured in both the sedimentary and basement aquifers suggest similar hydraulic diffusivity and significant groundwater storage within the shallow basement. This suggests there is considerable resilience to short-term inter-annual variation in rainfall and recharge, and rural groundwater resources are likely to sustain diffuse, low volume abstraction.

Item Type: Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI): https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-012-0925-4
Programmes: BGS Programmes 2010 > Groundwater Science
ISSN: 1431-2174
Additional Keywords: GroundwaterBGS, Groundwater, Climate change, International development, Environmental tracers, Groundwater resources
Related URLs:
Date made live: 30 Jan 2013 13:32 +0 (UTC)
URI: https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/21373

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Document Downloads

Downloads for past 30 days

Downloads per month over past year

More statistics for this item...