Water balance of lakes in the Kenya Rift Valley

Darling, W.G.; Allen, D.J.; Talbot, J.C.. 1992 Water balance of lakes in the Kenya Rift Valley. [Poster] In: International Symposium on Isotope Techniques in Water Resources Development, Vienna, Austria, 11-15 March 1991. Vienna, Austria, International Atomic Energy Agency.

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Abstract/Summary

The Rift Valley of Kenya contains lakes which cover the spectrum from comparatively ffesh to hypersaline (here denoting high bicarbonate rather than chloride concentration). Lake water chemistry is the producl of the balance between inflows, outflows and evaporation, and therefore provides a key to the understanding of lake hydrology. Isotope techniques are particularly important in an area like the Rift Valley, where lakes have no surface egress, but may have considerable subsurface outflow [1]. Lake Turkana is by far the largest lake in the Rift. It is relatively deep, and well buffered with regard to chemical and probably isotopic change. A considerable inflow from rivers in the north and west is countered by high evaporation, and also some outflow to the south beneath a volcanic barrier into the discharge area seasonally occupied by Lake Logipi. Lake Baringo is the second freshest lake in the Rift Valley. There is a considerable inflow from rivers draining both flanks of the Rift, which must be balanced by subsurface outflow in addition to evaporation. The lake is very shallow and its isotopic and chemical compositions vary greatly from season to season in response to fluctuations in river ninoff. Outflow to the north has been identified from hot spring and fiimarole samples, and isotopic and chemical mass balances have been attempted.

Item Type:	Publication - Conference Item (Poster)
Programmes:	BGS Programmes > Groundwater Management
NORA Subject Terms:	Hydrology
Date made live:	04 Jun 2013 12:10 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/502062

Item Type:

Publication - Conference Item (Poster)

Programmes:

BGS Programmes > Groundwater Management

NORA Subject Terms:

Hydrology

Date made live:

04 Jun 2013 12:10 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/502062