IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON GROUNDWATER IN THREE DIFFERENT LAND USES

ABSTRACT

 Climate change poses uncertainties to the supply and management of water resource,temperature increases also affect the hydrologic cycle by directly increasing evaporation of available surface water and vegetation transpiration. Consequently, these changes can influence precipitation amounts, timings and intensity rates, and indirectly impact the flux and storage of water in surface and subsurface reservoirs (i.e., lakes, soil moisture, groundwater). In addition, there may be other associated impacts, such as sea water intrusion, water quality deterioration, potable water shortage, etc.

Climate data parameters were collected over a period of four (4) months and analyzed to obtain reliability index. Groundwater data for four months were also obtained. Related published literature and documents were searched in a systematic way using a range of keywords relating to climate change impacts and agricultural production.

These values are thereby analyzed using the Fourier transform programme to get the variation change

A complicated signal can be broken down into simple waves. This break down, and how much of each wave is needed, is the Fourier Transform.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

Water is indispensable for life, but its availability at a sustainable quality and quantity is threatened by many factors, of which climate plays a leading role (IPCC, 1995). Groundwater is the major source of drinking water in Africa and has a rapidly expanding role in irrigation to combat growing food insecurity. This module deals with both the impact of climate change on groundwater resources, It is important to recall the global extent of climate change, and to consider the impacts on the scale of the global hydrologic cycle.

Of Africa’s population of 1 billion, roughly 60% live in rural areas. Around 80% of them rely on groundwater-based community or household supplies for domestic and other water needs (WHO/UNICEF, 2008).

Currently there are more than 300 million people in Africa without access to safe drinking water, many of whom are amongst the poorest and most vulnerable in the world (MacDonald, A.; Bonsor, H.C.; Dochartaigh, B.E.O.; Taylor, R.,, 2012). Climate variability and change influences groundwater systems both directly through replenishment by recharge and indirectly through changes in groundwater use. These impacts can be modified by human activity such as land-use change (Taylor, Nature Climate change, 2013).

IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON GROUNDWATER IN THREE DIFFERENT LAND USES