Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2017-591
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2017-591
25 Oct 2017
 | 25 Oct 2017
Status: this preprint has been withdrawn by the authors.

Scenario-based impacts of land use and climate changes on the hydrology of a lowland rainforest catchment in Ghana, West Africa

Michael S. Aduah, Graham P. W. Jewitt, and Michele L. W. Toucher

Abstract. This study analysed the separate and the combined impacts of climate and land use changes on hydrology on the Bonsa catchment in Ghana, West Africa, using the ACRU hydrological model. The study used five RCP8.5 climate change scenarios (wet, 25th percentile, 75th percentile, dry and a multi-model median of nine GCMs) from the CMIP5 AR5 models for near (2020–2039) and far (2060–2079) future time slices. Change factors were used to downscale the GCM scenarios to the local scale, using observed climate data for the control period of 1990 to 2009. The land use of 1991 and 2011 were used as the baseline and current land use as well as three future land use scenarios (BAU, EG, EGR) for two time slices (2030 and 2070) were used. The study showed that under all separate climate change scenarios, overall flows reduced, but under combined climate and land use changes, streamflows increased. Under the combined scenarios, streamflow responses due to the different future land use scenarios were not substantially different. Also, land use is the dominant controlling factor in streamflow changes in the Bonsa catchment under a dry climate change, but under a wet climate change, climate controls streamflow changes. The spatial variability of catchment streamflow changes under combined land use and climate changes were greater than the spatial variability of streamflow changes under climate change. The range of plausible future streamflows changes derived in this study provides natural resources and environmental managers of the Bonsa catchment, the first ever and the most current information to develop suitable adaptation and mitigation strategies, to prepare adequately for climate and land use changes.

This preprint has been withdrawn.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.
Michael S. Aduah, Graham P. W. Jewitt, and Michele L. W. Toucher

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Interactive discussion

Status: closed
Status: closed
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
Printer-friendly Version - Printer-friendly version Supplement - Supplement
Michael S. Aduah, Graham P. W. Jewitt, and Michele L. W. Toucher
Michael S. Aduah, Graham P. W. Jewitt, and Michele L. W. Toucher

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Latest update: 08 Dec 2024
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Short summary
The study provides a first stage contextualized estimation of the potential impacts of combined land use and climate changes on the rainforest part of the West African region, using a representative study area in south western Ghana. The study shows clearly that if the rainfall reduce drastically, changes in streamflow will be controlled by land use changes, but if rainfall increases, streamflows will be controlled by climate. Data and adaptive catchment management is needed for the region.