Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2023-93
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2023-93
08 May 2023
 | 08 May 2023
Status: this preprint is currently under review for the journal HESS.

Combined impacts of climate and land-use change on future water resources in Africa

Celray James Chawanda, Albert Nkwasa, Wim Thiery, and Ann van Griensven

Abstract. Africa depends on its water resources for hydroelectricity, inland fisheries, and water supply for domestic, industrial, and agricultural operations. Anthropogenic climate change (CC) has changed the state of these water resources. Land use and land cover has also undergone significant changes due to the need to provide resources to a growing population. Yet, the impact of the Land Use and Land Cover Change (LULCC) in addition to CC on the water resources of Africa is underexplored. Here we investigate how precipitation, evapotranspiration (ET), and river-flow respond to both CC and LULCC scenarios across the entire African continent. We set up a SWAT+ model for Africa and calibrated it using the Hydrological Mass Balance calibration (HMBC) methodology detailed in Chawanda et al., (2020a). The model was subsequently driven by an ensemble of bias-adjusted global climate models to simulate the hydrological cycle under a range of CC and LULCC scenarios. The results indicate that the Zambezi and the Congo River basins are likely to experience reduced river flows under CC by up to 7 % decrease, while the Limpopo will likely have higher river flows. The Niger River basin is likely to experience the largest decrease in river flows in all of Africa due to CC. The Congo River basin has the largest difference in river flows between scenarios with (over 18 % increase) and without LULCC (over 20 % decrease). The projected changes have implications on agriculture and energy sectors and hence the livelihood of people on the continent. Our results highlight the need to adopt policies to halt global greenhouse gas emissions and to combat the current trend of deforestation to avoid the high combined impact of CC and LULCC on water resources in Africa.

Celray James Chawanda et al.

Status: open (until 11 Jul 2023)

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse

Celray James Chawanda et al.

Celray James Chawanda et al.

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Short summary
Africa's water resources are being negatively impacted by climate change & land use change. The SWAT+ hydrological model was used to simulate the hydrological cycle in Africa and results show likely decrease in river flows in the Zambezi, Congo and highest in Niger River basins due to climate change. Land cover change had the biggest impact in the Congo River basin, emphasizing the importance of including landuse change in studies.