Extenuating the parameters using HEC-HMS hydrological model for ungauged catchment in the central Omo-Gibe Basin of Ethiopia

Characteristics of ungauged catchments can be studied from the hydrological model parameters of gauged catchments. In this research, discharge prediction was carried out in ungauged catchments using HEC-HMS in the central Omo-Gibe basin. Linear regression, spatial proximity, area ratio, and sub-basin mean were amalgamated for regionalization. The regional model parameters of the gauged catchment and physical characteristics of ungauged catchments were collated together to develop the equations to predict discharge from ungauged catchments. From the sensitivity analysis, crop coefficient (CC), storage coefficient (R), constant rate (CR), and time of concentration (TC) are found to be more sensitive than others. The model efficiency was evaluated using Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency (N_SE) which was greater than 0.75, varying between ?10% and +10% and the coefficient of determination (R²) was approximated to be 0.8 during the calibration and validation period. The model parameters in ungauged catchments were determined using the regional model (linear regression), sub-basin mean, area ratio, and spatial proximity methods, and the discharge was simulated using the HEC-HMS model. Linear regression was used in the prediction where p-value ≤ 0.1, determination coefficient (R²) = 0.91 for crop coefficient (CC) and 0.99 for maximum deficit (MD). Constant rate (CR), maximum storage (MS), initial storage (IS), storage coefficient (R), and time of concentration (TC) were obtained. The result is that an average of 30 m³/s and 15 m³/s as the maximum monthly simulated flow for ungauged sub-catchments, i.e. Denchiya and Mansa of the main river basin .     

Analysis of Spatio-temporal Land Surface Temperature and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index Changes in the Andassa Watershed,Blue Nile Basin,Ethiopia

Analysis of the nexus between vegetation dynamics and climatic parameters like surface temperature is essential in environmental and ecological studies and for monitoring of the natural resources. This study explored the spatio-temporal distribution of land surface temperature (LST) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the relationship between them in the Andassa watershed from 1986 to 2016 periods using Landsat data. Monthly average air temperature data of three meteorological sites were used for validating the results. The findings of the study showed that the LST of the Andassa watershed has increased during the study periods. Overall, average LST has been rising with an increasing rate of 0.081°C per year. Other results of this study also showed that there has been a dynamic change in vegetation cover of the watershed in all seasons. There was also a negative correlation between LST and NDVI in all the studied years. From this study we can understand that there has been degradation of vegetation and intensification of LST from 1986 to 2016.     

The dynamics of farmer migration and resettlement in the Dhidhessa River Basin,Ethiopia

ABSTRACT

The Dhidhessa River Basin (DRB), in the Abbay River Basin in Ethiopia, is undergoing large-scale dam construction for sugarcane irrigation. We focused on the dynamics of population migration, settlement, relocation and water resource development in the DRB using primary and secondary data. Two major migration waves were observed in the basin: the first in 1984–1986 during a severe drought and the second during 2005–2017. Most rural migrants were “pulled” by government initiative in the period 1984–2017, while a few migrated of their own accord due to famine. We found that the first migration wave from eastern Ethiopia (Harar) to DRB was due to scarcity of water, land and rainfall and the migration positively affected migrant livelihoods. In the second phase, dam construction displaced settled farmers and migrants, adversely affecting their livelihoods. Analysis is needed that considers the wellbeing of the displaced agrarian society and the migrant population in the dam-affected area.     

Leaf area index retrieval using gap fractions obtained from high resolution satellite data: Comparisons of approaches,scales and atmospheric effects

This study is aimed at demonstrating the feasibility of the large scale LAI inversion algorithms using red and near infrared reflectance obtained from high resolution satellite imagery. Radiances in digital counts were obtained in 10 m resolution acquired on cloud free day of August 23, 2007, by the SPOT 5 high resolution geometric (HRG) instrument on mostly temperate hardwood forest located in the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence forest in Southern Quebec. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), scaled difference vegetation index (SDVI) and modified soil-adjusted vegetation index (MSAVI) were applied to calculate gap fractions. LAI was inverted from the gap fraction using the common Beer–Lambert's law of light extinction under forest canopy. The robustness of the algorithm was evaluated using the ground-based LAI measurements and by applying the methods for the independently simulated reflectance data using PROSPECT + SAIL coupled radiative transfer models. Furthermore, the high resolution LAI was compared with MODIS LAI product. The effects of atmospheric corrections and scales were investigated for all of the LAI retrieval methods. NDVI was found to be not suitable index for large scale LAI inversion due to the sensitivity to scale and atmospheric effects. SDVI was virtually scale and atmospheric correction invariant. MSAVI was also scale invariant. Considering all sensitivity analysis, MSAVI performed best followed by SDVI for robust LAI inversion from high resolution imagery.     

Integration of geospatial technologies with RUSLE for analysis of land use/cover change impact on soil erosion: case study in Rib watershed,north-western highland Ethiopia

In recent times, soil erosion interlocked with land use and land cover (LULC) changes has become one of the most important environmental issues in developing countries. Evaluation of this complex interaction between LULC change and soil erosion is indispensable in land use planning and conservation works. This paper analysed the impact of LULC change on soil erosion in the north-western highland Ethiopia over the period 1986–2016. Rib watershed, the area with dynamic LULC change and severe soil erosion problem, was selected as a case study site. Integrated approach that combined geospatial technologies with revised universal soil loss equation model was utilized to evaluate the spatio-temporal dynamics of soil loss over the study period. Pixel-based overlay of soil erosion intensity maps with LULC maps was carried out to understand the change in soil loss due to LULC change. Results showed that the annual soil loss in the study area varied from 0 to 236.5 t ha^?1 year^?1 (tons per hectare per year) in 1986 and 0–807 t ha^?1 year^?1 in 2016. The average annual soil loss for the entire watershed was estimated about 40 t ha^?1 year^?1 in 1986 comparing with 68 t ha^?1 year^?1 in 2016, a formidable increase. Soil erosion potential that was estimated to exceed the average soil loss tolerance level increased from 34.5% in 1986 to 66.8% in 2016. Expansion of agricultural land at the expense of grassland and shrubland was the most detrimental factor for severe soil erosion in the watershed. The most noticeable change in soil erosion intensity was observed from cropland with mean annual soil loss amount increased to 41.38 t ha^?1 year^?1 in 2016 from 26.60 in 1986. Moreover, the most successive erosion problems were detected in eastern, south-eastern and northern parts of the watershed. Therefore, the results of this study can help identify the soil erosion hot spots and conservation priority areas at local and regional levels.     

The Ethiopian basement: Stratigraphy and possible manner of evolution

In the Ethiopian Precambrian three complexes are recognized. The Lower Complex formed of high grade gneisses represents older (older than 2500 m. y.) cratonic basement. The Middle Complex (clastic metasediments) is presumably the Lower to Middle Proterozoic platform cover. The Upper Complex consists of low-grade rocks in following succession: ophiolitic rocks, andesitic metavolcanics and associated metasediments, clastic and to less extent carbonate sediments. Rifting of older basement at the beginning of Upper Proterozoic created northeasterly trending zones with oceanic crust branching from the Red Sea fold belt and grading southwards (in the Mozambique belt) into the zones of continental rifting. Closing of these rift zones terminated 1000 m. y. ago and was accompanied by subduction of oceanic crust which gave rise to island arc type volcanism. Continental collision resulted in crustal thickening and produced two stages of metamorphism: metamorphism of collision (around 1000 m. y. or earlier) and metamorphism of radioactive heating (younger than 1000 or 800 m. y.). The collision was oblique, so the significant transcurrent motion occurred in the Red Sea and the Mozambique belts.

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Zusammenfassung Im Präkambrium Äthiopiens lassen sich drei Einheiten unterscheiden. Die unterste Einheit, bestehend aus hochgradig metamorphen Gneisen, ist ein älterer (älter als 2,5 Mrd. Jahre) kratonischer Sockel. Der mittlere Komplex (klastische Metasedimente) stellt wahrscheinlich die altbis mittelproterozoische Plattform-Sedimentbedeckung dar. Die obere Einheit besteht aus niedrigmetamorphen Gesteinen: Ophiolithe, andesitische Metavulkanite und damit verbundene Metasedimente, sowie klastische und untergeordnet karbonatische Ablagerungen. Das Auseinanderreißen des älteren Sockels zu Beginn des Jungproterozoikums bewirkte in nordöstliche Richtung verlaufende Zonen mit ozeanischer Kruste, die vom Faltengürtel des Roten Meeres abbiegen und sich südwärts (zum Mozambique-Gürtel hin) in das kontinentale Riftsystem eingliedern. Dei Abschluß dieser Riftsysteme endete vor 1 Mrd. Jahren, begleitet von einer Subduktion ozeanischer Kruste, die mit Vulkanismus vom Typ der Inselbögen verbunden war. Die Kollision kontinentaler Platten verursachte Krustenverdickungen und erzeugte zwei Stadien der Metamorphose: Kollisions-Metamorphose (vor ca. 1 Mrd. Jahren oder früher) und Metamorphose durch radioaktive Aufheizung (jünger als 1 oder 0,8 Mrd. Jahre). Die Kollision verlief schräg, so daß die signifikanten Querbewegungen im Roten-Meerund Mozambique-Gürtel erfolgten.

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Résumé On peut reconnaître trois complexes dans le Précambrien de l'Ethiopie. Le complexe inférieur, formé de gneiss de degré de métamorphisme élevé, représente le socle cratonique le plus ancien (plus vieux que 2500 M.). Le complexe moyen (des métasédiments détritiques) est présumé être une couverture de plateforme du Protérozoïque inférieur à moyen. Le complexe supérieur consiste en roches peu métamorphiques se succédant comme suit: roches ophiolithiques, métavolcanites andésitiques avec sédiments associés, sédiments clastiques et en moindre proportion des sédiments carbonatés. La fracturation du vieux socle au debut du Protérozoïque supérieur créa des zones d'effondrement de direction nord-est, avec croûte océanique, branchées sur la ceinture plissé de la Mer Rouge, et passant vers le sud (dans la ceinture du Mozambique) à une zone de fracturation continentale. La fermeture de cette zone d'affaissement se termina il y a quelque 1000 M., et fut accompagnée par une subduction de la croûte océanique qui donna naissance à un volcanisme du type guirlande insulaire. La collision continentale entraîna un épaississement crustal et produisit deux phases de métamorphisme: métamorphisme de collision (environ 1000 M. ou plus tôt) et métamorphisme par réchauffement radioactif (plus récent que 1000 M. ou 800 M.). La collision se fit obliquement, produisant ainsi un mouvement transcurrent important dans les ceintures de la Mer Rouge et du Mozambique.

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埃塞俄比亚安达萨河流域地表温度和归一化植被指数时空变化分析（英文）

本文分析了植被动态与地表温度等气候参数之间的关系,对环境和生态研究以及自然资源监测至关重要。本文首先利用Landsat数据探讨了1986年至2016年期间安达萨河流域地表温度(LST)和归一化植被指数(NDVI)的时空分布以及它们之间的关系,三个气象站点的月平均气温数据用于验证结果。该研究的结果表明,Andassa流域的LST在研究期间有所增加。总体而言,平均LST一直在上升,年增长率为0.081℃yr~(-1)。该研究结果还表明,所有季节的流域植被覆盖都发生了变化。在所有研究年份中,LST和NDVI之间存在负相关;从1986年到2016年,研究区植被具有退化趋势,地表温度有所升高。     

Determinants of farmers’ choice of adaptation methods to climate change in the Nile Basin of Ethiopia

This study identifies the major methods used by farmers to adapt to climate change in the Nile Basin of Ethiopia, the factors that affect their choice of method, and the barriers to adaptation. The methods identified include use of different crop varieties, tree planting, soil conservation, early and late planting, and irrigation. Results from the discrete choice model employed indicate that the level of education, gender, age, and wealth of the head of household; access to extension and credit; information on climate, social capital, agroecological settings, and temperature all influence farmers’ choices. The main barriers include lack of information on adaptation methods and financial constraints.     

Effect of sub‐core scale heterogeneities on acoustic and electrical properties of a reservoir rock: a CO2 flooding experiment of brine saturated sandstone in a computed tomography scanner

The effect of sub‐core scale heterogeneity on fluid distribution pattern, and the electrical and acoustic properties of a typical reservoir rock was studied by performing drainage and imbibition flooding tests with CO₂ and brine in a laboratory. Moderately layered Rothbach sandstone was used as a test specimen. Two core samples were drilled; one perpendicular and the other parallel to the layering to allow injection of fluids along and normal to the bedding plane. During the test 3D images of fluid distribution and saturation levels were mapped by an industrial X‐ray CT‐scanner together with simultaneous measurement of electrical resistivity, ultrasonic velocities as well as amplitudes. The results showed how the layering and the flooding direction influenced the fluid distribution pattern and the saturation level of the fluids. For a given fluid saturation level, the measured changes in the acoustic and electrical parameters were affected by both the fluid distribution pattern and the layering orientation relative to the measurement direction. The P‐wave amplitude and the electrical resistivity were more sensitive to small changes in the fluid distribution patterns than the P‐wave velocity. The change in amplitude was the most affected by the orientation of the layering and the resulting fluid distribution patterns. In some instances the change due to the fluid distribution pattern was higher than the variation caused by the change in CO₂ saturation. As a result the Gassmann relation based on ‘uniform' or ‘patchy' saturation pattern was not suitable to predict the P‐wave velocity variation. Overall, the results demonstrate the importance of core‐imaging to improve our understanding of fluid distribution patterns and the associated effects on measured rock‐physics properties.