1. Spatial groundwater recharge estimation in Raya basin, Northern Ethiopia
- Author
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Hailemariam Gebrewahid, Emiru Birhane, Tesfamichael Gebreyohannes, Gebrerufael Hailu Kahsay, Aster Gebrekirstos, Letay Welegebriel, Mewcha Amha Gebremedhin, UT-I-ITC-WCC, Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, and Department of Water Resources
- Subjects
Hydrology ,Hydrogeology ,010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences ,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment ,0207 environmental engineering ,02 engineering and technology ,Groundwater recharge ,01 natural sciences ,Water balance ,Evapotranspiration ,2023 OA procedure ,Environmental science ,Spatial variability ,Hydrometeorology ,020701 environmental engineering ,Surface runoff ,Groundwater ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,Water Science and Technology - Abstract
Understanding the spatial variability of groundwater recharge in response to distributed Land-use, soil texture, topography, groundwater level, and hydrometeorological parameters is significant when considering the security of groundwater resource development. Thus, this study was aimed at estimating the spatial groundwater recharge of Raya valley, northern Ethiopia using spatially distributed water balance model (WetSpass). Input data for the model were prepared in the form of grid maps using 90 m grid size and the parameter attribute tables were adjusted to represent the Raya valley condition using expert knowledge and scientific literatures. The results of the model indicated that the long-term temporal and spatial average annual rainfall of 710 mm was partitioned as 57 mm (8%) of surface runoff, 598 mm (84%) of evapotranspiration, and 55 mm (8%) of recharge. The recharge corresponds to 137 million cubic meters (Mm3) for the Raya basin (with area of about 2500 km2) from which 84% of the recharge takes place during summer season, while the remaining 16% takes place during the winter (dry) season. The analysis of the simulated result showed that WetSpass works well to simulate water balance components of Raya valley and is especially suitable for studying the effects of Land-use changes on the water regime in the basin.
- Published
- 2019