CLIMATE CHANGE AND GROUNDWATER RESOURCES OF PART OF LOWER NIGER SUB- BASIN AROUND ONITSHA, NIGERIA [ READ ]
Okoyeh, E.I., Okeke, H.C., C.N. Nwokeabia, Ezenwa, S.O. and Enekwechi, E.K.
The impact of climate change on water resources and the environment is on the increase and has resulted to the increased dependence on unprotected surface and groundwater resources. The study tends to evaluate the aquifer behaviour of the Benin Formation of Southeastern, Nigeria with the view of establishing the impact of the climate change on groundwater resources of part of lower Niger Sub-Basin. Since the hydrology of aquifer and health of the ecosystem are closely connected, understanding the water resources of a system will enable its management in an integrated manner to ensure the sus-tainability of the ecosystem and the water it provides. The water bearing formation of the study area consist mostly of continental sands and gravels with hydraulic conductivity ranging from 4.9m/day to 33.99m/day. This forms the major aquifer in parts of the Lower Niger Sub Basin. The depth to the watertable lies between 2m and 8m near the coast and deepens inland to over 150m. The Niger River with a discharge of about 4000m3/s at Onitsha recharges the aquifer in the month of September than other times of the year. Increasing rate of erosion in the coastal areas of the Lower Niger Sub-Basin along the Niger River and Anambra River around Onitsha with its socioeconomic consequences is attributed to climate change and requires urgent attention.
Okoyeh, E.I., Okeke, H.C., C.N. Nwokeabia, Ezenwa, S.O. and Enekwechi, E.K.
The impact of climate change on water resources and the environment is on the increase and has resulted to the increased dependence on unprotected surface and groundwater resources. The study tends to evaluate the aquifer behaviour of the Benin Formation of Southeastern, Nigeria with the view of establishing the impact of the climate change on groundwater resources of part of lower Niger Sub-Basin. Since the hydrology of aquifer and health of the ecosystem are closely connected, understanding the water resources of a system will enable its management in an integrated manner to ensure the sus-tainability of the ecosystem and the water it provides. The water bearing formation of the study area consist mostly of continental sands and gravels with hydraulic conductivity ranging from 4.9m/day to 33.99m/day. This forms the major aquifer in parts of the Lower Niger Sub Basin. The depth to the watertable lies between 2m and 8m near the coast and deepens inland to over 150m. The Niger River with a discharge of about 4000m3/s at Onitsha recharges the aquifer in the month of September than other times of the year. Increasing rate of erosion in the coastal areas of the Lower Niger Sub-Basin along the Niger River and Anambra River around Onitsha with its socioeconomic consequences is attributed to climate change and requires urgent attention.
