IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i22p15887-d1279142.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Recharge Estimation Approach in a Data-Scarce Semi-Arid Region, Northern Ethiopian Rift Valley

Author

Listed:
  • Sisay S. Mekonen

    (Chair of Hydrology and River Basin Management, School of Engineering and Design, Technical University of Munich, 80333 Munich, Germany
    Faculty of Water Resources and Irrigation Engineering, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch P.O. Box 21, Ethiopia)

  • Scott E. Boyce

    (Chair of Hydrology and River Basin Management, School of Engineering and Design, Technical University of Munich, 80333 Munich, Germany
    U.S. Geological Survey, California Water Science Center, 4165 Spruance Rd., Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92101-0812, USA)

  • Abdella K. Mohammed

    (Faculty of Hydraulic and Water Resources Engineering, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch P.O. Box 21, Ethiopia)

  • Lorraine Flint

    (Earth Knowledge Inc., Tucson, AZ 85751-0743, USA)

  • Alan Flint

    (Earth Knowledge Inc., Tucson, AZ 85751-0743, USA)

  • Markus Disse

    (Chair of Hydrology and River Basin Management, School of Engineering and Design, Technical University of Munich, 80333 Munich, Germany)

Abstract

Sustainable management of groundwater resources highly relies on the accurate estimation of recharge. However, accurate recharge estimation is a challenge, especially in data-scarce regions, as the existing models are data-intensive and require extensive parameterization. This study developed a process-based hydrologic model combining local and remotely sensed data for characterizing recharge in data-limited regions using a Basin Characterization Model (BCM). This study was conducted in Raya and Kobo Valleys, a semi-arid region in Northern Ethiopia, considering both the structural basin and the surrounding mountainous recharge areas. Climatic Research Unit monthly datasets for 1991 to 2020 and WaPOR actual evapotranspiration data were used. The model results show that the average annual recharge and surface runoff from 1991 to 2020 were 73 mm and 167 mm, respectively, with a substantial portion contributed along the front of the mountainous parts of the study area. The mountainous recharge occurred along and above the valleys as mountain-block and mountain-front recharge. The long-term estimates of the monthly recharge time series indicated that the water balance components follow the temporal pattern of rainfall amount. However, the relation of recharge to precipitation was nonlinearly related, showing the episodic nature of recharge in semi-arid regions. This study informed the spatial and temporal distribution of recharge and runoff hydrologic variables at fine spatial scales for each grid cell, allowing results to be summarized for various planning units, including farmlands. One third of the precipitation in the drainage basin becomes recharge and runoff, while the remaining is lost through evapotranspiration. The current study’s findings are vital for developing plans for sustainable management of water resources in semi-arid regions. Also, monthly groundwater withdrawals for agriculture should be regulated in relation to spatial and temporal recharge patterns. We conclude that combining scarce local data with global datasets and tools is a useful approach for estimating recharge to manage groundwater resources in data-scarce regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Sisay S. Mekonen & Scott E. Boyce & Abdella K. Mohammed & Lorraine Flint & Alan Flint & Markus Disse, 2023. "Recharge Estimation Approach in a Data-Scarce Semi-Arid Region, Northern Ethiopian Rift Valley," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-25, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:22:p:15887-:d:1279142
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/22/15887/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/22/15887/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ahmed Khaled Abdella Ahmed & Mustafa El-Rawy & Amira Mofreh Ibraheem & Nassir Al-Arifi & Mahmoud Khaled Abd-Ellah, 2023. "Forecasting of Groundwater Quality by Using Deep Learning Time Series Techniques in an Arid Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-16, April.
    2. Belay Z. Abate & Tewodros T. Assefa & Tibebe B. Tigabu & Wubneh B. Abebe & Li He, 2023. "Hydrological Modeling of the Kobo-Golina River in the Data-Scarce Upper Danakil Basin, Ethiopia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-23, February.
    3. Delphine Renard & David Tilman, 2019. "National food production stabilized by crop diversity," Nature, Nature, vol. 571(7764), pages 257-260, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jie Zhao & Ji Chen & Damien Beillouin & Hans Lambers & Yadong Yang & Pete Smith & Zhaohai Zeng & Jørgen E. Olesen & Huadong Zang, 2022. "Global systematic review with meta-analysis reveals yield advantage of legume-based rotations and its drivers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Dong Sheng & Siyuan Jing & Xueqing He & Alexandra-Maria Klein & Heinz-R. Köhler & Thomas C. Wanger, 2024. "Plastic pollution in agricultural landscapes: an overlooked threat to pollination, biocontrol and food security," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Matteo Zampieri & Andrea Toreti & Andrej Ceglar & Pierluca De Palma & Thomas Chatzopoulos, 2020. "Analysing the resilience of the European commodity production system with PyResPro, the Python Production Resilience package," Papers 2006.08976, arXiv.org, revised Jun 2020.
    4. Revoyron, Eva & Le Bail, Marianne & Meynard, Jean-Marc & Gunnarsson, Anita & Seghetti, Marco & Colombo, Luca, 2022. "Diversity and drivers of crop diversification pathways of European farms," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    5. Cyrine Rezgui & Wassila Riah-Anglet & Marie Benoit & Pierre Yves Bernard & Karine Laval & Isabelle Trinsoutrot-Gattin, 2020. "Impacts of the Winter Pea Crop (Instead of Rapeseed) on Soil Microbial Communities, Nitrogen Balance and Wheat Yield," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-21, November.
    6. Yu, Zhenning & She, Shuoqi & Xia, Chuyu & Luo, Jiaojiao, 2023. "How to solve the dilemma of China’s land fallow policy: Application of voluntary bidding mode in the Yangtze River Delta of China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    7. Katrin Martens & Sebastian Rogga & Jana Zscheischler & Bernd Pölling & Andreas Obersteg & Annette Piorr, 2022. "Classifying New Hybrid Cooperation Models for Short Food-Supply Chains—Providing a Concept for Assessing Sustainability Transformation in the Urban-Rural Nexus," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-24, April.
    8. Marie-Benoît Magrini & Tristan Salord & Guillaume Cabanac, 2023. "The unbalanced development among legume species regarding sustainable and healthy agrifood systems in North-America and Europe: focus on food product innovations," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 15(1), pages 187-200, February.
    9. Wei Wang & Xin Luo & Chongmei Zhang & Jiahao Song & Dingde Xu, 2021. "Can Land Transfer Alleviate the Poverty of the Elderly? Evidence from Rural China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-15, October.
    10. Ramazan Çakmakçı & Mehmet Ali Salık & Songül Çakmakçı, 2023. "Assessment and Principles of Environmentally Sustainable Food and Agriculture Systems," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-27, May.
    11. Matthew C. LaFevor & Aoife K. Pitts, 2022. "Irrigation Increases Crop Species Diversity in Low-Diversity Farm Regions of Mexico," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-18, June.
    12. Philip A. Loring, 2022. "Regenerative food systems and the conservation of change," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 39(2), pages 701-713, June.
    13. Wei, Zhibiao & Zhuang, Minghao & Hellegers, Petra & Cui, Zhenling & Hoffland, Ellis, 2023. "Towards circular nitrogen use in the agri-food system at village and county level in China," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).
    14. Sebastian Parra-Londono & Jaime Andres Tigreros & Carlos Alberto Montoya-Correa, 2024. "Colombian Crop Resilience: Evaluating National Yield Stability for Fruit and Vegetable Systems," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-18, September.
    15. Song, Xiaoqing & Wang, Xiong & Li, Xinyi & Zhang, Weina & Scheffran, Jürgen, 2021. "Policy-oriented versus market-induced: Factors influencing crop diversity across China," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    16. Dardonville, Manon & Bockstaller, Christian & Villerd, Jean & Therond, Olivier, 2022. "Resilience of agricultural systems: biodiversity-based systems are stable, while intensified ones are resistant and high-yielding," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    17. Hanan Ali Alrteimei & Zulfa Hanan Ash’aari & Farrah Melissa Muharram, 2022. "Last Decade Assessment of the Impacts of Regional Climate Change on Crop Yield Variations in the Mediterranean Region," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-21, October.
    18. Olexandr Yemelyanov & Tetyana Petrushka & Lilia Lesyk & Anatolii Havryliak & Nataliya Yanevych & Oksana Kurylo & Volodymyr Bodakovskyy & Iryna Skoropad & Taras Danylovych & Kateryna Petrushka, 2023. "Assessing the Sustainability of the Consumption of Agricultural Products with Regard to a Possible Reduction in Its Imports: The Case of Countries That Import Corn and Wheat," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-29, June.
    19. repec:ags:aaea22:335585 is not listed on IDEAS
    20. Anubhab Pattanayak & Madhumitha Srinivasan & K. S. Kavi Kumar, 2023. "Crop Diversity and Resilience to Droughts: Evidence from Indian Agriculture," Review of Development and Change, , vol. 28(2), pages 166-188, December.
    21. Junhong Xie & Linlin Wang & Lingling Li & Sumera Anwar & Zhuzhu Luo & Effah Zechariah & Setor Kwami Fudjoe, 2021. "Yield, Economic Benefit, Soil Water Balance, and Water Use Efficiency of Intercropped Maize/Potato in Responses to Mulching Practices on the Semiarid Loess Plateau," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-16, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:22:p:15887-:d:1279142. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.