Integrated Modeling of Land and Water Resources in Two African Catchments

By: Seleshi Yalew

Write A Review

eText | 14 March 2018 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Format
ePUB

eText

$160.60

or 4 interest-free payments of $40.15 with

Instant online reading in your Booktopia eTextbook Library *

Read online on

Desktop

Tablet

Mobile

Not downloadable to your eReader or an app

Why choose an eTextbook?

Instant Access *

Purchase and read your book immediately

Read Aloud

Listen and follow along as Bookshelf reads to you

Study Tools

Built-in study tools like highlights and more

* eTextbooks are not downloadable to your eReader or an app and can be accessed via web browsers only. You must be connected to the internet and have no technical issues with your device or browser that could prevent the eTextbook from operating.

Demand for land and water for agriculture, urbanization, irrigation, hydropower, and industrialization is increasing to meet the demands of growing populations and of growing economies. However, changes in land and water resources are often studied separately. A better representation of the interaction between land-use change and its drivers on the one hand and water resources on the other is imperative for sustainable environmental management.

This research investigates and develops spatial analysis methods and tools for the quantification of dynamic feedbacks between land-use change and water resources, by focusing on case study catchments in Ethiopia and South Africa. Furthermore, the research investigates methods for analysing land-use suitability and modelling land-use change. Results show that major changes in land-use have been observed in the past two to three decades in the study catchments. Model representation of the interaction between land-use change and water resources shows that changes in land-use influence hydrologic responses. These influences are especially pronounced during high- and low-flow seasons. Likewise, hydrologic processes and water resources availability influence land-use suitability and hence land-use change responses. Accounting for the dynamic feedback between land-use and hydrology thus produces improved knowledge that can better inform integrated natural resources management.