Feasibility studies of integrated surface - ground water management of Lake Chad Basin using satellite images, climate data and hydrologic modeling

Funded by National Space Research and Development Agency, Nigeria (Starting in 2008)

Summary: The goal of this project is to explore feasibility of managing surface and ground water resources in the Lake Chad Basin (LCB) using satellite images and climate data that are incorporated with a hydrologic model. In order to manage both surface water and ground water resources, understanding the interactions between two systems is critical. few studies have been made for the interactions, but they are mostly for soil infiltration toward the upper aquifer, which is one of the three layered aquifers in the LCB. Since many water extractions are also being made from the other two aquifers, more comprehensive understanding of their interactions with surface water and the effect of climate on these deeper aquifers are necessary for better management of water resources in the basin. Main effort will be made to integrate the satellite images and climate data, and construct hydrologic input data sets for a given hydrologic model.  The outputs from the satellite data analysis and hydrologic modeling will be calibrated with field measurements to assess how the proposed approach is feasible for water resources management in the LCB.