FUTURE FLOODING OF THE VOLTA DELTA CAUSED BY SEA LEVEL RISE AND LAND SUBSIDENCE

Abstract

The Volta delta(Ghana, West Africa) is increasingly impacted by sea level rise (SLR). SLR makes the Volta delta mostly vulnerable to flooding, salinization of water resources and agriculture fields, and permanent loss of lands. This would potentially threaten and present a growing risk to its population, infrastructure and economy, and even worsen due to land subsidence (LS). Relative sea level rise (RSLR) in this study is the rate of LS with respect to SLR. It is thus very important to precisely quantify LS rates together with SLR as well as planning and assessment of countermeasures. This study is in two parts, The first study presents and discusses recent LS rates in the Volta delta derived from satellite-based SAR-Interferometry and their impact on relative SLR. The second study, also assesses major hydrodynamic parameters (Wave runup, Sea Level Anomaly,tide and atmospheric conditions) that play a role in extreme coastal flooding events.