Hydrogeophysical Characteristics of Pan-African Aquifer Specified Through an Alternative Approach Based on the Interpretation of Vertical Electrical Sounding Data in the Adamawa Region, Central Africa

Abstract

This study was carried out in the Adamawa region, which connects Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Nigeria together. The main objective of this work is to assess the geophysical aspects of the local Pan-African hydraulic conductivity (K), using the vertical electrical sounding technique (VES) as an alternative approach to pumping test. This economical, less-time consuming, and easy-to-process alternative technique provides more accurate hydraulic conductivity values than the traditional pumping test technique. The K values obtained by the VES technique (ranging between 0.4 and 6.0 m/day) match those obtained by the pumping tests results. A thorough analysis of the transmissivity values reveals the existence of two aquifer trends in the region: Trend-1 with transmissivity values ranging from 34.22 to 39.27 m2/day with an average value of 35.44, and Trend-2, with transmissivity values of 7.87–34.44 m2/day with an average value of 16.56. Maps of transmissivity (T), resistivity (ρ), thickness (h), transverse resistance (TR), and hydraulic conductivity (K) of the Pan-African aquifer, derived from quantitative VES data interpretation, are established. These parameters are of paramount importance to the management of groundwater resources. They are important in the sense that geological contexts similar to that of Pan-African aquifer cut across Africa and South America. Therefore, this article will be valuable to regions worldwide that are geologically similar to the Adamawa Region.