Impact of Climate Variability on Water Resources: The Case of Marc Delorme-Cnra Station, Southeast of Ivory Coast

Abstract

This study aims to characterize the climatic variability in the South-East of Ivory Coast and to show its impact on the supply of water resources. To do this, statistical and hydrological methods were applied to climatic data collected at the Marc DELORME Research Station of the CNRA. The statistical trend tests on this data revealed a significant decrease in precipitation and an increase in temperature, insolation and evaporation. Statistical break methods indicate a rainfall break in 1982 which marks a modification of the rainfall regime thus translating a drop in rainfall of 15%, a recession in the frequency of rainy days in general and in particular in rainfall heights between 10 and 30 mm and greater than 50 mm. This break is accompanied by a shortening of the rainy seasons, with average rainfall durations ranging from 54 days (short rainy season) to 104 days (great rainy season). Despite the disturbances in the different seasons of the year, the monthly rainfall regimes in the area have not changed. The assessment of the effects of drought on water resources using the Standardized Precipitation and Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) for three-time scales (1 month, 3 months and 12 months) indicates a severe drought ranging from 3% to 7% over the period 1961 to 2018. However, despite the presence of this severe drought, the intensity of the drought was found to be moderate on all time scales. The Thorrnthwaite method was used to highlight the impacts of this climatic variability on the region’s water resources. The average annual recharge estimated at 402 mm, has been reduced to 153 mm during a deficit period, a decrease of about 62%. The average annual runoff, which was 294 mm, fells to 257 mm, a decrease of about 13%. This recorded decrease in the water infiltrated after the rainfall break (1983-2018), explains the heterogeneous decrease in the depth of the water table.