Abstract
Akwa Ibom state of Nigeria is susceptible to subsidence as a result of complex interaction between anthropogenic activities and natural processes. As an area of subterranean fluid extraction, the study arose because of the need for subsidence monitoring so as to minimize the anticipated resultant risk. The study utilized water extraction data that was linked to an existing data base of the study area. To obtain the subsidence susceptibility index, the total water extraction data for each LGA was normalized and the data converted into grids and interpolated with Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) tool of ARCMAP spatial analyst extension to create an isoline map. IDW is used to create a continuous surface from sampled point values. The resultant map showed the spatial distribution of the subsidence zones of High and Very High zones are found in emerging urban areas of Uyo, Ikot Ekpene and Ikot Abasi. This emphasizes the need for the population growth and the water supply needs of our urban centers to be monitored. It is recommended that an agency should be established to monitor land subsidence in the vulnerable areas identified by the study.
Highlights
Increasing population and anthropogenic activities have brought about many environmental problems globally
The effect of ground water on rural housing in USA was studied leading to the conclusion that land subsidence occurred where large amounts of ground water was withdrawn from a thick layer of saturated fine gravel sediment that is susceptible to compaction
Figures 1& 2 show the spatial distribution of the subsidence while Table 2 shows the areal distribution of the zones, From the table it can be seen that Very High zone covers 0.59% while the Marginal zone covers 75.71%
Summary
Increasing population and anthropogenic activities have brought about many environmental problems globally. The study area, Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria is susceptible to subsidence as a result of complex interaction between anthropogenic activities and natural processes. It is located between latitude 4 0 32 I and 50 33 I North and Longitude 70 25 I and 80 25 I East. The shale – limestone unit is the oldest geological fancy in the state belongs to the late Cretaceous (Nsukka formation) and the early Eocene ( Imo clay shale group) periods They are found in the north and north east parts of the state. Considering the sensitivity of the Niger Delta ecosystem of which the State is a part, the need for utilization of GIS so as to quantify spatial changes in this dynamic environment cannot be over emphasised
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