4 Climate Change and Water Resources in West Africa …
57
Important studies have been conducted that lend a better understanding of precipitation and climate dynamics of circulation and rainstorms (Leroux 1995; Sagna 2005;
Leroux 2010; Sagna et al. 2012, 2018). The spatio-temporal evolution of rainfall,
including effects of drought in the 1970s and 1980s, is also well documented (L’Hôte
et al. 2002; Nicholson et al. 2012; Kaboré et al. 2017). Research on runoff has shown
a decrease in flows, directly correlated with a decrease in rainfall (Oyebande and
Odunuga 2010). Groundwater is also affected by rainfall variability (Barrat 2012;
Hammond Murray-Rust and Fakhruddin 2014). Other studies emphasize the importance of rainwater for human activity in West Africa (Diop 1999; Sène 2007; Sané
et al. 2008; Sultan 2011; Diallo et al. 2012; Camara et al. 2013; Sagna et al. 2015;
Sultan et al. 2015; Sané 2017), demonstrating the dependence of rural livelihoods on
rainwater, especially over the last fifty years, as well as the negative impacts of irregular rainfall on rural development and the living conditions of farmers. The impacts
of climatic hazards have also been a major political and scientific concern (Sultan
et al. 2015; Sané 2017), insofar as the socioeconomic foundation of the region rests
on factors directly or indirectly dependent on climatic conditions: farming, grazing,
and fishing. Strategies to address climate hazards have been analysed (Houssou-Goé
2008; Kpadonou et al. 2012; Vissin 2013; Sambou 2015; Dipama 2016; Gautier and
Denis 2016; Callo-Concha 2018). Gautier and Denis 2016 reviewed literature on
adaptation in West Africa based on 37 publications on Senegal, 66 on Burkina Faso
and 18 on Benin—three of the four countries included in our study. These studies
reveal that the most studied sector is farming. They entail changes in crops and
varieties, as well as changes in practices such as sowing period, water conservation
techniques, and relocation of fields, to conserve and optimize water.
Despite the significant amount of research on climate change and its impacts and
adaptation strategies for West Africa, some issues remain unclear, especially on the
current trend of rainfall and its manifestations that affect the livelihoods of local
communities who still depend on rainwater. The consequences of interannual variations in rainfall significantly influence water resources with all the attendant consequences for the livelihoods of broad populations, especially subsistence farmers.
Given this critical situation, the current state of climate change must be studied in
West Africa, particularly in Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Benin, and Senegal, because
of the poor quality of available information.
The aim of this study is to analyze the trend of annual rainfall variations and their
tangible impacts on the environment. This will be achieved by the analysis of timeseries data from the four selected countries, as well as by observations of water flows
and groundwater. The impacts of water deficit and water excess on socioeconomic
activities will also be studied, and potential strategies to improve response to changes
in water resources in the context of climate change will be discussed.
57
Important studies have been conducted that lend a better understanding of precipitation and climate dynamics of circulation and rainstorms (Leroux 1995; Sagna 2005;
Leroux 2010; Sagna et al. 2012, 2018). The spatio-temporal evolution of rainfall,
including effects of drought in the 1970s and 1980s, is also well documented (L’Hôte
et al. 2002; Nicholson et al. 2012; Kaboré et al. 2017). Research on runoff has shown
a decrease in flows, directly correlated with a decrease in rainfall (Oyebande and
Odunuga 2010). Groundwater is also affected by rainfall variability (Barrat 2012;
Hammond Murray-Rust and Fakhruddin 2014). Other studies emphasize the importance of rainwater for human activity in West Africa (Diop 1999; Sène 2007; Sané
et al. 2008; Sultan 2011; Diallo et al. 2012; Camara et al. 2013; Sagna et al. 2015;
Sultan et al. 2015; Sané 2017), demonstrating the dependence of rural livelihoods on
rainwater, especially over the last fifty years, as well as the negative impacts of irregular rainfall on rural development and the living conditions of farmers. The impacts
of climatic hazards have also been a major political and scientific concern (Sultan
et al. 2015; Sané 2017), insofar as the socioeconomic foundation of the region rests
on factors directly or indirectly dependent on climatic conditions: farming, grazing,
and fishing. Strategies to address climate hazards have been analysed (Houssou-Goé
2008; Kpadonou et al. 2012; Vissin 2013; Sambou 2015; Dipama 2016; Gautier and
Denis 2016; Callo-Concha 2018). Gautier and Denis 2016 reviewed literature on
adaptation in West Africa based on 37 publications on Senegal, 66 on Burkina Faso
and 18 on Benin—three of the four countries included in our study. These studies
reveal that the most studied sector is farming. They entail changes in crops and
varieties, as well as changes in practices such as sowing period, water conservation
techniques, and relocation of fields, to conserve and optimize water.
Despite the significant amount of research on climate change and its impacts and
adaptation strategies for West Africa, some issues remain unclear, especially on the
current trend of rainfall and its manifestations that affect the livelihoods of local
communities who still depend on rainwater. The consequences of interannual variations in rainfall significantly influence water resources with all the attendant consequences for the livelihoods of broad populations, especially subsistence farmers.
Given this critical situation, the current state of climate change must be studied in
West Africa, particularly in Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Benin, and Senegal, because
of the poor quality of available information.
The aim of this study is to analyze the trend of annual rainfall variations and their
tangible impacts on the environment. This will be achieved by the analysis of timeseries data from the four selected countries, as well as by observations of water flows
and groundwater. The impacts of water deficit and water excess on socioeconomic
activities will also be studied, and potential strategies to improve response to changes
in water resources in the context of climate change will be discussed.