Theme-6-5-Characteristics of hydroclimatic extremes in West Africa - The lessons from the consequences of the recent climatic and hydroclimatic events.

Abstract

West Africa has been facing a series of hydroclimatic extremes since late 1960s with their serious consequences on human welfare and nation's economic development. Most parts of West Africa have been subjected to series of droughts with their consequences on crop failure, decimation of livestock and widespread starvation of the local population. In the present study, an attempt is made to examine the variational characteristics of the hydroclimatic extremes with particular emphasis on the characteristics and the effects of the relatively recent climatic and hydroclimatic events. The index used in the study is the time series of the normalised annual rainfall departure. In addition the water balance approach was employed with inflow component represented by rainfall and outflow component, by evaporation and evapotranspiration and the net runoff.