This research was carried out at two locations, Ada and Aveglo at the Volta Estuary, Ghana to evaluate the importance of sediments as regulatory media in controlling the levels of four metals, Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn...This research was carried out at two locations, Ada and Aveglo at the Volta Estuary, Ghana to evaluate the importance of sediments as regulatory media in controlling the levels of four metals, Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe) and Mercury (Hg) in the tissues of the clam, Galatea paradoxa (Born 1778) and to investigate the possible relationships between the concentrations of the metals in the sediments and the clams. The clams were categorized into three size classes as follows: small (25 - 40 mm), medium (41 - 55 mm), and large (above 55 mm). To understand the possible relationships between the concentrations of the studied metals in the sediments and in the tissues of the three clam size classes, the monthly concentrations of the studied metals were graphed and subjected to Pearson correlation analyses (p < 0.05) to identify metal accumulation patterns and determine whether or not positive relationship patterns existed between the concentrations in the clams and sediment samples. The correlation revealed no simple linear relationships between the concentrations of four heavy metals in the clam tissues and the sediments at the two sampling stations although some distinct trends were observed. Mn concentrations in the clams and sediments from the two stations showed some clear positive relationship patterns with some increments in monthly sediment concentrations resulting in increments in clam tissue concentrations. This relationship though, was not too clear-cut.展开更多
In regional water resources management and disaster preparedness, the analysis of extreme rainfall events is essential. The need to investigate drought and flood conditions is now heightened within the context of clim...In regional water resources management and disaster preparedness, the analysis of extreme rainfall events is essential. The need to investigate drought and flood conditions is now heightened within the context of climate change and variability. The Standardised Precipitation Index (SPI) was employed to assess the extreme rainfall event on Tordzie watershed using precipitation data from 1984-2014. The SPI on the time scale of 3, 6, 9 and 12 months were determined using “DrinC” software. The drought was characterised into magnitude, duration, intensity, frequency, commencement and termination at the time scales of SPI-3, SPI-6, SPI-9 and SPI-12. Results indicated that the middle reaches (Kpetoe) of the watershed experienced less severe drought condition compared to the lower reaches (Tordzinu). Mann-Kendall (MK) test and Sen’s slope (SS) revealed general increasing drought trend but insignificant at 95% confidence interval. The SS indicated change in magnitude of 0.016 mm/year, 0.012 mm/year, 0.026 mm/year and 0.016 mm/year respectively at the mentioned time scales at 95% confidence interval at the Tordzinu and that of Kpetoe were 0.006 mm/year, 0.009 mm/year, 0.014 mm/year and 0.003 mm/year. These changes could have implication for agriculture and water resources management and engender food insecurity among smallholder farmers.展开更多
In order to study the effect of intermaetallics on the corrosion behaviour of 7A52 aluminum alloy, the alloy was characterized by means of SEM-EDS and scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy（SKPFM）. The experimental ...In order to study the effect of intermaetallics on the corrosion behaviour of 7A52 aluminum alloy, the alloy was characterized by means of SEM-EDS and scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy（SKPFM）. The experimental results indicate that there are two different intermetallics：A1-Mn-Fe and Mg2Si. Both intermetallics exhibite the negative volta potential relative to the matrix indicating an anodic behaviour. Hereby, they are easy to be dissolved and corroded under the erosive environment, and there become the corrosion initiation sites. The A1-Mn-Fe intermetallics show stronger anodic behaviour than those of Mg2Si intermetalics. It means that A1-Mn-Fe intermetalics are easier to be corroded.展开更多
River discharge data offer a rich source of information for reservoir management and flood control, if modelling can separate out the effects of rainfall, land use, soil type, relief, and weather conditions. In this p...River discharge data offer a rich source of information for reservoir management and flood control, if modelling can separate out the effects of rainfall, land use, soil type, relief, and weather conditions. In this paper, we model river discharge data from the Black Volta River, using Generalised Additive Mixed Models (GAMMs) with a space-time interaction represented via a tensor product of continuous time and discrete space. River discharge data from January 2000 to December 2009 for the four gauge stations along the Black Volta River namely, Lawra, Chache, Bui and Bamboi were obtained from the hydrological services department of Ghana and used for model fitting. Four GAMMs were explored, two with space-time interactions and two without space-time interactions. The comparison of the performance of the models with space-time interactions and those without space-time interactions based on Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) suggests that in this application, the former is better overall and in particular for modelling local variations. Further, a model with space and time main effects performed better compared with one without space and time main effects. After model selection, checking and validation, there is evidence for increasing river discharge from the most upstream gauge station to the most downstream gauge station for the study period.展开更多
This paper has examined how the resources of the White Volta River are enhancing food availability for riparian communities in northern Ghana despite climate change and its associated effects on food security. Using p...This paper has examined how the resources of the White Volta River are enhancing food availability for riparian communities in northern Ghana despite climate change and its associated effects on food security. Using participatory methods such as focus group discussions and interviews, data was collected from households and institutions in three riparian communities. The result of the study indicates that, all things been equal, cultivation of food crops along the river bank in the rainy season gives significantly high yields as compared to yields from farms farthest from the river under rain fed agriculture. Higher organic content and moisture retention capacity of river bank soils explains the yield differential and adaptability to climate change. In addition, farmers now irrigate cereal crops which were hitherto, reserved for only rainy season production. However, inappropriate irrigation practices are accelerating erosion and sedimentation of the river and thus, threaten the sustainability of agriculture and food security in the White Volta Basin. The paper therefore, recommends the adoption of IWRM （integrated water resources management） and the participation of local communities, Government and Civil Society organisations for sustaining the productive capacity of the White Volta Basin for enabling adaptation of agriculture to climate change in the riparian communities of the basin.展开更多
The knowledge about groundwater flow conditions within Volta river basin in Benin, has restricted information coming to piezometry, water storage time, water path, and water quality. A good groundwater resources asses...The knowledge about groundwater flow conditions within Volta river basin in Benin, has restricted information coming to piezometry, water storage time, water path, and water quality. A good groundwater resources assessment of this sudano-sahelian area, is a huge condition for the sustainable management of water resources, which since the part of the 20th century is facing a severe drought that leads to a greater aridity. This article provides a summary with the main elements of carbon isotope (13C and 14C) as well as tritium (3H) coupled with hydrogeological and hydrochemical data. The goal is to improve the initial water recharging and the groundwater flow system within the aquifer. Two main results can be produced from the groundwater chemistry. First, the interactions between groundwater and clay minerals related to the residence time of groundwater are indicated by a slight evolution of Ca-HCO3 and Ca-Mg-HCO3 to Na-HCO3. Beside that towards water types Cl-NO3 indicates the anthropogenic influence on groundwater, related to agricultural activities and sanitation conditions. The carbon-14 activity measured on the TDIC is between 17.29 and 85.47 pmC. Therefore, it contains some samples covering a wide period of time from now to the Holocene implying a continuous system recharging over time. All the data confirm the assumption of a homogeneous, largely unified aquifer system with a multi-layer structure, but it also points out the low resource sustainability and a strong anthropogenic contamination of the most superficial horizons.展开更多
文摘This research was carried out at two locations, Ada and Aveglo at the Volta Estuary, Ghana to evaluate the importance of sediments as regulatory media in controlling the levels of four metals, Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe) and Mercury (Hg) in the tissues of the clam, Galatea paradoxa (Born 1778) and to investigate the possible relationships between the concentrations of the metals in the sediments and the clams. The clams were categorized into three size classes as follows: small (25 - 40 mm), medium (41 - 55 mm), and large (above 55 mm). To understand the possible relationships between the concentrations of the studied metals in the sediments and in the tissues of the three clam size classes, the monthly concentrations of the studied metals were graphed and subjected to Pearson correlation analyses (p < 0.05) to identify metal accumulation patterns and determine whether or not positive relationship patterns existed between the concentrations in the clams and sediment samples. The correlation revealed no simple linear relationships between the concentrations of four heavy metals in the clam tissues and the sediments at the two sampling stations although some distinct trends were observed. Mn concentrations in the clams and sediments from the two stations showed some clear positive relationship patterns with some increments in monthly sediment concentrations resulting in increments in clam tissue concentrations. This relationship though, was not too clear-cut.
文摘In regional water resources management and disaster preparedness, the analysis of extreme rainfall events is essential. The need to investigate drought and flood conditions is now heightened within the context of climate change and variability. The Standardised Precipitation Index (SPI) was employed to assess the extreme rainfall event on Tordzie watershed using precipitation data from 1984-2014. The SPI on the time scale of 3, 6, 9 and 12 months were determined using “DrinC” software. The drought was characterised into magnitude, duration, intensity, frequency, commencement and termination at the time scales of SPI-3, SPI-6, SPI-9 and SPI-12. Results indicated that the middle reaches (Kpetoe) of the watershed experienced less severe drought condition compared to the lower reaches (Tordzinu). Mann-Kendall (MK) test and Sen’s slope (SS) revealed general increasing drought trend but insignificant at 95% confidence interval. The SS indicated change in magnitude of 0.016 mm/year, 0.012 mm/year, 0.026 mm/year and 0.016 mm/year respectively at the mentioned time scales at 95% confidence interval at the Tordzinu and that of Kpetoe were 0.006 mm/year, 0.009 mm/year, 0.014 mm/year and 0.003 mm/year. These changes could have implication for agriculture and water resources management and engender food insecurity among smallholder farmers.
基金Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.50801066)
文摘In order to study the effect of intermaetallics on the corrosion behaviour of 7A52 aluminum alloy, the alloy was characterized by means of SEM-EDS and scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy（SKPFM）. The experimental results indicate that there are two different intermetallics：A1-Mn-Fe and Mg2Si. Both intermetallics exhibite the negative volta potential relative to the matrix indicating an anodic behaviour. Hereby, they are easy to be dissolved and corroded under the erosive environment, and there become the corrosion initiation sites. The A1-Mn-Fe intermetallics show stronger anodic behaviour than those of Mg2Si intermetalics. It means that A1-Mn-Fe intermetalics are easier to be corroded.
文摘River discharge data offer a rich source of information for reservoir management and flood control, if modelling can separate out the effects of rainfall, land use, soil type, relief, and weather conditions. In this paper, we model river discharge data from the Black Volta River, using Generalised Additive Mixed Models (GAMMs) with a space-time interaction represented via a tensor product of continuous time and discrete space. River discharge data from January 2000 to December 2009 for the four gauge stations along the Black Volta River namely, Lawra, Chache, Bui and Bamboi were obtained from the hydrological services department of Ghana and used for model fitting. Four GAMMs were explored, two with space-time interactions and two without space-time interactions. The comparison of the performance of the models with space-time interactions and those without space-time interactions based on Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) suggests that in this application, the former is better overall and in particular for modelling local variations. Further, a model with space and time main effects performed better compared with one without space and time main effects. After model selection, checking and validation, there is evidence for increasing river discharge from the most upstream gauge station to the most downstream gauge station for the study period.
文摘This paper has examined how the resources of the White Volta River are enhancing food availability for riparian communities in northern Ghana despite climate change and its associated effects on food security. Using participatory methods such as focus group discussions and interviews, data was collected from households and institutions in three riparian communities. The result of the study indicates that, all things been equal, cultivation of food crops along the river bank in the rainy season gives significantly high yields as compared to yields from farms farthest from the river under rain fed agriculture. Higher organic content and moisture retention capacity of river bank soils explains the yield differential and adaptability to climate change. In addition, farmers now irrigate cereal crops which were hitherto, reserved for only rainy season production. However, inappropriate irrigation practices are accelerating erosion and sedimentation of the river and thus, threaten the sustainability of agriculture and food security in the White Volta Basin. The paper therefore, recommends the adoption of IWRM （integrated water resources management） and the participation of local communities, Government and Civil Society organisations for sustaining the productive capacity of the White Volta Basin for enabling adaptation of agriculture to climate change in the riparian communities of the basin.
基金the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA)Regional Project RAF-7011,Vienna,Austria
文摘The knowledge about groundwater flow conditions within Volta river basin in Benin, has restricted information coming to piezometry, water storage time, water path, and water quality. A good groundwater resources assessment of this sudano-sahelian area, is a huge condition for the sustainable management of water resources, which since the part of the 20th century is facing a severe drought that leads to a greater aridity. This article provides a summary with the main elements of carbon isotope (13C and 14C) as well as tritium (3H) coupled with hydrogeological and hydrochemical data. The goal is to improve the initial water recharging and the groundwater flow system within the aquifer. Two main results can be produced from the groundwater chemistry. First, the interactions between groundwater and clay minerals related to the residence time of groundwater are indicated by a slight evolution of Ca-HCO3 and Ca-Mg-HCO3 to Na-HCO3. Beside that towards water types Cl-NO3 indicates the anthropogenic influence on groundwater, related to agricultural activities and sanitation conditions. The carbon-14 activity measured on the TDIC is between 17.29 and 85.47 pmC. Therefore, it contains some samples covering a wide period of time from now to the Holocene implying a continuous system recharging over time. All the data confirm the assumption of a homogeneous, largely unified aquifer system with a multi-layer structure, but it also points out the low resource sustainability and a strong anthropogenic contamination of the most superficial horizons.
