International Journal of
Water Resources and Environmental Engineering

  • Abbreviation: Int. J. Water Res. Environ. Eng.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-6613
  • DOI: 10.5897/IJWREE
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 347

Full Length Research Paper

Analysing rainfall and runoff patterns over the Niger River in Mali, West Africa

Toure A.
  • Toure A.
  • Department of Geology, National Engineering School Abderhamane Baba TOURE (ENI-ABT), Bamako, Mali.
  • Google Scholar
Diancoumba O.
  • Diancoumba O.
  • Department of Life and Earth Sciences (DER-SVT), Normal Superior School (ENSup), Bamako, Mali.
  • Google Scholar
Kante M. K.
  • Kante M. K.
  • Department of Life and Earth Sciences (DER-SVT), Normal Superior School (ENSup), Bamako, Mali.
  • Google Scholar
Konare S.
  • Konare S.
  • Department of Rural Engineering, Forest and Water, Polytechnic Rural Institute of Katibougou (IPR/IFRA), Katibougou, Koulikoro, Mali.
  • Google Scholar
Keita S.
  • Keita S.
  • Department of Civil Engineering, National Engineering School Abderhamane Baba TOURE (ENIABT), Bamako, Mali.
  • Google Scholar
Mounir Z. M.
  • Mounir Z. M.
  • ANDRE Salifou University of Zinder, University Institute of Technology, Department of Hygiene-Safety-Environment, Niger.
  • Google Scholar


  •  Received: 06 May 2023
  •  Accepted: 11 September 2023
  •  Published: 30 September 2023

Abstract

The Niger River plays an important role for all riparian countries, especially Mali because many irrigated areas use this resource for their daily activities. Climate change, leading to a reduction in rainfall, may have a negative impact on the Niger River. Therefore, it is useful for researchers to study this natural resource to address climate risks. The main goal of this current study is to characterize the river flow with the evolution of rainfall over the Niger River at the scale of Mali. To achieve this objective, hydroclimatic data were collected and analyzed. The statistical method was applied for the analysis and interpretation of the collected data. The results show that there is a weak correlation between rainfall and river flow for all four stations considered. From 1980 to 2020, the overall results show a slight increase in the hydroclimatic parameters. But for the recent 10 years (2007 - 2016), it is clear that the trend changed by decreasing the rainfall and discharge. This decrease in the climatic parameters affects negatively all economic sectors in the study area.

Key words: Niger River, Mali, hydroclimatic, climate change.