A Review of Coupled Hydrologic-Hydraulic Models for Floodplain Assessments in Africa: Opportunities and Challenges for Floodplain Wetland Management

Hydrology

HenryM. Sichingabula¹  HesselC. Winsemius²  KawawaE. Banda³  Mulema Mataa³  Victoria Ngwenya³  InnocentC. Chomba³  ImasikuA. Nyambe³  MachayaJ. Chomba⁴  Bruce Ellender⁴ 

[1] Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Zambia, Lusaka 32379, Zambia;Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Water Resources Delft University of Technology, 5048 Delft, The Netherlands;Integrated Water Resources Management Center, Department of Geology, School of Mines, The University of Zambia, Lusaka 32379, Zambia;Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) Zambia, Plot 4978, Los Angeles Boulevard, Longacres, Lusaka 50051RW, Zambia;

关键词: coupled modelling;    hydrologic models;    hydraulic models;    floodplain;    wetland management;   

DOI  :  10.3390/hydrology8010044

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Floodplain wetlands are a fundamental part of the African continent’s ecosystem and serve as habitat for fish and wildlife species, biodiversity, and micro-organisms that support life. It is generally recognised that wetlands are and remain fragile ecosystems that should be subject to sustainable conservation and management through the use of sustainable tools. In this paper, we propose a synthesis of the state of art concerning coupled hydrologic and hydraulic models for floodplains assessments in Africa. Case studies reviewed in this paper have pointed out the potential of applying coupled hydrologic and hydraulic models and the opportunities present to be used in Africa especially for data scarce and large basin for floodplain assessments through the use of available open access models, coupling frameworks and remotely sensed datasets. To our knowledge this is the first case study review of this kind on this topic. A Hydrological model coupled with Hydraulic Model of the floodplain provides improvements in floodplain model simulations and hence better information for floodplain management. Consequently, this would lead to improved decision-making and planning of adaption and mitigation measures for sound floodplain wetland management plans and programmes especially with the advent of climate change and variability.

【 授权许可】

Unknown