Modeling the Effect of Land Use and Climate Change Scenarios on the Water Flux of the Upper Mara River Flow, Kenya

Authors

Liya M. Mango, Florida International UniversityFollow

Document Type

Thesis

Major/Program

Environmental Studies

First Advisor's Name

Assefa Melesse

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Chair

Second Advisor's Name

Michael McClain

Third Advisor's Name

Jeffrey Onsted

Keywords

Mara River, SWAT, Land use change, Climate change scenarios, Flow

Date of Defense

3-22-2010

Abstract

Increasingly erratic flow in the upper reaches of the Mara River, has directed attention to land use change as the major cause of this problem. The semi-distributed hydrological model SWAT and Landsat imagery were utilized in order to 1) map existing land use practices, 2) determine the impacts of land use change on water flux; and 3) determine the impacts of climate change scenarios on the water flux of the upper Mara River. This study found that land use change scenarios resulted in more erratic discharge while climate change scenarios had a more predictable impact on the discharge and water balance components. The model results showed the flow was more sensitive to the rainfall changes than land use changes but land use changes reduce dry season flows which is a major problem in the basin. Deforestation increased the peak flows which translated to increased sediment loading in the Mara River.

Identifier

FI10041632

Recommended Citation

Mango, Liya M., "Modeling the Effect of Land Use and Climate Change Scenarios on the Water Flux of the Upper Mara River Flow, Kenya" (2010). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 159.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/159