Scientific Publication

Isotopes in detecting the origin of water and in quantifying groundwater inflow rates in an alarmingly growing lake, Ethiopia

author(s) Kebede, S. - Zewdu, S.
from UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
permalink open
themes
regions
  • Eastern Africa
  • Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Africa
  • World
citation

Kebede, S. and Zewdu, S. (2019). Use of 222Rn and δ18O-δ2H Isotopes in detecting the origin of water and in quantifying groundwater inflow rates in an alarmingly growing lake, Ethiopia. Water MDPI: 11, 2591; doi:10.3390/w11122591

Publications and datasets provided via GARDIAN

Abstract

Lake Beseka, located within Ethiopia’s Awash Basin, has expanded from 2 km2 to 50 km2 over the last 60 years, causing serious engineering and socio-economic challenge (inundation of urban utilities, irrigation farms, railways and roads; ecological changes in the lake; and threatening water salinization for water users downstream). This study used Dual Radon (222Rn) and δ18O-δ2H isotopes to (a) detect the origin of water, (b) pinpoint groundwater inflow zones and (c) determine rates of groundwater inflows in an expanding lake in central Ethiopia. This work is part of the REACH ‘Improving Water Security for the Poor’ programme

Open original