Evaluation of Sediment Yield Predicting Models of Ghana

Source:
By:John Manyimadin Kusimi

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30564/jgr.v4i1.2596

Abstract:

Fluvial sediment transport data is a very important data for effective water resource management. However, acquiring this data is expensive and tedious hence sediment yield modeling has become an alternative approach in estimating river sediment yields. In Ghana, several sediment yield predicting models have been developed to estimate the sediment yields of ungauged rivers including the Pra River Basin. In this paper, 10 months sediment yield data of the Pra River Basin was used to evaluate the existing sediment yield predicting models of Ghana. A regression analysis between predicted sediment yield data derived from the models and the observed suspended sediment yields of the Pra Basin was done to determine the extent of estimation of observed sediment yields. The prediction of suspended sediment yield was done for 4 out of 5 existing sediment yield predicting models in Ghana. There were variations in sediment yield between observed and predicted suspended sediments. All predicted sediment yields were lower than observed data except for equation 3 where the results were mixed. All models were found to be good estimators of fluvial sediments with the best model being equation 4. Sediment yield tends to increase with drainage basin area. 

References:

[1] Jain MK, Das D. Estimation of Sediment Yield and Areas of Soil Erosion and Deposition for Watershed Prioritization using GIS and Remote Sensing. Water Resources Management, 2010,24:2091-2112. [2] Kusimi JM, Amisigo BA, Banoeng-Yakubo B. Sediment Yield of a Forest River Basin in Ghana.Catena,2014, 123:225-235. [3] Restrepo JD, Syvitski JPM. Assessing the effect of natural controls and land use change on sediment yield in a Major Andean River: The Magdalena Drainage Basin, Colombia. Ambio, 2006, 35(2):65-74. [4] Verstraeten G, Poesen J. Factors controlling sediment yield from small intensively cultivated catchments in a temperate humid climate. Geomorphology, 2001,40:123-144. [5] Ali KF, de Boer DH. Spatial patterns and variation of suspended sediment yield in the upper Indus River basin, northern Pakistan. Journal of Hydrology, 2007,334:368-387. [6] Boateng I, Bray M, Hooke J. Estimating the fluvial sediment input to the coastal sediment budget: A case study of Ghana. Geomorphology, 2012, 138(1):100-110. [7] Walling DE, Collins AL, Jones PA, Leeks GJL, Old G. Establishing finegrained sediment budgets for the Pang and Lambourn LOCAR catchments, UK. Journal of Hydrology, 2006, 330:126-141. [8] Akrasi SA. Sediment Discharges from Ghanaian Rivers into the Sea. West African Journal of Applied Ecology, 2011, 18:1-13. [9] Amisigo BA, Akrasi SA. A suspended sediment yield predictive equation for river basins in the south western system of Ghana. Journal of Applied Science and Technology, 2000, 5(1 &2):108-113. [10] Collins AL, Walling DE. Documenting catchment suspended sediment sources: problems,approaches and prospects. Progress in Physical Geography,2004, 28(2):159-196. [11] Milliman JD, Farnsworth KL, Albertin CS. Flux and fate of fluvial sediments leaving large islands in the East Indies. Journal of Sea Research, 1999, 41:97-107. [12] Akrasi SA. The assessment of suspended sediment inputs to Volta Lake. Lakes & Reserviors: Research & Management, 2005, 10(3):179-186. [13] Syvitski JPM, Milliman JD. Geology, geography,and humans battle for dominance over the delivery of fluvial sediment to the coastal ocean. Journal of Geology, 2007, 115:1-19. [14] Netherlands Engineering Consultants. Feasibility Report on Lower Volta Bridge at Tefle in Ghana.Netherlands Engineering Consultants, Accra: Ghana,1961. [15] Hydroproject. Bui Hydroelectric Station on the Black Volta River of Ghana. 1: Hydroproject, Moscow,1964. [16] Food and Agriculture Organization. Land and Water Survey of the Upper and Northern Regions of Ghana. Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome: Italy,1967. [17] Nippon Koei Company. The Lower White Volta Development Project. Nippon Koei Company,Tokyo:Japan, 1967. [18] Akrasi, Ayibotele. An appraisal of sediment transport measurement in Ghana rivers. IAHS Publ, 1984,144:301-347. [19] Akrasi SA, Amisigo BA. Sediment Loads of some Major Rivers in Ghana. Water Resources Research Institute, Accra: Ghana, 1993. [20] Amisigo BA, Akrasi SA. Suspended Sediment Rating Curves for Selected Rivers in the Volta Basin of Ghana. Water Resources Research Institute, Accra:Ghana, 1996. [21] Asante-Sasu CK. Estimation of the rate of sediment transport into the Bui hydropower reservoir. Doctoral dissertation - Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, 2016. [22] Bambury M, Elgy J. Development of a sediment yield model for Ghana using sediment transport data.IAHS Publ, 2003, 283:96-102. [23] Kusimi JM. Analysis of Sedimentation Rates in the Densu River Channel: The Result of Erosion and Anthropogenic Activities in the Densu Basin. West African Journal of Applied Ecology, 2008, 14:1-14. [24] Kusimi JM, Yiran GAB, Attua EM. Soil Erosion and Sediment Yield Modelling in the Pra River Basin of Ghana using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). Ghana Journal of Geography, 2015,7(2):38-57. [25] Kusimi JM. The Contribution of Bank and Surface Sediments to Fluvial Sediment Transport of the Pra River. West African Journal of Applied Ecology,2017, 25(1):69-85. [26] Trimble SW. A sediment budget for Coon Creek Basin in the driftless area, Wisconsin,1853-1977.American Journal of Science, 1983, 283:454-474. [27] Wallbrink PJ, Murray AS, Olley JM. Determining sources and transit times of suspended sedimnt in the Murrumbidgee River, New South Wales, Australia,using fallout 137Cs and 210Pb. Water Resources Research, 1998, 34(4):879-887. [28] Dietrich WE, Dunne T. Sediment budget for a small catchment in mountainous terrain. Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie, 1978, 29:191-206. [29] Swanson FJ, Gregory SV, Sedell JR, Campbell AG.Land-water interactions: The riparian zone. In: Analysis of Coniferous Forest Ecosystems in the Western United States. US/IBP Synthesis Series 14 Stroudsburg, Pa. Hutchinson Ross Publishing Co, 1982. [30] Ritter JR. Changesi n the channelm orphologyo f Trinity River and eight tributaries, California,1961-65. U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 60,1968. [31] Hickey JJ. Variations in low water streambed elevations at selected gaging stations in northwestern California. U.S. Geological Survey Water Supply Paper 1879-E: 33, 1969. [32] Dietrich WE, Dunne T, Humphrey NF, Reid LM,Construction of sediment budgets for drainage basins, U.S. Forest Service General Technical Report PNW-141, 1982:5-23. [33] Adjei-Mensah K, Kusimi JM. Dwindling water supply and its socio-economic impact in Sekyere Kumawu District in Ashanti Region of Ghana: public opinion on the role of climate change.GeoJournal,2019:1-18. [34] Ali KF, de Boer DH. Factors controlling specific sediment yield in the upper Indus River basin,northern Pakistan. Hydrological Processes, 2008, 22:3102-3114. [35] Grauso S, Pagano A, Fattoruso G, De Bonis P, Onori F, Regina P, Tebano C. Relations between climatic-geomorphological parameters and sediment yield in a Mediterranean semi-arid area (Sicily, southern Italy). Environental Geology, 2008, 54 (2):219-234. [36] Haregeweyn N, Poesen J, Nyssen J, Govers G, Verstraeten G, de Vente J, Deckers J, Moeyersons J,Haile M. Sediment yield variability in Northern Ethiopia: a quantitative analysis of its controlling factors.Catena, 2008, 75 (1):65-76. [37] Restrepo JD, Kjerfve B, Hermelin M, Restrepo JC.Factors controlling sediment yield in a major South American drainage basin: the Magdalena River, Colombia. Journal of Hydrology, 2006,316:213-232. [38] Vanmaercke M, Poesen J, Broeckx J, Nyssen J. Sediment yield in Africa. Earth-Science Reviews, 2014,136:350-368. [39] Chakrapani GJ. Factors controlling variations in river sediment loads. Current Science, 2005, 88(4):569-575. [40] De Vente J, Poesen J, Verstraeten G, Govers G,Vanmaercke M, Van Rompaey A, Arabkhedri M,Boix-Fayos C. Predicting soil erosion and sediment yield at regional scales: Where do we stand?Earth-Science Reviews, 2013, 127:16-29. [41] Pelletier JD. A spatially distributed model for the long-term suspended sediment discharge and delivery ratio of drainage basins. Journal of Geophysical Research 117(F02028):DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JF002129,2012 [42] Akrasi SA, Ansa-Asare OD. Assessing Sediment and Nutrient Transport in the Pra Basin of Ghana.West African Journal of Applied Ecology, 2008, 13:1-11. [43] Dickson KB, Benneh G. A New Geography of Ghana. Longman: England, 1995. [44] Milliman JD, Syvitski PM. Geomorphic/tectonic control of sediment transport to the ocean: the importance of small mountainous rivers. Journal of Geology, 1992, 100:525-544. [45] Walling, DE. Limitations of the rating curve technique for estimating suspended sediment loads, with particular reference to British rivers, 1977:34-47.Retrieved from:http://itia.ntua.gr/hsj/redbooks/122/iahs_122_0034.pdf:15thSept,2019. [46] de Vente J, Poesen J, Arabkhedri M, Verstraeten G.The sediment delivery problem revisited.Progress inPhysical Geography, 2007, 31(2):155-178. [47] Vanmaercke M, Poesen J, Verstraeten G, de Vente J,Ocakoglu F. Sediment yield in Europe:spatial patterns and scale dependency. Geomorphology, 2011,130:142-161. [48] Walling DE. The Sediment Delivery Problem. Journal of Hydrology, 1983, 65:209-237.