Simulation and Analysis of Possible Water Balance Scenarios of Lake Bosomtwe.
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Date
SEPTEMBER, 2015
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Abstract
The hydrology and hydrodynamics of Lake Bosomtwe has been studied but not exhausted.
Thus in this study, a model is developed using the system dynamics approach to mimic
hydrological processes that take place within the lake’s catchment area. The model uses rainfall
data for Kumasi as input to simulate surface runoff whereas temperature, relative humidity and
solar radiation data for the aforementioned is employed in simulating evaporation from the lake
surface as well as evapotranspiration from the catchment land surface. Similarly population
estimates for the communities within the catchment area in conjunction with the annual water
demand per capita for Ghana is used in estimating water abstraction from the lake for domestic
and agricultural purposes from the period of 1984 to 2013. After calibrating and validating the
model, the resulting simulated lake water level from the model is compared to that which is
observed. Obtaining a co-efficient of determination (R2) value of 0.93 for the model, both land
use(s)/land cover and climate scenarios are developed for the assessment of possible potential
impacts on the lake’s hydrodynamics. The results from the study suggest that there are two
seasons (namely the rainy and dry seasons) influencing the hydrology of the lake. Rather than
the absolute climatic stance as purported by earlier researchers, the lake is also affected by
anthropogenic factors particularly water abstraction for domestic and agricultural activities.
However the climatic component is the dominant factor responsible for the lake water
dynamics. Of all the climatic components, the variability in the amount of rainfall is the major
component responsible for determining the dynamic lake water level behaviour (noise)
observed. Finally, whiles the magnitude of water losses is driven by both climatic and
anthropogenic forces at present, it is very possible that in the near future, the lake’s water level
depreciation will be by far due to anthropogenic pressures as compared to the climatic.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Department of Materials Engineering
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)
in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Science, Faculty of Chemical and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering.