Evaluation of Groundwater Recharge Estimates in a Partially Metamorphosed Sedimentary Basin in a Tropical Environment: Application of Natural Tracers

This study tests the representativeness of groundwater recharge estimates through the chloride mass balance (CMB) method in a tropical environment. The representativeness of recharge estimates using this methodology is tested using evaporation estimates from isotope data, the general spatial distrib...

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Main Authors: Felix Oteng Mensah, Clement Alo, Sandow Mark Yidana
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-01-01
Series:The Scientific World Journal
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/419508
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author Felix Oteng Mensah
Clement Alo
Sandow Mark Yidana
author_facet Felix Oteng Mensah
Clement Alo
Sandow Mark Yidana
author_sort Felix Oteng Mensah
collection DOAJ
description This study tests the representativeness of groundwater recharge estimates through the chloride mass balance (CMB) method in a tropical environment. The representativeness of recharge estimates using this methodology is tested using evaporation estimates from isotope data, the general spatial distribution of the potential field, and the topographical variations in the area. This study suggests that annual groundwater recharge rates in the area ranges between 0.9% and 21% of annual precipitation. These estimates are consistent with evaporation rates computed from stable isotope data of groundwater and surface water in the Voltaian Basin. Moreover, estimates of groundwater recharge through numerical model calibration in other parts of the terrain appear to be consistent with the current data in this study. A spatial distribution of groundwater recharge in the area based on the estimated data takes a pattern akin to the spatial pattern of distribution of the hydraulic head, the local topography, and geology of the terrain. This suggests that the estimates at least qualitatively predicts the local recharge and discharge locations in the terrain.
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institution Kabale University
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language English
publishDate 2014-01-01
publisher Wiley
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spelling doaj-art-64bd2d17af9b400bb26ebc8e55e6a5e82025-02-03T06:01:20ZengWileyThe Scientific World Journal2356-61401537-744X2014-01-01201410.1155/2014/419508419508Evaluation of Groundwater Recharge Estimates in a Partially Metamorphosed Sedimentary Basin in a Tropical Environment: Application of Natural TracersFelix Oteng Mensah0Clement Alo1Sandow Mark Yidana2Department of Earth and Environmental Studies, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ 07043, USADepartment of Earth and Environmental Studies, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ 07043, USADepartment of Earth Science, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, GhanaThis study tests the representativeness of groundwater recharge estimates through the chloride mass balance (CMB) method in a tropical environment. The representativeness of recharge estimates using this methodology is tested using evaporation estimates from isotope data, the general spatial distribution of the potential field, and the topographical variations in the area. This study suggests that annual groundwater recharge rates in the area ranges between 0.9% and 21% of annual precipitation. These estimates are consistent with evaporation rates computed from stable isotope data of groundwater and surface water in the Voltaian Basin. Moreover, estimates of groundwater recharge through numerical model calibration in other parts of the terrain appear to be consistent with the current data in this study. A spatial distribution of groundwater recharge in the area based on the estimated data takes a pattern akin to the spatial pattern of distribution of the hydraulic head, the local topography, and geology of the terrain. This suggests that the estimates at least qualitatively predicts the local recharge and discharge locations in the terrain.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/419508
spellingShingle Felix Oteng Mensah
Clement Alo
Sandow Mark Yidana
Evaluation of Groundwater Recharge Estimates in a Partially Metamorphosed Sedimentary Basin in a Tropical Environment: Application of Natural Tracers
The Scientific World Journal
title Evaluation of Groundwater Recharge Estimates in a Partially Metamorphosed Sedimentary Basin in a Tropical Environment: Application of Natural Tracers
title_full Evaluation of Groundwater Recharge Estimates in a Partially Metamorphosed Sedimentary Basin in a Tropical Environment: Application of Natural Tracers
title_fullStr Evaluation of Groundwater Recharge Estimates in a Partially Metamorphosed Sedimentary Basin in a Tropical Environment: Application of Natural Tracers
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of Groundwater Recharge Estimates in a Partially Metamorphosed Sedimentary Basin in a Tropical Environment: Application of Natural Tracers
title_short Evaluation of Groundwater Recharge Estimates in a Partially Metamorphosed Sedimentary Basin in a Tropical Environment: Application of Natural Tracers
title_sort evaluation of groundwater recharge estimates in a partially metamorphosed sedimentary basin in a tropical environment application of natural tracers
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/419508
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AT sandowmarkyidana evaluationofgroundwaterrechargeestimatesinapartiallymetamorphosedsedimentarybasininatropicalenvironmentapplicationofnaturaltracers