• English
    • français
  • English 
    • English
    • français
  • Login
View Item 
  •   Repository Home
  • Research Papers (RP)
  • RP-School of Humanities & Social Sciences
  • RP-Department of Geography
  • View Item
  •   Repository Home
  • Research Papers (RP)
  • RP-School of Humanities & Social Sciences
  • RP-Department of Geography
  • View Item
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

Falling waterlevels in saline lakes of the central Rift Valley of Kenya: The case of Lake Elmenteita

Thumbnail
View/Open
Abstract (73.04Kb)
Date
2011-10-28
Author
Murimi, S. K.
Metadata
Show full item record
Abstract
Reasons why Lake Elmenteita and rivers flowing into it decreased in volume during 1958–1987 were investigated. The effects of changing climate, landcover and landuse were considered. The study suggested that falling lake water‐levels are not due to climate change alone: landuse changes and river abstraction and damming may also be important. Long‐term trends in rainfall and evaporation reveal various patterns: monthly evaporation has slightly decreased recently but with no effect on lake levels; rainfall has remained more or less constant in total amount, but monthly falls show increased variability. Although flows in rivers and streams are primarily determined by rainfall, other factors operate near the lake so discharge into the lake cannot be predicted from rainfall. Increased settlement and farming on former forested areas within the catchment and irrigation along rivers also indirectly affect discharge values. Additionally, accelerated soil erosion from farmed lands has led to a reduced lake volume following soil deposition in the lake. It is noted that landuse changes need to be carefully monitored because of their effect on lake levels.
URI
http://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/1456
Collections
  • RP-Department of Geography [141]

Designed by Library ICT Team copyright © 2017 
Contact Us | Send Feedback

 

 

Browse

All of RepositoryCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects

My Account

LoginRegister

Designed by Library ICT Team copyright © 2017 
Contact Us | Send Feedback