Application of Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics Techniques in Erosion Mapping and Groundwater Management in the River Amba Watershed, Central Nigeria

Authors

  • Aliyu Itari Abdullahi Department of Geology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu state, Nigeria
  • Nuhu Degree Umar Department of Geology, Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa state, Nigeria

Keywords:

Erosion, River Amba , Watershed, Landsat imagery, GIS

Abstract

This research integrated easy-to-handle remote sensing data and geoinformatics techniques for erosion mapping and groundwater management in the River Amba watershed, central Nigeria. It is aimed at: (a) the determination of the erosion-prone areas and (b) the estimation of the groundwater potential contamination risk under current and future anthropogenic activities. Rainfall intensity was evaluated from monthly rainfall data (2001 - 2011) from the station located within the River Amba Watershed. Digital Elevation Model (DEM) for the terrain was created using the 3D Analyst tool (Surfer 14) and was used to determine the flow direction and lineament features in each raster cells. Remote sensing data (aerial photographs and LANDSAT imagery) were used to develop a land-use map, while geological mapping was used to determine the local geology of the watershed area. The contributions of the various factors to the erosion hazardous areas are: elevation 31.49 %, land use 21 %, slope 14 %, geology 12.52 %, rainfall intensity 10.5 % and flow accumulation 10.5 %. The combined influences of these factors to erosion susceptibility as either: very high, high, moderate, low, and very low with the south-western part characterized as high while other parts of the study area moderate to very low erosion vulnerability. The groundwater level is shallow (4.0 –28.5 m) and discharges through the Amba river and many springs. These springs along with boreholes and wells supply drinking water to Lafia and the environs.

Dimensions

R. Lal, J. A. Delgado, J. Gulliford, D. Nielsen, C. W. Rice & R. S. Van Pelt, “Adapting agriculture to drought and extreme events”, Journal of Soil and Water Conservation November 67 (2012) 166. https://dx.doi.org/10.2489/jswc.67.6.162A.

D. R. Montgomery, “Soil erosion and agricultural sustainability”, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A., 104 (2007) 13272. https://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0611508104.

J. A. Ballesteros, M. Sto el, M. Bollschweiler, J. M. Bodoque & A. Diez- Herrero, “Flash-flood impacts cause changes in wood anatomy of Alnus glutinosa”, Fraxinus angustifolia and Quercus pyrenaica, Tree Physiol, 30 (2010b) 781.

N. N. Kourgialas & G. P. Karatzas, “Flood management and a GIS modelling method to assess flood-hazard areas–a case study”, Hydrological Sciences Journal 56 (2011) 14.

R. Lal, “Constraints to adopting no-till farming in developing countries”, Soil Tillage Res 94 (2007) 1. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2007.02.002.

S. Yahaya, N. Ahmad & R. F. Abdalla, “Multicriteria Analysis for Flood Vulnerable Areas in Hadejia-Jama’are River Basin”, Nigeria”, European Journal of Scientific Research 42 (2010) 83.

M. Wireman, “Characterization and Management of Ground Water Resources in Fractured–rock Hydrogeologic Settings”, Groundwater Monitoring and Remediation 23 (2003) 2003.

Y. M. Chiang&F. J. Chang “Integrating hydrometeorological information for rainfall-runoff modelling by artificial neural networks”, Hydrological Processes 23 (2009) 1659.

S. Manfreda, A. Sole & M. Fiorentino, “Can the basin morphology alone

provide an insight into floodplain delineation”, WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment 118 (2008) 56.

M. E. Offodile, “The geology of the middle Benue trough, Nigeria”, Publication from The Palaeontological Institution of the University of Uppsala, Germany, (1976a) 41.

N.D. Umar, O. Igwe & I.G. Idris, “Evaluation and characterization of groundwater of the Maastrichtian Lafia formation, Central Benue trough”, Nigeria Journal of Earth System Science 128 (2019) 168. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-019-1199-1

N.G. Obaje, U.I. Lar, A. Moumouni, M.S. Chaanda & N.G. Goki, Geology and Mineral Resources of Nasarawa State, A Preliminary Investigation, Report of Geographical Prospective on Nasarawa State, Department of Geography Nasarawa State University, 2006.

M. U. Musa Hydrogeology and groundwater quality of Lafia and its environs, sheet 231, Lafia, Nasarawa state, north-central Nigeria, Unpublished Master’s Thesis, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 2015.

P. Achohwora, Some hydrogeological aspects of the Lafia Coal Deposit, Plateau state, Unpublished Master’s Thesis, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 1986.

N. L. Binbol, A climate of Nasarawa state; Report of Geographical Prospective on Nasarawa State, Department of Geography, Nasarawa State University, 2006.

M. E. OffodilE, Groundwater study and development in Nigeria, Mecon Geology and Engineering Services Ltd. Jos, Nigeria, 2002.

C. R. Cratchley & G. P. Jones, “An Interpretation of the Geology and gravity anomalies of the Benue Valley, Nigeria”, Overseas Geological Surveys Geophysical Paper 1 (1965) 26.

R. P. C. Morgan, Soil erosion and conservation, Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Oxford UK, 2005.

Published

2021-05-29

How to Cite

Application of Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics Techniques in Erosion Mapping and Groundwater Management in the River Amba Watershed, Central Nigeria. (2021). Journal of the Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences, 3(2), 59-65. https://doi.org/10.46481/jnsps.2021.63

Issue

Section

Original Research

How to Cite

Application of Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics Techniques in Erosion Mapping and Groundwater Management in the River Amba Watershed, Central Nigeria. (2021). Journal of the Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences, 3(2), 59-65. https://doi.org/10.46481/jnsps.2021.63