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Hydro-geophysical Evaluation of the Regional Variability of Senegal’s Terrestrial Water Storage Using Time-Variable Gravity Data

Research Authors
Ahmed Mohamed, Cheikh Faye , Abdullah Othman and Ahmed Abdelrady
Research Abstract

The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite data retrieval experiment
has been instrumental in characterizing the global fluctuations in terrestrial water storage (DTWS)
over the past 20 years. Given the limited availability of hydrological data, GRACE measurements
are frequently combined with other climatic models, standardized precipitation index (SPI), and
standardized temperature index (STI) data to examine the likelihood of such impacts on hydrology
and calculate the groundwater storage changes (DGWS). The characterization of the intensity and
variability of drought events has been identified based on the Terrestrial Water Storage Deficit Index
(TWSI), derived from GRACE mass concentration blocks (mascons) over Senegal during the studied
period (April 2002–December 2021). The results are: (1) The average annual precipitation (AAP)
rate for the entire period was calculated at 692.5 mm/yr. (2) The GRACE-derived DTWS variations
were calculated at +0.89 0.34, +0.07 0.36, +1.66 1.20, and +0.63 0.08 cm/yr for Periods I
(April 2002–December 2009), II (January 2010–December 2017), III (January 2018–December 2021), and
the entire period (April 2002–December 2021), respectively. (3) The DGWS changes were estimated
to be +0.89 0.31, +0.085 0.33, +1.64 1.11, and +0.63 0.08 cm/yr for Periods I, II, II, and the
entire period, respectively. (4) There is good agreement in some years and seasons according to
the investigation of the link between the GRACE dataset, STI, and SPI. (5) Senegal’s groundwater
storage is increasing at a rate of 0.63 0.08 cm/yr (1.24 0.16 km3/yr) between April 2002 and
December 2021. (6) Considering the yearly extraction rates of 1.13 0.11 cm/yr (2.22 0.22 km3/yr),
an average recharge rate of +1.76 0.14 cm/yr (+3.46 0.28 km3/yr) was calculated for the studied
area. The integrated strategy is instructive and economical.

Research Date
Research Department
Research Journal
Remote sensing
Research Publisher
MDPI
Research Vol
14
Research Year
2022
Research Pages
https://doi.org/ 10.3390/rs14164059