Groundwater resources account for nearly half of all irrigation used in agricultural practices to sustain global food production. The impact of climate change on water resources essential for sustainable agriculture has increased the demand for groundwater, especially in arid and semi-arid regions, such as Ghana. Nonetheless, in the transitional zones of the country, groundwater has not been adequately used for small-scale agricultural production. Therefore, this study employed a GIS-based Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) analysis in the Wenchi municipality to estimate the potential groundwater zones for irrigation as a climate change adaptation strategy. Eight factors (Geology, Soil type, land use, Topographic Wetness Index (TWI), slope, lineament density, rainfall, and drainage density) were integrated into the analysis to determine the groundwater potential zones. Normalized weights were assigned to the factors, based on their characteristics and contribution to groundwater recharge through literature and groundwater expert consultations. The weights were later combined, using the Weighted Linear Combination technique in the ArcGIS Pro environment to create a map for the groundwater potential zones. The groundwater potential zones were classified into four, according to their potentiality to groundwater. The classes included low, 27.9% (318.1Km²), moderate 37.9% (432.8Km²), Good 34.1% (389.6Km²), and excellent 1.5% (0.1Km²). To assess the potential benefits of these zones for local populations, the output was analyzed relative to the area's population density, revealing high impact potential. The map showing the spatial distribution of the groundwater potential zones of the municipality will be useful to stakeholders, especially the water research institute at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in their groundwater for irrigation inventory projects and at the same time serve as reference material for future groundwater research studies. This study demonstrates the importance of Remote Sensing and GIS techniques in mapping groundwater potential zones at different scales and levels. It suggests that similar methods could be applied in other developing regions.
Groundwater resources account for nearly half of all irrigation used in agricultural practices to sustain global food production. The impact of climate change on water resources essential for sustainable agriculture has increased the demand for groundwater, especially in arid and semi-arid regions, such as Ghana. Nonetheless, in the transitional zones of the country, groundwater has not been adequately used for small-scale agricultural production. Therefore, this study employed a GIS-based Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) analysis in the Wenchi municipality to estimate the potential groundwater zones for irrigation as a climate change adaptation strategy. Eight factors (Geology, Soil type, land use, Topographic Wetness Index (TWI), slope, lineament density, rainfall, and drainage density) were integrated into the analysis to determine the groundwater potential zones. Normalized weights were assigned to the factors, based on their characteristics and contribution to groundwater recharge through literature and groundwater expert consultations. The weights were later combined, using the Weighted Linear Combination technique in the ArcGIS Pro environment to create a map for the groundwater potential zones. The groundwater potential zones were classified into four, according to their potentiality to groundwater. The classes included low, 27.9% (318.1Km²), moderate 37.9% (432.8Km²), Good 34.1% (389.6Km²), and excellent 1.5% (0.1Km²). To assess the potential benefits of these zones for local populations, the output was analyzed relative to the area's population density, revealing high impact potential. The map showing the spatial distribution of the groundwater potential zones of the municipality will be useful to stakeholders, especially the water research institute at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in their groundwater for irrigation inventory projects and at the same time serve as reference material for future groundwater research studies. This study demonstrates the importance of Remote Sensing and GIS techniques in mapping groundwater potential zones at different scales and levels. It suggests that similar methods could be applied in other developing regions.
Mapping Groundwater Potential Zones for Irrigation against Climate Change Using GIS and Remote Sensing in the Wenchi Municipality (Bono Region, Ghana).
ONYINA, ELLEN
2023/2024
Abstract
Groundwater resources account for nearly half of all irrigation used in agricultural practices to sustain global food production. The impact of climate change on water resources essential for sustainable agriculture has increased the demand for groundwater, especially in arid and semi-arid regions, such as Ghana. Nonetheless, in the transitional zones of the country, groundwater has not been adequately used for small-scale agricultural production. Therefore, this study employed a GIS-based Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) analysis in the Wenchi municipality to estimate the potential groundwater zones for irrigation as a climate change adaptation strategy. Eight factors (Geology, Soil type, land use, Topographic Wetness Index (TWI), slope, lineament density, rainfall, and drainage density) were integrated into the analysis to determine the groundwater potential zones. Normalized weights were assigned to the factors, based on their characteristics and contribution to groundwater recharge through literature and groundwater expert consultations. The weights were later combined, using the Weighted Linear Combination technique in the ArcGIS Pro environment to create a map for the groundwater potential zones. The groundwater potential zones were classified into four, according to their potentiality to groundwater. The classes included low, 27.9% (318.1Km²), moderate 37.9% (432.8Km²), Good 34.1% (389.6Km²), and excellent 1.5% (0.1Km²). To assess the potential benefits of these zones for local populations, the output was analyzed relative to the area's population density, revealing high impact potential. The map showing the spatial distribution of the groundwater potential zones of the municipality will be useful to stakeholders, especially the water research institute at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in their groundwater for irrigation inventory projects and at the same time serve as reference material for future groundwater research studies. This study demonstrates the importance of Remote Sensing and GIS techniques in mapping groundwater potential zones at different scales and levels. It suggests that similar methods could be applied in other developing regions.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12608/78924