Effects of Hydroclimatic Variability on the Spatial Dynamics of Ponds (Simenti, Kountadala and Oudassi) of the Gambia River Basin in the Niokolo Koba National Park (Senegal)

A significant increase in pond surface area from 40.3 ha in 1975 to 83.4 ha by 2010 was observed, followed by a sharp decline to 67.8 ha in 2019 due to rainfall deficits and aquatic vegetation expansion in Niokolo-Koba National Park's Gambia River Basin ponds (Simenti, Kountadala, Oudassi). Hydroclimatic trends revealed positive and significant increases in temperature and evaporation, alongside a negative trend in precipitation at a 95% confidence level. The study utilized Landsat, Google Earth, and Sentinel imagery for pond trend mapping and applied Mann-Kendall and Pettitt tests to hydroclimatic data, including precipitation, temperature, evaporation, and discharge. Recommendations included water transfer operations to mitigate scarcity and drying-up of these critical water bodies.

Faye, C., Solly, B., Sane, B., & Cisse, A. (2019). Effects of Hydroclimatic Variability on the Spatial Dynamics of Ponds (Simenti, Kountadala and Oudassi) of the Gambia River Basin in the Niokolo Koba National Park (Senegal). International Journal of Geography and Geology, 8(2), 69–86. https://doi.org/10.18488/journal.10.2019.82.69.86