Regional hydrological research perspectives in the Niger Delta

Abam, T. K. S.

doi:10.1080/02626660109492797

Cited by 63 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…The Niger Delta environment Geologically, the Niger Delta is regarded as a modern delta (under 100 million years old in the Mesozoic era, Cretaceous period) (Galloway 1975;Okonny 2002). According to Short and Staeuble (1967) beyond into the Gulf of Guinea, resulted in the formation of this complex and fragile delta with a rich biodiversity (Abam 2001). The Niger Delta is regarded as the third largest wetland in the world (Uluocha and Okeke 2004;Umoh 2008), and the largest river delta and mangrove ecosystem with the greatest extension of freshwater swamps in Africa (Ajonina et al 2008;Dupont et al 2000;Ogon 2006).…”

Section: Geography and Peoplementioning

confidence: 99%

Inequality and ecosystem services: The value and social distribution of Niger Delta wetland services

2015

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The Niger Delta wetlands are of international importance for their biodiversity, and support a large human population. The value and distribution of wetland ecosystem service benefits and costs across the three main stakeholder sectors (local community, government and corporate) were investigated. Results show that the net monetary value of the wetlands is $11,000 per delta household of which $9,000 was generated as cash income supporting household activities such as education and healthcare. The total annual value of provisioning services to local people is approximately $25 billion, about three times the value of oil production in the region. However, local communities also bear about 75% of the environmental costs of oil extraction, equivalent to about 19% of the oil industry profit. Local people, who experience considerable economic hardship and lack alternative income sources, receive little compensation from the oil sector. These results highlight the importance of understanding not only the benefits provided by Niger Delta wetlands, but also the distribution of the environmental costs associated with their use. We conclude that ecosystem service valuation studies should give greater attention to the social distribution of identified values. Such distributional analyses, rarely available, provide insight into how sustainable natural resource management policy and practice could be better aligned to social justice concerns.

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Section: Geography and Peoplementioning

confidence: 99%

Inequality and ecosystem services: The value and social distribution of Niger Delta wetland services

2015

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“…The effects may be localized but can be dramatic, e.g. : i) Yangtze: C A =28 mm/y before controls on groundwater withdrawal came into effect circa 1965 (18), ii) Mississippi near New Orleans: C A =5 to 25 mm/y (19), when organic soils are drained and oxidized (20), and gas is mined (21), iii) Niger: C A =25 to 125 mm/y from petroleum mining (22), iv) Chao Phraya: C A =50 to 150 mm/y from groundwater withdrawal (23), and v) Po: C A =60 mm/y during the peak of methane mining (24). The Po Delta has subsided 3.7 m in the 20 th Century, of which 81% is attributed to methane mining.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sinking deltas due to human activities

et al. 2009

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The world's population living on low-lying deltas is increasingly vulnerable to flooding, whether from intense rainfall, rivers or from hurricane-induced storm surges. High-resolution SRTM and MODIS satellite data along with geo-referenced historical map analysis allows quantification of the extent of low-lying delta areas and the role of humans in contributing to their vulnerability. Thirty-three major deltas collectively include ~26,000 km 2 of area below local mean sea level and ~96,000 km 2 of vulnerable area below 2 m a.s.l. The vulnerable areas may increase by 50% under projected 21st Century eustatic sea level rise, a conservative estimate given the current trends in the reduction in sedimentary deposits forming on the surface of these deltas. Analysis of river sediment load and delta topographical data show that these densely populated, intensively farmed landforms, that often host key economic structures, have been destabilized by human-induced accelerated sediment compaction from water, oil and gas mining, by reduction of incoming sediment from upstream dams and reservoirs, and from floodplain engineering. IntroductionClose to 0.5 billion people live on, or near, world deltas, inclusively in many mega-cities (1, 2). Ten countries (China, India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia, Japan, Egypt, USA, Thailand, and the Philippines) account for 73% of the people that live in the world's coastal zone, defined as within 10 m a.s.l. (3). 20 th -century catchment developments and population and economic growth within subsiding deltas have placed these environments and their populations under a growing risk of coastal flooding, wetland loss, shoreline retreat, and loss of infrastructure (4, 5). It is estimated that more than 10 million people per year experience flooding due to storm surges, and most of these people are living on Asian deltas (6). Using new, globally-consistent and highresolution topographic data, three hypotheses are tested: 1) deltas are rapidly sinking, often to below local sea level, 2) the lack of sediment getting to delta floodplains is the main reason so many deltas are sinking, and 3) human activities are largely responsible for the present vulnerability of deltas. For a representative suite of deltas, Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data are applied to evaluate delta topography, in relation to mean sea level. Historical maps are geo-referenced against detailed topographic data to map morphodynamic patterns and quantify how rivers once flowed through deltas. Visible and near-infrared Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite images are used to assess flooding in modern deltas and investigate whether such flooding is mainly from river runoff or instead from coastal storm surges, and whether present river suspended load is sufficient to maintain delta plain aggradation and stability.

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“…Water pollution in one part of the delta can readily be felt in other part. Studies conducted by Abam (2001), Oteri (1989Oteri ( , 2003 and Okagbue (2007) have identified salinity or saline water intrusion into groundwater aquifers and elevated levels of nitrates, ammonia and chlorides as major problems in the Niger Delta sub-region. Delta State one of the contiguous States with Bayelsa State in the Niger Delta for example, has problems of elevated levels of magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca), Bicarbonate (HCO 3 ) and hydrogen ion concentration.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Groundwater Quality Assessment of Yenagoa and between 2010 and 2011

Amangabara¹,

Ejenma²

2012

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The hydrochemical characteristics of groundwater in Yenagoa and environs was investigated to determine the areal distribution of geochemical parameters and attempt to explain the controlling processes responsible for the various facies. Sixty water samples were collected from wells ( Borehole) at different times in both the dry season ( December to February) and the raining/wet Season ( Between May and October) and were analyzed for various parameters including pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), potassium (K), Sodium (Na), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Chlorine (Cl), Bicarbonate (HCO 3 ) and sulphate ion (SO4 2-) after standard procedures. The Data obtained from the laboratory analysis were used as variable inputs for the descriptive statistics such as mean, minimum, maximum and standard deviation. Laboratory tests were carried out on representative soil samples in accordance with British Standards (B.S) 1377, which are equivalent to the American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) standards. The tests were grain size distribution analysis, permeability (using the constant and falling head permeameters) and Atterberg (consistency) limits and was conducted to enable the evaluation of the gradation, hydraulic conductivity (coefficient of permeability/ and consistency (water absorbing and adsorbing ability) properties of the soil samples, as well as their classification. Results showed that water table was generally close to the surface of the area. The first 0 to 5cm depth consist of organic clay, and essentially, the area is mostly characterized by the sandyclay and silty-clay materials. By implication, the upper clay protective layer for groundwater is thin, coupled with organic materials, biochemical oxygen demand is enhanced. Permeability and transmissivity character of the borehole indicate that if surface water is polluted in one area it can easily get transferred to other part of Yenagoa thus causing serious concern for health implication. The physico-chemical character of the groundwater reflects the hydrochemical facie of the groundwater in the study area. The most prevalent ionic concentration includes iron, calcium, magnesium, Sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate. The trend of occurrence shows the following relationship: Ca > HCO 3 > Na + > K > Mg > Cl -> SO 4 2 . Na + > K > Cl -. There is elevated occurrence of Ca 2+ > HCO 3 -> Mg 2+ ions in the groundwater beyond permissible level reflecting processes of natural rainwater recharge and water -soil/rock interaction

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Regional hydrological research perspectives in the Niger Delta

Cited by 63 publications

References 3 publications

Inequality and ecosystem services: The value and social distribution of Niger Delta wetland services

Inequality and ecosystem services: The value and social distribution of Niger Delta wetland services

Sinking deltas due to human activities

Groundwater Quality Assessment of Yenagoa and between 2010 and 2011

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