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Lookup NU author(s): Alem Oyarmoi, Dr Stephen Birkinshaw, Dr Caspar HewettORCiD, Professor Hayley Fowler
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© 2023 by the authors.Africa has the largest area of wetlands of international importance, and papyrus constitutes the most dominant species for many of these wetlands. This hydrological modelling study assesses and quantifies the impacts of these papyrus wetlands on historical baseflow and quickflow, as well as future flood and low flows in the Mpologoma catchment in Uganda. Assessment over the historic period shows that wetlands strongly attenuate quickflow while moderately enhancing baseflow. They play a moderating role in most months, except for the first dry season (June and July), due to the reversal of flows between wetlands and rivers that often occur during this period. Annual estimates show that wetlands are four times better at regulating quickflow than baseflow. Examination of changes at 2 and 4 °C global warming levels (GWLs) indicate that wetlands will play critical roles in mitigating flood risks, with a lesser role in supporting low flows. Wetlands are predicted to lower future mean flood magnitude by 5.2 and 7.8% at GWL2 and GWL4, respectively, as well as halving the average number of flood events in a year, irrespective of the warming level. This work shows that papyrus-dominated wetlands strongly influence catchment hydrology, with significant roles on quickflow, including floods, and highlights the need for their conservation and protection.
Author(s): Oyarmoi A, Birkinshaw S, Hewett CJM, Fowler HJ
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Land
Year: 2023
Volume: 12
Issue: 12
Online publication date: 12/12/2023
Acceptance date: 11/12/2023
Date deposited: 19/02/2024
ISSN (electronic): 2073-445X
Publisher: MDPI
URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/land12122158
DOI: 10.3390/land12122158
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