Study of extreme hydroclimatic events in the Beninese basin of the pendjari in Porga (West Africa)

Abstract

Knowledge of hydroclimatic risks constitutes a major challenge for African States, specifically those of West Africa which are highly sensitive to extreme situations (floods, droughts). The objective of this work is to study the extreme hydroclimatic events their manifestations in the Beninese basin of Pendjari in Porga. The methodological approach adopted required the use of climatological (amount of daily and monthly rainfall) and hydrometric (flow) data from 1965 to 2017 were collected. The data were then processed using descriptive statistics methods. The analysis of the results shows that the Beninese basin of Pendjari recorded 0.95% years with extreme humidity, 6.60% years with high humidity, 36.80% for years with moderate humidity, 40, 57% of years with moderate drought, 13.21% of years with severe drought and 1.89% of years with extreme drought. In addition, the floods observed in the Beninese basin of Pendjari in Porga are average floods which caused flooding especially during the years 1968, 1969, 1998, 2002, 2008 and 2010 which correspond to periods of extreme and high humidity. The consequences of these climatic disturbances are already perceptible in the environment and constitute hazards that hamper socio-economic development. Floods and pockets of drought impact subsistence farming,Faced with such a situation, the implementation of appropriate and effective strategies must be taken to reduce the vulnerability of the populations.