ESTIMATION OF STREAMFLOW IN THE UPPER BENUE RIVER BASIN USING CLIMATIC WATER BUDGET METHOD

ESTIMATION OF STREAMFLOW IN THE UPPER BENUE RIVER BASIN USING CLIMATIC WATER BUDGET METHOD

Abstract:

Water is a fundamental element in the economic and social development of any country. A survey of surface water development in the Upper Benue Basin is made here in and availability of necessary data for water resources development discussed. A set of average monthly Temperature and Rainfall data have been used to estimate monthly streamflow values at three gauging stations by the Book keeping technique of the Climatic VJater Budget analysis. After a few trials, each time using a set of values for VJater Holding Capacity of soils and other factors of the Budget analysis, monthly streamflow values were arrived at which compare favourably with corresponding observed (measured) strcamflows at the gauging stations. Another set of Temperature and rainfall data is then used in conjuction with the final set of values of VJater Holding capacity and other factors like overland runoff (Direct Runoff) and channel conveyance coefficients to estimate monthly Runoff for three consecutive years at one of the gauging stations. The result of this exercise shows that the Climatic VJater Budget method can be reliably applied to the various sub-basins of the Benue River to estimate streamflows from rainfall data

ESTIMATION OF STREAMFLOW IN THE UPPER BENUE RIVER BASIN USING CLIMATIC WATER BUDGET METHOD