Abstract:
Investigations of groundwater resources in order to understand aquifer system behavior
are vital to the inhabitants of the Klela Basin, Mali, because groundwater is the only permanent water
resource and is used for drinking water and irrigation. Due to climate change, this vital resource
is being threatened. Therefore, MODFLOW was applied in this study to simulate groundwater
dynamics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of climate change on groundwater
resources in the Klela basin using the RCP4.5 (Representative Concentration Scenario 4.5 W/m2)
climate scenario. Climatological, geological, hydrogeological, hydraulic and demographic data were
collected and used as model input data. Groundwater recharge was estimated to be approximately
165.3 mm/year using the EARTH (Extended model for Aquifer Recharge and soil moisture Transport
through the unsaturated Hardrock) model. Recharge was then used as groundwater model input.
The sandstone aquifer in the study area was simulated in steady and transient conditions. The results
showed that hydraulic conductivity values varied from 1.1 to 13.9 m/day. The model was used
for scenario quantification after model calibration and verification using three different piezometer
data sets. The results of the simulated MODFLOW model showed a decrease in groundwater levels
over time.
