Skip to main content

Advertisement

Springer Nature Link
Log in

The implication of climate change and precipitation variability on sedimentation deposits in Algerian dams

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Arabian Journal of Geosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Water erosion represents a major problem in Algeria. The country loses 20 million m3 of water per year due to sediment deposits in dam reservoirs, which is related to the process of erosion in watersheds. In recent years, Algeria has seen a decrease in its average rainfall, due to the effects of climate change on water resources which have resulted in extreme droughts all over the country. The erosion in the watersheds is generally high, and the quantities of transported sediments are extremely variables. In this study, we analyzed the influence of climate change on the rate of water erosion in the watersheds through the measurement of precipitation during different time periods. Water erosion was evaluated at 21 dam reservoirs located in the northern part of the country using bathymetric surveys. Hypsometric analysis revealed that studied watersheds present several geomorphic stages: youth, mature, and old stages. The results of the study showed the influence of precipitations and its variation over time on water erosion at the studied watersheds. A strong relationship was found between average sedimentation rate and mean inter-annual precipitation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Apitz SE, Power B (2002) From risk assessment to sediment management: an international perspective. J Soils Sediments 2:61–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Apitz SE, White S (2003) A conceptual framework for river basin scale sediment management. J Soils Sediments 3:132–138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berthier A, Cabanne J, Douillet G, Lambert A, Raud J (1973) Many problems caused by the creation of dams on rivers carrying solid flows. X International Congress of large dams, Montreal, pp 489–506

    Google Scholar 

  • Bertrand J, Caby ML (1978) Geodynamic evolution of the Pan-African orogenic belt: a new interpretation of the Hoggar shield (Algerian Sahara). Geol Rundsch 67:357–383 Stuttgart

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bishop M, Shroder J, Bonk R, Olsenholler J (2002) Geomorphic change in high mountains: a western Himalayan perspective. Glob Planet Chang 32(4):311–329. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0921-8181(02)00073-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bleacher JE, Glaze LS, Greeley R, Hauber E, Baloga SM, Sakimoto SHE, Williams DA, Glotch TD (2008) Spatial and alignment analyses for a field of small volcanic vents south of Pavonis Mons, Mars. In: 39th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Houston,USA Abstract: 1722

  • Caby R (1987) The Pan-African belt of West-Africa from the Sahara Desert to the Gulf of Benin. In: The anatomy of mountain ranges. University Press, Princeton, pp 129–170

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen YC, Sung Q, Cheng KY (2003) Along-strike variations of morphotectonic features in the Western foothills of Taiwan: tectonic implications based on stream - gradient and hypsometric analysis. Geomorphology 56(1):109–137. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-555X(03)00059-X

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colleta T, Tumbare MJ, Kileshye JM (2018) Sedimentation and its impacts/effects on river system and reservoir water quality: case study of Mazowe catchment, Zimbabwe. Proc IAHS 377:57–66. https://doi.org/10.5194/piahs-377-57-2018

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fabre J (1976) Introduction à la géologie du Sahara Algérien et des régions voisines. (Introduction to geology of the Algerian Sahara and neighboring regions) SNED 1- 421, Alger

  • Harrison CG, Miskell KJ, Brass GW, Saltzman ES, Sloan JL II (1983) Continental hypsography. Tectonics 2(4):357–337. https://doi.org/10.1029/TC002i004p00357

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang XL, Niemann JO (2006) An evaluation of the geomorphically effective event for fluvial processes over long periods. J Geophys Res 111:1–1. https://doi.org/10.1029/2006JF000477

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hurtrez JE, Sol C, Lucazeau F (1999) Effect of drainage area on hypsometry form analysis of small scale drainage basins in the Swalik hills (central Nepal). Earth Surf Process Landf 24(9):799–808. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1096-9837(199908)24:9<799::AID-ESP12>3.0.CO;2-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li ZW, Xu XL, Yu BF (2016) Quantifying the impacts of climate and human activities on water and sediment discharge in a karst region of southwest China. J Hydrol 542:836–849. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2016.09.049

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lifton NA, Chase CG (1999) Tectonic, climatic and lithologic influences on landscape fractal dimension and hypsometry: implications for landscape evolution in the San Gabriel Mountain, California. Geomorphol 5(1):77–114. https://doi.org/10.1016/0169-555X(92)90059-W

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu X, Xiao S, Na F, Chun-F M, Huai YL, Yao LL (2017) Impacts of precipitation variation and soil and water conservation measures on runoff and sediment yield in the Loess Plateau Gully Region, China. J Mt Sci 14(10):2028–2204. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-016-4173-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Masek JG, Isacks BL, Gubbels TL, Fielding EJ (1994) Erosion and tectonics at the margins of continental plateau. J Geophys Res 99(B7):13941–13956

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meddi M, Hubert P (2003) Impact of rainfall change on water resources in northwest of Algeria. Hydrology of the Mediterranean and semi-arid regions. IAHS Publications: 278

  • Meddi H, Meddi M (2007) Spatial and temporal variability of precipitation in northwest of Algeria. Geographia - Technica 2:49–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Mekerta B (1993) Geo-mechanical study of sediment properties in Genissiat dam reservoir. Doctoral thesis, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Géologie, Nancy, France

  • Moglen GE, Bras RL (1995) The effect of spatial heterogeneities on geomorphic expansion in a model of basin evolution. Water Res 31(10):2613–2623. https://doi.org/10.1029/95WR02036

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parsons AJ, Stone PM (2006) Effects of intra-storm variations in rainfall intensity on interrill runoff and erosion. Catena 67(1):68–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2006.03.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ran Q, Su D, Li P, He Z (2012) Experimental study of the impact of rainfall characteristics on runoff generation and soil erosion. J Hydrol 424-425:99–111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2011.12.035

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ran L, Lu XX, Xin Z, Yang X (2013) Cumulative sediment trapping by reservoirs in large river basins: a case study of the yellow river basin. Glob Planet Chang 100:308–319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2012.11.110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Remini B, Leduc C, Hallouche W (2009) Evolution of large dams in arid regions: some Algerian examples. Secheresse 20:96–103

    Google Scholar 

  • Rognon P (1996) Impact of drought and aridity on desertification in the Maghreb region. Secheresse 7:287–297

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutlege AN, Christensen PR (2010) Hypsometry of lobate debris aprons on the Eastern rim of Hellas basin, Mars: implications for climate variations. American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting, San Francisco, USA, 13–17 December 2010; abstract no P5IB -1426

  • Sadeghi SHR, Hazbavi Z (2015) Trend analysis of the rainfall erosivity index at different time scales in Iran. Nat Hazards 77:383–404. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-015-1607-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Servat E, Mahe G (2009) Waters and arid zones: issues and complexity. Secheresse 20:7–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Strahler AN (1950) Equilibrium theory of erosional slopes approached by frequency distribution analysis. Am J Sci 248(10):673–696. https://doi.org/10.2475/ajs.248.10.673

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strahler AN (1952a) A hypsometric (area-altitude) analysis of erosional topography. Geol Soc Am Bull 63(11):1117–1142. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1952)63[1117:HAAOET]2.0.CO;2

  • Strahler AN (1952b) Dynamic basis of geomorphology. Geol Soc Am Bull 63(9):923–938. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1952)63[923:DBOG]2.0.CO;2

  • Taleb A (1987) Conception d’un barrage en vue de réduire l’envasement de la retenue. (Dam conception in order to reduce the sedimentation). Doctoral thesis, University of Liège, Belgium

  • Touaibia B (2010) Problems of erosion and solid transport in northern Algeria. Secheresse 21:1–6

    Google Scholar 

  • Touaibia B, Aidaoui A, Gomer D, Achite M (2001) Quantification and temporal variability of solid flow in the semi-arid zone of northern Algeria. J Hydrol Sci 46:41–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walcott RC, Summerfield MA (2008) Scale dependence of hypsometric integrals: an analysis of South African basins. Geomorphology 96:174–186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2007.08.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weissel J, Pratson L, Malinverno A (1994) The length-scaling properties of topography. J Geophys Res 99(B7):13997–14012. https://doi.org/10.1029/94JB00130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Willgoose GR, Hancock G (1998) Revisiting the hypsometric curve as an indicator of form and process in transport limited catchment. Earth Surf Processes Landf 23(7):611–623. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1096-9837(199807)23:7<611::AID-ESP872>3.0.CO;2-Y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yue S, Pilon P, Phinney B (2003) Canadian stream flow trend detection: impacts of serial and cross-correlation. Hydrol Sci J 48:51–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng MG, Sun LY, Yan M (2014) Temporal change of runoff and sediment load and their differential response to human activities: a case study for a well-vegetated mountain watershed of southern China. J Mt Sci 11(1):73–85. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-013-2751-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge and offer gratitude to the National Agency for Dams and Transfers (A.N.B.T) And National Office of Meteorology (ONM), Algeria, for providing important and valuable data for the research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hydraulics and Civil Engineering, Dr Moulay Tahar University, Saida, Algeria

    Medjber Abdellah, Hadjem Mohamed & Daoud Farouk

Authors
  1. Medjber Abdellah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hadjem Mohamed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  3. Daoud Farouk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Medjber Abdellah.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Abdellah, M., Mohamed, H. & Farouk, D. The implication of climate change and precipitation variability on sedimentation deposits in Algerian dams. Arab J Geosci 11, 733 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-018-4100-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-018-4100-7

Keywords