Global Warming and Water Resources Variability in the Maritime Region of Togo (West Africa)

Abstract

One of the most important climatic phenomena of our planet on the threshold of this third millennium is undoubtedly that of global warming. This phenomenon, whose impact on the global environment is disastrous, has been attracting the attention of the international community since the end of the last century. Global warming can be observed on a global scale, but with regional and local signatures. In Togo, the Maritime region which houses the bulk of industrial activities (90%) and densely populated (40% of the national population), would be more exposed to the effects of global warming than all the other regions of the country. The current study uses meteorological and hydrological data to calculate statistical indexes which show the evolution of temperatures and water resources variability. The aim is to detect the signs of global warming and the variability of water resources in order to envisage better adaptation strategies. The results of the analysis of climate data for a long enough period (30 to 50 years) demonstrated a change on rain distribution after 1960 which is prejudicial to rainfall agriculture practiced by about 90% of Togolese crop growers, and an augmentation of the average temperature about 2.2 degree celsius for Lomé and 1.7 degree celsius for Tabligbo.