Impact of Land Use Changes on Climate in the Bilate River Basin, Ethiopia
Author Information
Author(s): Bikeko Samuel Shibeshi, Venkatesham Dr. E.
Primary Institution: Department of Geography, Central University of Tamil Nadu, School of Earth Sciences, Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu, India
Hypothesis
How do land use and land cover changes affect climate variability in the Bilate River Basin over the past 30 years?
Conclusion
The study found that significant land use changes, particularly deforestation and agricultural expansion, have led to notable climate variability in the Bilate River Basin.
Supporting Evidence
- Forest cover in the Bilate River Basin decreased from 50.5% in 1994 to 29.1% in 2024.
- Agricultural land increased from 47.1% to 60.6% over the same period.
- Significant negative trends in rainfall were observed in the upper catchment.
- Temperature trends showed significant increases, particularly in the upper catchment.
Takeaway
This study shows that when people change the land, like cutting down trees or farming more, it can change the weather in that area.
Methodology
The study used satellite imagery and meteorological data to analyze land use changes and their effects on climate variability over 30 years.
Limitations
The study may not account for all external factors influencing climate variability beyond land use changes.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.0001
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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