Figures & data
Fig. 1 Overview of the Sudd swamps between Bor and Shambe. The image shows main channels and lagoon areas.
Table 1 Parameters and values used for average evapotranspiration calculations using the FAO Penman-Monteith method for the October/November 2005 period
Fig. 2 Geological cross-section generated from drilling profiles of the Bor-Shambe area from OLS Water, Kenya.
Fig. 3 Grain size distribution of averaged surface (< 1 m depth) and subsurface (> 1 m depth) soil layers.
Fig. 4 Soil water recharge and rainfall between January 2005 and April 2006.
Fig. 5 Soil evaporation values during an average daily cycle.
Table 2 Meteorological data for the Bor-Shambe area. Monthly averages for April 2005 to August 2006
Fig. 6 Evapotranspiration from the October/November 2005 depression experiment showing daily evaporation rates as well as correlation between rainfall events and water-level fluctuations.
Fig. 7 Comparison of calculated and measured daily evapotranspiration values.
Table 3 Evapotranspiration (ET) values calculated after FAO Penman-Monteith for the Bor-Shambe region
Fig. 8 Observed conditions in the seasonal flooded grassland areas.
Fig. 9 Water-level fluctuations at different locations in the seasonal flooded grassland area compared to levels at Burakok station within the permanent swamps.
Fig. 10 Soil water recharge in October and November 2005 based on rainfall data combined with measured and calculated evapotranspiration values. The point of soil saturation, 350 mm, is not reached. Rain received before October has already evaporated at this point. The discrepancy between the two curves can be explained by measurement problems.
Fig. 11 Indicative water budget of the seasonal flooded grasslands (river-fed) during an annual flooding cycle.
