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Groundwater Occurrence in Regions and Basins

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Groundwater in Ethiopia

Part of the book series: Springer Hydrogeology ((SPRINGERHYDRO))

Abstract

The broad volcanic plateau (Fig. 1.2) accounts for about 25 % of Ethiopian landmass. The Ethiopian volcanic plateau is a thick monotonous, rapidly erupted pile of locally deformed, flat lying basalts consisting of a number of volcanic centers with different magmatic character and with a large range of ages.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    For the upper part of the flood basalt volcanism a number of other names have been given in the literature including: Jima volcanics, Mekonnen basalts, Wolega basalts etc.

  2. 2.

    In previous hydrogeological classification of Ethiopia (Chernet 1993) the Ashengie formation is considered as high productivity aquifers although evidence now show that the Ashengie basalts are the least productive aquifers compared to younger flood basalts and rift volcanics.

  3. 3.

    It should be noted that in the new classification and modified hydrogeological map of Ethiopia the trap basalts are classified as Lower basalt (traditionally called Ashengie) and the Upper basalt (Aiba, Alaji, Termaber).

  4. 4.

    Exclusively pre bomb recharge refers tritium content less than 0.6 TU if measured in 2003 in Addis Ababa.

  5. 5.

    MER—Main Ethiopian rift is a depression running from the Gidole area in the south west to the Awash town in the north East, see Fig. 2.1. Its width is around 80 km.

  6. 6.

    The Kesme dam is a dam to be built on the Kesem river for irrigation purpose. While excavation has been taking place to anchor the core to key trench several artisan springs emerged on the dam axis hindering construction activities.

  7. 7.

    Specific baseflow discharge of the whole Abay Basin at Ethiopia Sudan border is estimated at 0.45 l/s/km2. Specific baseflow discharges for the Hoha, Sirkole, Beles and Gilgel Beles Rivers which drains the basement rocks of Western Ethiopia are estimated at 0.8, 2.42, 0.51, 0.68 l/s/km2 respectively.

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  1. Department of Earth Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Seifu Kebede

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Kebede, S. (2013). Groundwater Occurrence in Regions and Basins. In: Groundwater in Ethiopia. Springer Hydrogeology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-30391-3_2

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