Articles | Volume 18, issue 10
https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-7227-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-7227-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Data description article
| 
01 Oct 2026
Data description article |
| 01 Oct 2026
| 01 Oct 2026
A harmonized dataset for dams and reservoirs in West Africa
Valery Bessely Stanislas Kouassi
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL), Graduate Research Programme on Climate Change and Water Resources (GRP CCWR), Institut National de l'Eau, Université d'Abomey-Calavi, Abomey-Calavi, Benin
Department of Geography, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Bonn, Germany
Blé Anouma Fhorest Yao
Unité de Formation et de Recherche Sciences et Gestion de l'Environnement, Université Nangui Abrogoua, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
Gneneyougo Emile Soro
Unité de Formation et de Recherche Sciences et Gestion de l'Environnement, Université Nangui Abrogoua, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
Bi Tié Albert Goula
Unité de Formation et de Recherche Sciences et Gestion de l'Environnement, Université Nangui Abrogoua, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
Nelly Carine Kelome
Département des Sciences de la Terre, Université d'Abomey-Calavi, Abomey-Calavi, Benin
Julian Klaus
Department of Geography, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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Valery Bessely Stanislas Kouassi, Kwok Pan Chun, Blé Anouma Fhorest Yao, Albert Elikplim Agbenorhevi, Gneneyougo Emile Soro, Albert Bi Tié Goula, Nelly Carine Kelome-Ahouangnivo, and Julian Klaus
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-4670, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-4670, 2026
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (HESS).
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We assessed the influence of ten major large-scale climate indices on reservoir surface extent across West Africa from 1985 to 2022, using machine learning approaches. The results show that most reservoirs with significant trends exhibit declining surface extent. Western Mediterranean index has the strongest influence, followed by Atlantic indices. Reservoirs respond to combined climate signals and these responses vary widely across the region.
Valery Bessely Stanislas Kouassi, Kwok Pan Chun, Blé Anouma Fhorest Yao, Albert Elikplim Agbenorhevi, Gneneyougo Emile Soro, Albert Bi Tié Goula, Nelly Carine Kelome-Ahouangnivo, and Julian Klaus
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-4670, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-4670, 2026
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (HESS).
Short summary
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We assessed the influence of ten major large-scale climate indices on reservoir surface extent across West Africa from 1985 to 2022, using machine learning approaches. The results show that most reservoirs with significant trends exhibit declining surface extent. Western Mediterranean index has the strongest influence, followed by Atlantic indices. Reservoirs respond to combined climate signals and these responses vary widely across the region.
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Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 30, 6095–6114, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-6095-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-6095-2026, 2026
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Understanding solute transport often relies on slug tracer experiments. These experiments are biassed toward capturing faster flow paths and miss longer timescales. We explore integrating a slug-injected tracer with naturally occurring radon to quantify flow paths across different timescales at the reach scale. We show that jointly calibrating a transient storage model with both tracers strengthens parameter constraints and improves solute transport estimates in future studies.
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Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 28, 2683–2703, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-2683-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-2683-2024, 2024
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There is a limited understanding of the role that topography and climate play in tree water use. Through a cross-site comparison in Luxembourg and Italy, we investigated beech water use along slopes in different climates. Our findings indicate that in landscapes characterized by stronger hydraulic and climatic gradients there is greater spatial variation in tree physiological responses. This highlights how differing growing conditions across landscapes can lead to contrasting tree performances.
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There is an unclear understanding of which processes regulate the transport of water, solutes, and pollutants in streams. This is crucial since these processes control water quality in river networks. Compared to other approaches, we obtained clearer insights into the processes controlling solute transport in the investigated reach. This work highlights the risks of using uncertain results for interpreting the processes controlling water movement in streams.
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Short summary
Dams and reservoirs are crucial for water supply, energy, and farming in West Africa, but information about them is often inaccessible, incomplete, or inconsistent. We combined existing records with field observations to create the a harmonized dataset to date, with quality verified at the watershed scale. This work improves access to dam and reservoir information in West Africa, supporting research and investment planning for water, food and energy security across the region.
Dams and reservoirs are crucial for water supply, energy, and farming in West Africa, but...
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