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.
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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Youri Rothfuss, Samuel Le Gall, Nicolas Brüggemann, Sharmin Jahan, Mathieu Javaux, Julian Klaus, Harry Vereecken, and Dagmar van Dusschoten
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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How plants cope with water stress is relevant when studying plant water sources in soil. We associated two techniques for measuring the content in water stable isotopes in the stem of sunflower plants and for locating where they take up water in a non-destructive manner. We highlight the role of stem water as a source of water to transpiration flux.
Johanna Bacher, Julian Klaus, Adam S. Ward, Jasmine Krause, Catalina Segura, and Clarissa Glaser
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 30, 1523–1541, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-1523-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-30-1523-2026, 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.
Samuele Ceolin, Stanislaus J. Schymanski, Dagmar van Dusschoten, Robert Koller, and Julian Klaus
Biogeosciences, 22, 691–703, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-691-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-691-2025, 2025
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We investigated if and how roots of maize plants respond to multiple abrupt changes in soil moisture. We measured root lengths using a magnetic resonance imaging technique and calculated changes in growth rates after applying water pulses. The root growth rates increased in wetted soil layers within 48 hours and decreased in non-wetted layers, indicating fast adaptation of the root systems to moisture changes. Our findings could improve irrigation management and vegetation models.
Ginevra Fabiani, Julian Klaus, and Daniele Penna
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.
Enrico Bonanno, Günter Blöschl, and Julian Klaus
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 6003–6028, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-6003-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-6003-2022, 2022
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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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