Feasibility Study for the Analysis of Annual and Inter-Annual Evolution (1998 - 2009) Of Lake Chad with Spot-Vegetation Satellite Images

Abstract

The European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC-IES) and the Universidad de Sevilla (US) have conducted a feasibility study with satellite data to monitor the evolution of environmental conditions in Lake Chad using water surface area and aquatic vegetation as indicators. This study was carried out using a multi-temporal SPOT – VEGETATION satellite image series for the period 1998-2009. It was proved that in opposition to the strong tendency of the water surface to shrink in the last 50 years, the water surface has reached equilibrium in the last decade with slight and exceptional grown periods probably due to exceptional climatologicalconditions. This work could be considered as a preliminary phase for setting up an acquisition and monitoring system to support local and regional African authorities on Water Management.