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Research Article
Assessment of the Vulnerability of the Kribi Coastal Zone (South Cameroon) to Ocean Acidification Based on Zooplankton and Carbonate Chemistry
Issue:
Volume 15, Issue 5, October 2026
Pages:
177-197
Received:
21 July 2026
Accepted:
12 August 2026
Published:
15 September 2026
Abstract: Assessing the vulnerability of a coastal area to an anthropogenic factor is crucial for developing adaptation or mitigation strategies. As other countries, Cameroon is exposed to ocean acidification (OA), but very little is known about the extent of its vulnerability. This study aim was to assess the vulnerability of the coastal ocean ecosystem of Kribi (Southern Cameroon) to ocean acidification. Thus, simultaneous monitoring of carbonate system parameters, zooplankton communities, and others environmental variables was conducted in the area between September 2021 and August 2022. Three monitoring stations and a seasonal sampling strategy were established to understand organism’s exposition to changes in the carbonate chemistry and OA. Seawater physicochemical parameters were measured in situ using a calibrated water quality multimeter probe. Nutrients, chlorophyll-a, and total alkalinity (TA) were measured in the laboratory using appropriates methods, with water samples for TA analysis fixed using mercuric chloride (HgCl2). Based on the pH, TA, salinity, and temperature values, the others parameters of the carbonate system were calculated using the CO2SYS_Xls program. Zooplankton was collected at the surface with a 64-micron plankton net and fixed in 5% formaldehyde, then transported to the laboratory for counting and identification. The Coastal Ocean Acidification Vulnerability Index (COAVI) was then used to determine the area’s vulnerability level. As results, 45 zooplankton species, belonging to 7 phylum and 32 families were identified. Copepod was the dominant group in all sampling stations during all the seasons. Environmental conditions were characterized by high temperature (28.56 ± 1.85°C) and a salinity that varied according to the rainfall. The carbonate system indicates that the critical threshold of OA was not reached in the area, as seawater remained saturated with respect to aragonite and calcite saturation (Ω ˃ 1). Although, lowest value of pH, aragonite and calcite were observed during the small and large rainy seasons. Low pH and high pCO2 values were accompanied by a drop in diversity, while salinity variation drives selective presence of some taxa in the area. The COAVI index showed an overall value of 0.53, indicating moderate vulnerability to OA in the study area. Station Bp, with an index of 0.81 was the most vulnerable, while the rainy seasons, with an index of 0.76 are at the highest risk. The study highlighted the area’s vulnerability to OA, which calls for raising awareness and developing local environmental management strategies.
Abstract: Assessing the vulnerability of a coastal area to an anthropogenic factor is crucial for developing adaptation or mitigation strategies. As other countries, Cameroon is exposed to ocean acidification (OA), but very little is known about the extent of its vulnerability. This study aim was to assess the vulnerability of the coastal ocean ecosystem of ...
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Corrigendum
Corrigendum to: Spatial Interpolation of Hydrographic Vertical References in the Gulf of Guinea: Hierarchical Ranking of Geostatistical and Deterministic Methods by LOO Cross-validation
Issue:
Volume 15, Issue 5, October 2026
Pages:
198-199
Received:
29 September 2026
Accepted:
29 September 2026
Published:
29 September 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.wros.20261505.12
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Research Article
Application of a GIS-Based DRASTIC Model for Groundwater Vulnerability Assessment: A Case Study of Lai City, Tandjile East Department, Southern Chad
Tidjani Bahar*
,
Mahamat Moussa
Issue:
Volume 15, Issue 5, October 2026
Pages:
200-220
Received:
28 August 2026
Accepted:
17 September 2026
Published:
29 September 2026
Abstract: Groundwater resource protection is a worldwide issue because groundwater plays a crucial role in meeting water supply demands for both natural ecosystems and human activities. Effective groundwater management and protection therefore require appropriate approaches for assessing contamination risks and identifying areas that are particularly vulnerable to pollution. In this study, a GIS-based DRASTIC model was applied to assess groundwater vulnerability in Lai City, southern Chad. Seven hydrogeological parameters were considered, namely depth to water, net recharge, aquifer media, soil media, topography, impact of the vadose zone, and hydraulic conductivity. A weighted overlay analysis based on the DRASTIC Index (DI) was subsequently used to generate the groundwater vulnerability map of the study area. The results show that the DRASTIC Index values range from 119 to 175, enabling the study area to be categorized into three groundwater vulnerability classes: low, moderate, and high. The high-vulnerability class covers approximately 35% of the study area, highlighting areas that require particular attention for groundwater protection and management. The average and low class of vulnerability covers portions of the study area 31% and 34%, respectively. The northern and south-western portion of the catchment, namely Lai, Gabri Mbassa, Sategui, and Django, possesses high groundwater vulnerability. GIS-based Drastic model validation is performed via water quality parameters such as Nitrate and Total Dissolved Solids, with the accuracy of 97% and 75% respectively. The resulting groundwater vulnerability map provides a valuable tool for groundwater protection and sustainable land-use planning in Lai City and its surrounding areas.
Abstract: Groundwater resource protection is a worldwide issue because groundwater plays a crucial role in meeting water supply demands for both natural ecosystems and human activities. Effective groundwater management and protection therefore require appropriate approaches for assessing contamination risks and identifying areas that are particularly vulnera...
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Research Article
Characterizing Future Trends of Temperature and Rainfall Using CMIP6 Climate Scenarios over Upper Wabe-Sheble River Basin, Ethiopia
Dejen Terefe Cherinet*
Issue:
Volume 15, Issue 5, October 2026
Pages:
221-240
Received:
28 August 2026
Accepted:
8 September 2026
Published:
30 September 2026
Abstract: Climate change poses significant challenges on agriculture water resources and energy sectors mainly induced by human activities. Climate models’ scenarios play vital role in assessing future temperature and rainfall their impacts on various sectors. This study aims to assessed future rainfall and temperature trend Using CMIP6 under the SSP2-4.5and SSP5-8.5 scenarios over Wabe- Sheble river basin. Data Eight GCMs under were obtained from ESGF, whereas observed data from Ethiopia meteorology institute. An Ensemble model was Best performed for precipitation (RMSE=4.6, NSE=0, r=0.9) and maximum temperature (best performed for minimum temperature relative to individual models. Linear scaling bias correction method was applied to reduced model errors and improve repetitiveness for local climate features. During the near-term period (2031–2060), future rainfall is projected to increase by 17.0%, 7.4%, and 12.9% under SSP2-4.5, while by 22.7%, 15.3%, and 17.4% increases under SSP5-8.5 scenarios during Belg, Kermit, and annual respectively). During the far term (2061-2090) mean maximum temperature (℃) is projected to increase under the SSP2-4.5 by 1.2℃, 1.6℃, 1.8℃, 1.6 whereas, under increase by 3.2℃, 3.7℃, 3.9℃ and 3.8 Bega, Belg Kermit and annual periods respective. Under the SSP2-4.5 scenario future mean minimum temperature (℃) is projected increases /relative by 2.1℃, 2.2 ℃, 3.1℃ and 3.2 during near-term (2031-2060, whereas during the far term (2061-2090) increase 3.0℃, 2.5℃, 3.1℃ and 3.1℃ Bega, Belg Kermit and annual period. Over all, this finding reveals both temperature and precipitation is projected to increases under the SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios. Although, future rainfall is projected to increase temperature also increase simultaneously therefor future warming expected to affects agriculture, water resource, range land ecosystems, therefore timely climate information and interventions activities are recommended. Further studies are suggested considers drought and flood assessment and their potential changes under future climate scenarios over the study area.
Abstract: Climate change poses significant challenges on agriculture water resources and energy sectors mainly induced by human activities. Climate models’ scenarios play vital role in assessing future temperature and rainfall their impacts on various sectors. This study aims to assessed future rainfall and temperature trend Using CMIP6 under the SSP2-4.5and...
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