Part 2 Analysis of Natural Environment
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PART 2 ANALYSIS OF NATURAL ENVIRONMENT The Study on the Sustainable, Autonomic Drinking Water Supply Program in the South Region of Madagascar Final Report Data Book Part 2 Analysis of Natural Environment Part 2 ANALYSIS OF NATURAL ENVIRONMENT DP 2.1 Hydrology and Meteorology 2.1.1 Climate The climate of Madagascar Island is influenced by the tropical low-pressure system from the north and the subtropical high-pressure system from the southeast. The climate can be classified into two seasons. One is the dry season dominated by the subtropical high pressure system with low temperature starting in May and ends in October, and the other is the rain season dominated by the tropical low pressure system having high temperature starting in November and ends in April. The topographic features influence the amount of precipitation. Eastern part of the Island has much precipitation influenced by the southeasterly trade wind. On the other hand, western part of the Island has less precipitation and it makes the area dry. The Study Area, situated in the southern region of the island, is within the Savanna Climatic classification. The area is out of the range of the area having influence of the tropical low-pressure system, and also, topographically, the mountains of the Faut Dauphine region to the east block the wet trade winds to be influenced. This unique location makes up the area to have the least amount of precipitation in the country. Within the Study Area, there are several meteorological stations. However, according to the responsible official in the Department of Meteorology, at present all the meteorological stations in this area are closed due to aging of equipment. Table 2.1.1-1 shows the list of meteorological stations around the Study Area and the available period of the observed data. Table 2.1.1-1 List of Meteorological stations Station Category Available period of data Status Amboasary Sud Meteorological From 1976 to 1985, 1997 and 1998 Closed Station Ambovombe Meteorological From 1960 to 1986. Closed Station Antanimora Meteorological From 1957 to 1986. Closed Station Ambondro Rainfall From 1950 to 1991. Closed Station Antaritarika Rainfall From 1960 to 1976. Closed Station Tsihombe Meteorological From 1932 to 1968 Closed Station Source: Department of Meteorology Meanwhile from 1997, the organization named SAP (Systeme d’Alerte Precoce) has been taking on the role to maintain rain gauge stations within the south end area of Madagascar and to continue monitoring of rainfall. SAP is the organization supported by EU and they give warning of drought for south end area by analyzing only rainfall data. All the metereological stations, which are listed in the Table 2.1.1-1 are well maintained by SAP and the rainfall data of them from 1997 to the latest period is collected. As a reference, the data surrounding the Study Area are also collected. Figure 2.1.1-1 shows isohyet map around the Study Area which is generated with the collected data. DP2.1-1 The Study on the Sustainable, Autonomic Drinking Water Supply Program in the South Region of Madagascar Final Report Data Book Part 2 Analysis of Natural Environment Ambovombe Basin Rain gauge Source : SAP Figure 2.1.1-1 Isohyet Map around the Study Area (Average of 1999-2004) Figure 2.1.1-2 shows annual precipitation data of five rain gauge stations within the Study Area. 1,200 Ambanisarika Ambondro Average1-Antanimora (704mm) Ambovombe (Sud) Antanimora-Sud 1,000 Antaritarika *Average1-Ambovonbe (541mm) Average1-Antaritarika (398mm) 800 *Average2-Ambovonbe (486mm) 600 Rainfall(mm) 400 200 - 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 *Average1; 1998-2004, Average2; 1976-1985 Source: SAP Figure 2.1.1-2 Annual Precipitation of the Stations within the Study Area (1998-2004) In the Figure, average of annual precipitation, from 1998 to 2004, for Antanimora, Ambovombe and Antaritarika station and from 1976 to 1985 for Ambovombe station, is also shown. The figure shows the trend of precipitation that northern part of the Study area, Antanimora, has much precipitation than the DP2.1-2 The Study on the Sustainable, Autonomic Drinking Water Supply Program in the South Region of Madagascar Final Report Data Book Part 2 Analysis of Natural Environment southern part, Antaritarika. Average precipitation of Ambovombe station from 1998 to 2004 is relatively higher than the average from 1976 to 1985. For Ambovombe and Antaritarika station, annual precipitation measured from 2001 to 2004 is smaller than the average of annual precipitation from 1998 to 2004. Figure 2.1.1-3 shows the average monthly precipitation of 1998 to 2004, for Antanimora, Ambovombe and Antaritarika station. In the figure, long term average monthly precipitation, from 1976 to 1985, for Ambovombe station is also shown. 200 Anbovombe 180 Antanimora 160 Antaritarika 140 120 Average-Annbovombe 100 (1976-1985) 80 Rainfall(mm/month) 60 40 20 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Source: SAP Figure 2.1.1-3 Monthly precipitation of the stations within the Study Area (1998-2004) From the above figure it can be observed that most of the annual precipitation occurs between December and March, with December having the largest precipitation, and August being the lowest. Also, for Ambovombe, in comparison with the monthly average of the past data (1976 - 1985), the average of the recent years, the amount of precipitation seems to have fallen especially in the dry season. DP2.1-3 The Study on the Sustainable, Autonomic Drinking Water Supply Program in the South Region of Madagascar Final Report Data Book Part 2 Analysis of Natural Environment 2.1.2 Hydrology Around the Study Area there are two large rivers. One is the Mandrare River flowing in the east, and the other is the Mananbovo River flowing in the west. Ambovombe Basin is located between these two rivers and there are no river flowing continuously throughout the year flowing out to the sea within the Ambovombe Basin, and river flows can only be observed during the wet season. Figure 2.1.2-1 shows the river system around the Study Area. Mandrare River Mananbovo River Ambovombe Basin Figure 2.1.2-1 River systems around the Study Area (1) Mandrare River The Mandrare River is 270 km in length and has around 13,000km2 of contributory area. The average altitude of the river basin is around 400m above sea level. The river flow can be observed throughout the year due to much amount of precipitation. Figure 2.1.2-2 shows location map of river gauge stations within the basin. Table 2.1.2-1 shows list of river gauge stations and the available period of the observed data. Table 2.1.2-1 List of River Gauge stations Station Period of available data Status Amboasary-sud From 1951 to 1986 and from 1994 to 1996 Closed Andabolava-sa From 1949 to 1971 Closed Andabolava-sav From 1967 to 1980 Closed Bevia From 1951 to 1974 Closed Amboasary-est From 1960 to 1961 and from 1974 to 1993 Closed Ambia From 1974 to 1975 Closed Marotsiraka 1960 and from 1981 to 1983 Closed Beraketa From 1973 to 1978 ,from 1981 to 1983, from 1987 to 1989, and from 1990 to 1993 Closed Andetsy From 1950 to 1978 Closed Ampastmpolaka From 1973 to 1977 Closed Ifotaka From 1953 to 1976 Closed Berenty From 1974 to 1975 Closed Source: Department of Meteorology DP2.1-4 The Study on the Sustainable, Autonomic Drinking Water Supply Program in the South Region of Madagascar Final Report Data Book Part 2 Analysis of Natural Environment River Gauge Station Figure 2.1.2-2 Location map of River gauge station within the Mandrare River basin According to the responsible official in the department of meteorology, these river gauge stations have been also closed due to the same reason for the meteorological stations. Figure 2.1.2-3 shows monthly average discharge from 1951 to 1996. 250 213.5 Mandrare 200 175.2 150 138.6 96.2 100 Discharge(m3/s) 42.6 50 27.6 17.5 13.1 10.1 12.5 7.3 9.1 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Month Figure 2.1.2-3 Monthly average discharge of the Mandrare River From the figure it can be seen that even in the dry season there are certain amount of discharge in this river. Figure 2.1.2-4 shows the picture of Mandrare river which was taken in the middle of May at Amboasary. DP2.1-5 The Study on the Sustainable, Autonomic Drinking Water Supply Program in the South Region of Madagascar Final Report Data Book Part 2 Analysis of Natural Environment Figure 2.1.2-4 Picture of the Mandrare River (middle of May, 2005) (2) Mananbovo River The Mananbovo River has around 4,450km2 of contributory area and its length is 165km long. In the dry season there is no discharge observed in this river due to insufficient amount of precipitation. There is only one river gauge station in the city of Tsihombe. Figure 2.1.2-5 shows location map of river gauge stations within the basin. Table 2.1.2-2 shows list of river gauge station and available period of the observed data. River Gauge Station Figure 2.1.2-5 Location map of River gauge station within the Mananbovo River basin DP2.1-6 The Study on the Sustainable, Autonomic Drinking Water Supply Program in the South Region of Madagascar Final Report Data Book Part 2 Analysis of Natural Environment Table 2.1.2-2 List of river gauge station Station Period of available data Status Tsihombe From 1962 to 1983, from 1987 to 1989 and from 1995 to 1996 Closed Source: Department of Meteorology According to the Department of Meteorology, this river gauge station has been also closed due to the same reason of other stations.