Shrinkind Waters of Chad

INRODUCTION 20,000 years old and one of the largest lakes of the world, Lake Chad has drastically diminished in size. The lake that once supplied the sufficient sources of revenue for 20 million people from Chad to Niger has shrunk severely. The lake is 250 meters above sea level and is collectively used by Chad, Cameroon, Nigeria and Niger. RAPID DECREASE IN SIZE It has lost 90 percent of its surface area in 30 just years.  It is 1/20th of the size of 35 years ago. Some 30 million people strive to continue to exist along the lake.  This lake has been shrinking and stretching out since ever but present decrease in the size is unprecedented. The area of the lake in 1963 was about 25,000 square kilometers but today it is one-twentieth of that size. CAUSES BEHIND SHRINKAGE 1-There are various reasons of this reverse change and the most obvious of them is the irrigation. Most of the researchers agree on the cause of hectic use of lake’s water for irrigation purposes. 2-Shallowness of the lake makes it vulnerable to the ordinary changes in the climate. It is only 23 feet deep which is not comparable to its vast surface area. It has under gone seasonal variation due to its little depth.

3-Climate change

Most of the geographers and geologists are at variance with this supposition that the shrinkage is due to climate changes. They say that the man is behind this shrinkage and they are quite right. But we can not overlook this factor altogether. The drastic whether and climate changes are surely one of the reasons. The constant dry weather in the region is the immediate cause of drying. Rain fall has decreased and the lake received its water from the rain waters.

4-Desertification

The monsoon rains failed most of the seasons and the region underwent desertification.

5-Domino Effect

NASA researchers are of the view that one of the serious causes of the shrinkage and climate change is the overgrazing. The climate became drier and the vegetation that was the fodder of the livestock disappeared.

6- Demand for agricultural needs

The Lake Chad is found at the junction of four states of the West Africa. Lake Chad has been the major source of water for huge irrigation projects of Chad, Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon. The satellite maps shown by NASA reveal the fact that the drastic change in size occurred between January 1973 and January 1987. The decrease in size corresponds to the irrigation projects of the related countries. 20 reservoir dams were built between 1970 and early 1980.these dams blocked the waters of the lake in the way and also discharged huge quantities of water from it. The water that was to fill the lake was used in the way and caused the shrinkage of the lake.

6- Human activities

A report published in the Journal of Geophysical Research concludes that the shrinking of Lake Chad is due to human activities. The decline in the size is only due to the human actions associated with climate changes.

7-Population pressure

The increase in the population has put extra pressure on the lake and more and more water is being used by the increased population of the region.

CONCLUSION

In the end we can say that URBANIZATION AND GLOBAL WARMING    is the two major causes that are gnawing at the water resources of the world. More than 20 million people depend on the water of the lake for drinking and irrigation purpose. Some urgent measures are required to save these human beings.

 The earlier, the better