Effect of mau forest clear cut on temperature distribution and hydrology of catchment of lakes nakuru and naivasha: Preliminary study

Abstract

A decrease in total area of tropical forests is considered as a significant factor that influences landscape functioning, including the hydrological cycle; it contributes to climate change, and has many other consequences. This paper presents the extent of deforestation in Nakuru and Naivasha region (Rift Valley, Central Kenya) between the years 1986 and 2005 and its effects upon thermal characteristics of the landscape. Such changes have immense impact on hydrological regimes of the Rift Valley lakes in central Kenya. Multispectral data from Landsat TM, ETM+ and Terra Aster were used to determinate dense and humid forests as well as their changes over time. A field observation, realized during the dry rainy season in October 2008, confirmed evident decline of precipitation and consequent low water discharge from the deforested catchment in the rivers and water level in lakes. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.