Agroclimatology Applied to Water Management in the Sudanian and Sahelian Zones of Africa

Abstract

The Sahelian and Sudanian zones extend south of the Sahara in Africa, and include Senegal, southern Mauritania, Mali, Upper Volta, Niger, northern Nigeria, and Chad in a west to east transect from 17° W to 23° E longitude. The single rainy season varies from two to three months with 200 mm of rain in the north (18° N latitude), to five to six months with 1200 mm of rain in the south (12° N latitude). The evaporative demand is very high with annual potential evapotranspiration varying between 2200 mm in the north to 1600 mm in the south. A more detailed characterization of these zones may be found in the study of Cochemé and Franquin (1967).