Climate Variability and Its Impact on Groundwater Resources: A Case Study of Sakassou Department, Central Cote d'Ivoire

Jacques Kole N'dja KAMNA, Emmanuel Konan KOUADIO

Abstract: This study examines climate variability and its effects on groundwater resources in the Sakassou Department of central Cote d'Ivoire, a region dominated by agriculture. Consequently, monitoring the evolution remains a critical concern. Using hydroclimatic data from 1981 to 2017, many statistical methods (e.g., Nicholson Rainfall Index, Pettitt Test, Hubert Segmentation) and the Thornthwaite water balance approach are applied. Results reveal a significant climatic shift in 1991, marked by alternating wet and dry phases and a 13.26% rainfall decline, reducing effective infiltration by 72.01%. These findings highlight the vulnerability of groundwater recharge to climatic changes, offering insights for improved water resource management in similar tropical settings.

Keywords: Climate Variability, Rupture, Water Resources, Sakassou, Cote d'Ivoire