ERS-SAR Application 4

Lake Chad extension

APPLICATION AREA       GEOGRAPHIC ZONE (EXAMPLE)               CLIMATIC ZONE

Hydrology              Area around Lake Chad                   Sub-tropical regions
                     (Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria, Niger)

ECONOMIC VALUE
The capture of part of the waters of the Lake Chad basin by the Niger basin has considerable consequences for the economy of the regions concerned in terms of fishing, agriculture and stock farming.

ENVIRONMENTAL VALUE
During the rainy season, the overflow of the rivers Logone and Chari into the river Benoue (affluent of the Niger) is a matter of concern to the countries bordering Lake Chad (Chad, Cameroon, Nigeria, Niger). These countries fear a progressive drying up of the lake.

POLITICAL VALUE
An international Commission known as CBLT (Commission of the basin of Lake Chad), set up by the countries bordering the lake, with headquarters in N'Djamena, has drawn the attention of the scientific community to this little known problem.

TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY
Recent results from the interpretation of ERS-SAR data over the flooded Camargue (France) and Mississippi (USA) areas indicate the feasibility of using radar images for this application.

RELIABLE PROCESSING METHODS
The major techniques to be used for this application issue are filters and visual interpretation. Filtering techniques are under development and show reliable results.

REMARKS
Additional important applications related to lake management include the cartography of river networks (river basins) and flood mapping.