The Hydrology of the Nile

by J. V. Sutcliffe & Y. P. Parks

Spec. Publ. no. 5, (1999) ISBN 1-901502-75-9, 180 + xii pp., price £34.00

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This important book presents an account of the hydrology of the whole Nile basin, dealing with each tributary in turn but drawing attention to links between reaches. The Nile is shown to be a set of very different tributaries which came together by geological accident. Nevertheless, evidence from one part of the basin often throws light on a different area. Recent changes are discussed, in particular the dramatic change of regime of Lake Victoria and other lakes which occurred after 1961. The relationship between hydrology and vegetation affects the important wetlands of the White Nile basin, and discussion of this relationship includes the effect of increased lake outflows. The authors draw on the extensive records collected throughout the basin to paint a detailed hydrological picture of the regime of the Nile. The book is well illustrated with over 100 diagrams and photographs. Its scope can be seen from the list of contents overleaf. J. V. Sutcliffe has worked on all the major Nile tributaries over a period of 50 years and has authored many papers and reports on the different hydrological problems. Y. P. Parks has worked on hydrological models of the Sudd and on water resources problems of several Nile tributaries.

This book presents a regional hydrological study of a very important river. It is essential reading for hydrologists and water resource engineers working in the Nile basin and those interested in the background to the problems of the region.

Foreword by J. C. Rodda
Preface

CHAPTER 1
An Outline of the Nile Basin

Introduction
Extent of the Nile basin
Rainfall and runoff
Main tributaries
- White Nile
- Blue Nile and main Nile

CHAPTER 2
Early Studies and Flow Measurement

Introduction 8
Early investigations
Establishment of the hydrological network
Numbers of gauging stations
Collaboration with other hydrological services
Records available at key sites

CHAPTER 3
The Lake Victoria Basin

Introduction
Early studies of the water balance
The Kagera basin
Lakes and swamps in lower Kagera
Contribution of other tributaries
Rainfall over Lake Victoria
Evaporation
Lake levels
Lake Victoria outflows
Water balance of Lake Victoria
- The WMO/UNDP Hydrometeorological Survey
- Reviews by the Institute of Hydrology
Long-term Lake Victoria balance
Downstream influence

CHAPTER 4
The East African Lakes below Lake Victoria

Introduction
Geography of the lake system
Early water balance observations
General climate of Lake Kyoga and Lake Albert basins
Published flow records
- Main Nile between Lake Kyoga and Lake Albert
- Semliki at Bweramule
- Lake Albert outflows
Review of river flows at key sites
- Lake Kyoga outflows at Masindi Port
- River flows at Kamdini
- Comparison of flows at Masindi Port and Kamdini
Comparisons of inflows and outflows for Lake Kyoga
Water balance of Lake Kyoga
Lakes Edward and George
Lake Albert
- Kyoga Nile inflows
- Semliki and local inflows
- Albert Nile outflows
- Other components of Lake Albert balance
- Water balance
- The surroundings of Lake Albert
- Potential of Lake Albert as a reservoir
Effect on flows of Lake Kyoga and Lake Albert basins

CHAPTER 5
The Bahr el Jebel and the Sudd

Introduction
Early studies
Studies of the Jonglei Canal
Flows of the Bahr el Jebel
- Available river flow records
- Published river flow records
The Bahr el Jebel swamps
- The influence of topography
- The flooding regime
- Study of a sample reach
Hydrological model of the Sudd
- The hydrological model
- Effect on areas of seasonal flooding
Hydrological control of flood-plain vegetation
- Early observations and botanical studies
- Botanical studies of the Jonglei Investigation Team
- Juba–Bor survey
- Description of flooding mechanism
- Statistical analysis of vegetation distribution
- Effect of rise in Lake Victoria
- Importance of seasonal flooding to grazing
Effects of the Jonglei Canal
- Assessment of the effects of the Jonglei Canal
Conclusion

CHAPTER 6
The Bahr el Ghazal Basin

Introduction
Early studies
- Physical background
- River profile
- Early water balance
- Estimates of tributary inflow
Topics for investigation
Available flow records
- Flows estimated for the MIT study
Revised analysis of available river flow records
Derivation of total inflow series
Other water balance elements
Spill from Bahr el Jebel to Bahr el Ghazal
Area of Bahr el Ghazal swamps
The water balance model
Distribution of wetlands
Plans for reducing losses in the Bahr el Ghazal basin
Conclusion

CHAPTER 7
The Sobat Basin and the Machar Marshes

Introduction
Geography of the Sobat basin
General hydrology
- Spill from the Sobat tributaries
- The Machar marshes
- Contributions of the Pibor
- Spill from Baro to Machar marshes
- Balance of Sobat channel
Water balance of the Machar marshes
- Analysis by Hurst (1950)
- Jonglei Investigation Team (1954)
- Analysis by MIT (1980)
- Analysis of years 1950–1955 (after Sutcliffe, 1993)
General environment
Analysis of Sobat channel storage
Runoff from the eastern plain
Conclusions