Estimate changes in the surface area and water volume of the Wadi Ka’am and Al-Mjeneen Dams, 2017-2021

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify and determine the extent of changes in both the surface and water capacity of the Wadi Ka'am and Al-Mjeneen dams in NW Libya between 2017 and 2021. Open-source ESA data with a spatial resolution of 10 m were used to create LULC thematic maps. The data were processed using geographic information systems (GIS) to estimate changes in the surface area and water volume in both dams. The results showed that, during each rainy season from 2017 to 2021, the volume of water reserved in front of each dam varied. The storage capacities of the two dams peaked at the end of 2018 and then decreased to drought by 2021. The changes in the water storage capacity of the two dams and their decrease are due to a sharp decrease in rainfall during 2019, 2020, and 2021, with high annual evaporation rates and increased pressure on the use of water from the two dams for agricultural purposes. Thus, this study highlights the importance of using open-source data and geographic information systems to monitor and manage water resources in dams.