Enhancing hydrometric monitoring in Ethiopia's Abbay basin: A collaborative framework for Data-Scarce Africa

Study region: The Abbay River Basin, a representative Blue Nile basin in Ethiopia, Africa. Study focus: We conducted a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis on the basis of analyzing over 100 stream gauging stations collected over five decades. The study aims to understan...

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Main Authors: Ermias Teferi, Greg O'Donnell, Woldeamlak Bewket, Gete Zeleke, Claire Walsh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581825004045
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author Ermias Teferi
Greg O'Donnell
Woldeamlak Bewket
Gete Zeleke
Claire Walsh
author_facet Ermias Teferi
Greg O'Donnell
Woldeamlak Bewket
Gete Zeleke
Claire Walsh
author_sort Ermias Teferi
collection DOAJ
description Study region: The Abbay River Basin, a representative Blue Nile basin in Ethiopia, Africa. Study focus: We conducted a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis on the basis of analyzing over 100 stream gauging stations collected over five decades. The study aims to understand the existing state of hydrometric monitoring system, and provide a new approach for strengthening hydrometric monitoring in data-scarce regions. The study uses a collaborative approach, involving statistical analysis, spatial data generation, participatory workshops and key informant interviews to inform the analysis. New hydrological insight for the region: Our research makes several significant contributions. First, we employed a collaborative methodology, involving participatory workshops and key informant interviews to inform the analysis. Second, we derived precise catchment boundaries and stream networks for over 100 monitoring stations, revealing errors in the existing hydrometric system. Third, we performed rigorous quality checks through statistical analysis, including outlier analysis and homogeneity tests on daily streamflow data from more than 100 stations, ensuring data reliability and integrity. Finally, this study presents a collaborative framework for enhancing hydrometric monitoring in data-scarce regions of Africa, with a focus on addressing financial and operational challenges.
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spelling doaj-art-3291ca9be6014751b60d52bc1c276e022025-08-20T02:50:03ZengElsevierJournal of Hydrology: Regional Studies2214-58182025-08-016010257910.1016/j.ejrh.2025.102579Enhancing hydrometric monitoring in Ethiopia's Abbay basin: A collaborative framework for Data-Scarce AfricaErmias Teferi0Greg O'Donnell1Woldeamlak Bewket2Gete Zeleke3Claire Walsh4School of Development Studies, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Water and Land Resource Center, Addis Ababa 3880, Ethiopia; Corresponding author at: School of Development Studies, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UKWater and Land Resource Center, Addis Ababa 3880, Ethiopia; Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaWater and Land Resource Center, Addis Ababa 3880, EthiopiaSchool of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UKStudy region: The Abbay River Basin, a representative Blue Nile basin in Ethiopia, Africa. Study focus: We conducted a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis on the basis of analyzing over 100 stream gauging stations collected over five decades. The study aims to understand the existing state of hydrometric monitoring system, and provide a new approach for strengthening hydrometric monitoring in data-scarce regions. The study uses a collaborative approach, involving statistical analysis, spatial data generation, participatory workshops and key informant interviews to inform the analysis. New hydrological insight for the region: Our research makes several significant contributions. First, we employed a collaborative methodology, involving participatory workshops and key informant interviews to inform the analysis. Second, we derived precise catchment boundaries and stream networks for over 100 monitoring stations, revealing errors in the existing hydrometric system. Third, we performed rigorous quality checks through statistical analysis, including outlier analysis and homogeneity tests on daily streamflow data from more than 100 stations, ensuring data reliability and integrity. Finally, this study presents a collaborative framework for enhancing hydrometric monitoring in data-scarce regions of Africa, with a focus on addressing financial and operational challenges.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581825004045Hydrometric monitoringSWOT analysisParticipatory methodsData reliability, Ethiopia
spellingShingle Ermias Teferi
Greg O'Donnell
Woldeamlak Bewket
Gete Zeleke
Claire Walsh
Enhancing hydrometric monitoring in Ethiopia's Abbay basin: A collaborative framework for Data-Scarce Africa
Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies
Hydrometric monitoring
SWOT analysis
Participatory methods
Data reliability, Ethiopia
title Enhancing hydrometric monitoring in Ethiopia's Abbay basin: A collaborative framework for Data-Scarce Africa
title_full Enhancing hydrometric monitoring in Ethiopia's Abbay basin: A collaborative framework for Data-Scarce Africa
title_fullStr Enhancing hydrometric monitoring in Ethiopia's Abbay basin: A collaborative framework for Data-Scarce Africa
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing hydrometric monitoring in Ethiopia's Abbay basin: A collaborative framework for Data-Scarce Africa
title_short Enhancing hydrometric monitoring in Ethiopia's Abbay basin: A collaborative framework for Data-Scarce Africa
title_sort enhancing hydrometric monitoring in ethiopia s abbay basin a collaborative framework for data scarce africa
topic Hydrometric monitoring
SWOT analysis
Participatory methods
Data reliability, Ethiopia
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581825004045
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