Dominic Mazvimavi - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Dominic Mazvimavi

GMES & Africa Action Plan chapters : workshop output of GMES & Africa Consolidation - Validation Workshop, Johannesburg, South Africa, 24 - 25 October 2013, 2013

Revenue from mineral resources has contributed to the improvement of the quality of life in sever... more Revenue from mineral resources has contributed to the improvement of the quality of life in several countries globally. The importance of mining in the SADC region is demonstrated by the amount of minerals produced; 40% of vanadium, 72% of the platinum group of metals, 40% of chromite, and 55% of diamonds of the global output. Mining contributes about 60% of the foreign currency receipts of the SADC region (www.sadc.int). Some of the major settlements providing much needed services have developed due to mining, e.g. Johannesburg, Francistown, Copperbelt towns of Zambia. Mining contributes significantly to government revenue in Southern Africa, e.g. 45% in -Botswana in 2004. The importance of the mining sector has been recognized at the SADC level through various initiatives aimed at the development of this sector, e.g. SADC Protocol on Mining, and attempts at harmonizing policies relevant to the development of the sector (UNECA, 2004). However, in the international arena, continued ...

Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, 2021

Abstract Cover crops are widely planted in orchards for a variety of reasons. These include suppr... more Abstract Cover crops are widely planted in orchards for a variety of reasons. These include suppressing soil erosion, nutrient cycling, phytosanitary purposes, general orchard aesthetics etc. However, there is need to balance these benefits against use of scarce resources such as water and nutrients. Currently no information exists on how different cover crop species use water in orchards and how they cope with drought stress. The aim of this study was therefore to compare the transpiration dynamics of various cover crop types in order to identify species with conservative water use rates. Studied species included: 1) two exotic legumes i.e. Lupine (Lupinus albus L.), and Common vetch (Vicia sativa), 2) three exotic grasses i.e. Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), Rye grass (Lolium perenne), and Kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestium) and; 3) grasses that are indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa i.e. African Lovegrass (Eragrostis capensis) and Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana). The crops were planted in pots under controlled greenhouse conditions. Transpiration rates were quantified using miniature stem heat balance sap flow gauges and by manual weighing. Drought stress was imposed by withholding irrigation at selected intervals and the responses were quantified through changes in the water relations of the plants. The study showed that exotic legumes had the highest daily water use which peaked at about 2.4 L per square metre of leaf area per day, followed by exotic grasses at 1.5–2.0 L/m2/d. The indigenous grasses used the least water ranging from 0.8 to 1.2 L/m2/d. The indigenous grasses largely displayed an isohydric response to drought stress by maintaining their leaf water status with increasing soil water deficit. The exotic species, on the other hand, showed risk taking behaviour (anisohydry) wherein both the transpiration and leaf water status decreased sharply as drought stress increased. Consequently, some exotic species failed to recover when stress was relieved. From a water use perspective, this study demonstrates that indigenous grass species are more appropriate as cover crops in South African orchards because of their low transpiration rates and the ability to cope with extended periods of water deficit.

The Laying Hen and its Environment, 1980

ABSTRACT We live in an age in which we can see the effects of science and technology influencing ... more ABSTRACT We live in an age in which we can see the effects of science and technology influencing just about every aspect of our lives. In most cases advances in technology have helped to reduce our workload and to improve the quality of our lives. Swim coaching is no different. Coaches who do not take full advantage of the benefits of technology and science will fall behind those in other programs as well as their own swimmers. Science and technology can make a significant difference in competitive swimming. This chapter provides a brief overview of how sport science and sports medicine contribute to swim performance. Whether your program has the luxury of having a team of sport scientists or sports physicians you can call on, or whether your program relies on you, as coach, to seek out the necessary specialists for your athletes, this chapter illustrates several ways to elevate performance levels in swimming through the use of science and scientific models.

The need for safe and adequate water by all human beings is well recognized. However, a close exa... more The need for safe and adequate water by all human beings is well recognized. However, a close examination o-f the accessibility, adequacy and the quality of water for the people of developing countries reveals a very sad story. In 1980 it was estimated that about 70% of the people in developing countries had no reasonable access to safe and adequate water supply. This means that even today, over half of humankind lacks one of the basic requirements for life. The term "reasonable access" means that a disproportionate time of those who draw water should not be spent fetching water, and "safe water” should be free of pathogens. Having realized the plight of the rural population in developing countries, the world community through the United Nations in 1970 aimed at providing reasonably accessible and safe water to 25% of the rural population by 1980. In 1978 the UN Conference on Water emphasized the importance of safe water supply and sanitation in controlling diseases...

International Journal of Hydrology Science and Technology

South African Geographical Journal

Non-perennial rivers (NPRs) account for more than 50% of the world’s river network and their occu... more Non-perennial rivers (NPRs) account for more than 50% of the world’s river network and their occurrence is expanding. Some rivers that were previously classified as perennial have evolved to be NPR...

South African Geographical Journal, 2021

ABSTRACT The study sought to assess the impacts of land use and land cover (LULC) changes on two ... more ABSTRACT The study sought to assess the impacts of land use and land cover (LULC) changes on two wetland systems (Makuleke and Nylsvley Nature Reserve) in the Limpopo Transfrontier River Basin (LTRB) in South Africa between 2014 and 2018. To fulfil this objective, multi-date Landsat images were used. Furthermore, the maximum likelihood classification algorithm was used to identify various LULC classes within delineated wetlands. The LULC changes were mapped from the two wetlands, with high overall accuracies, ranging from 80% to 89% for both study areas. The spatial extent of the Makuleke wetland declined by 2% between 2014 and 2018, whereas the Nylsvley wetland decreased by 3%. Built-up areas have increased slightly over the 2014 and 2018 period because of population growth and infrastructure development, which occupy a portion of the wetland. In Nylsvley wetland, it was evident that during the 5-year monitoring period, croplands increased steadily in the Nylsvley catchment. Overall, the results demonstrated a steady decline in natural vegetation cover in both wetlands. This information can aid in enforcing wetland legislations and LULC management practices that can help protect them from further encroachment and degradation.

ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 2020

Abstract Hydrological monitoring networks do not adequately cover non-perennial rivers in most pa... more Abstract Hydrological monitoring networks do not adequately cover non-perennial rivers in most parts of Africa partly because river flows do not frequently occur on these rivers. However, in the arid and semi-arid regions flows occurring on these rivers are an important resource that have to be managed judiciously. The lack of data on magnitudes, timing and frequency of non-perennial river flows constrain sustainable management of their water resources. The availability of moderate resolution satellite data (e.g. Sentinel-2 Multispectral Instrument and Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager) offers an opportunity to monitor the surface water availability specifically changes in surface areas covered with water in pools along these rivers. In this study, we investigated the use of remote sensing data to detect and monitor changes of water surface areas of pools along three non-perennial rivers and one perennial river in the Western Cape, South Africa, from 2016 to 2017, using Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2 datasets. We assessed a range of image pre-processing and image classification techniques to determine the most suitable method for surface water identification and pool area estimation along the selected rivers. The following indices were used; Normalised Difference Water Index (NDWI), Modified NDWI (MNDWI), Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Automated Water Extraction Index for shadowed (AWEIsh), non-shadowed regions (AWEInsh), and the Multi-Band Water Index (MBWI). The NDWI computed from Sentinel-2 TOA reflectance datasets was found to be the most suitable index for mapping pools, with an overall accuracy ranging between 60 and 86%. This index was used successfully to establish the variations of surface areas of pools covered with water along the Breede, Nuwejaars, Tankwa and Touws Rivers during the 2016–2017 period. The temporal variations of pool areas could be explained as expected by changes of rainfall and potential evapotranspiration. Overall, the study demonstrated the feasibility of using moderate resolution datasets to monitor pool changes of areas covered with water in non-perennial rivers, which contributes to improved management of water resources particularly in arid and semi-arid environments.

Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, 2020

This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the ad... more This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.

Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, 2020

Water is one of the most essential natural resource that sustains livelihoods. Freshwater consump... more Water is one of the most essential natural resource that sustains livelihoods. Freshwater consumption and demand have, spiralled over the years, due to population growth, agricultural and industrial intensification. Innovative water conservation techniques (greywater reuse, rainwater harvesting, seawater desalination and ground water extraction, etc.), especially in the face of climate change and climate variability are central in minimizing water shortages, hunger and poverty alleviation, as well as health challenges. Most of water conservation methods remain ineffective and have less adoption, due to associated costs, inaccessibility and technical expertise in addressing water challenges, particularly in developing countries. Greywater reuse, which approximately represents 43-70% of the total domestic wastewater volume remains as the alternative and effective source of water that can help reduce pressure on freshwater for food production and poverty alleviation in third-world countries. Great research strides have been demonstrated on greywater reuse for agricultural use, but much remains unknown with regard to adoption rates, especially in developing countries. This work provides a detailed review on greywater reuse in crop production with particular emphasis on community perceptions, challenges and opportunities, lessons from other countries and possible implications on food security. The study has demonstrated that greywater reuse is a common practice in both developed and developing nations as a coping strategy. However, it was observed that some communities remain cautious and sceptic on its use for home gardening purpose. This resource is regarded as unclean and unfit for food crop irrigation. Limited adoption rates seem to be due to limited information or awareness programs and platforms on the potential of greywater reuse as supplement for freshwater, especially in developing countries like South Africa. However, strategies i.e. installation of greywater systems, incentivising greywater use have seen a rise in the adoption greywater in developed world. There is a need to find possible ways on how strategies from developed countries can be adopted in developing countries to promote greywater reuse for home gardening purposes.

Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, 2018

Acacia longifolia invasions occurring on hillslopes and riparian zones in the Cape Agulhas region... more Acacia longifolia invasions occurring on hillslopes and riparian zones in the Cape Agulhas region of South Africa.

Sarua Leadership Dialogue Series Volume 2 Number 4, 2010

SARUA, in partnership with the University of Mauritius, hosted a Southern African Higher Educatio... more SARUA, in partnership with the University of Mauritius, hosted a Southern African Higher Education Leadership Programme to review the present contribution of higher education in southern Africa and to explore opportunities for scaling up existing initiatives so that it can make a meaningful impact on the way the region responds to climate change, adaptation and sustainability. This leadership dialogue sought to take advantage of increasing the momentum gained, the relationships formed, and the knowledge created by a number of recent initiatives, to explore the nexus between climate change, adaptation and higher education. The aim of the leadership dialogue was to determine the progress made in regard to integrating climate change into higher education teaching and learning, knowledge production and community engagement.

Hydrological Sciences Journal, 2015

Abstract This review assesses the potential of the African continent to contribute to the three m... more Abstract This review assesses the potential of the African continent to contribute to the three main targets of the new science decade of IAHS (Panta Rhei): understanding, estimation and prediction, and science in practice. The continent has an extremely diverse climate and physical environment, and is faced with many problems in the interaction between hydrology and society. While inadequate financial and institutional resources often constrain the pursuit of high-level scientific research, there is substantial hydrological research capacity within Africa. The topics covered over the past decade have partly anticipated some of the research themes adopted as part of the Panta Rhei initiative. African hydrological scientists should therefore be in a better position to make future contributions, largely because their research is already grounded in applications linked to societal needs. Some of the papers reviewed and included in the special issue of Hydrological Sciences Journal introduced in this paper reflect international partnerships, while others reflect emerging partnerships between institutions within Africa. Editor M Acreman

This paper assesses the variability of rainfall on the entire Okavango Delta. Due to the effects ... more This paper assesses the variability of rainfall on the entire Okavango Delta. Due to the effects of climate change as a result of global warming there is a concern of possibility of decline of rainfall over Southren Africa. Rainfall is a very important component driving the hydrological cycle and therefore the understanding of rainfall spatial and temporal variation is crucial for agricultural production and general water resources management. Time series of individual months, continuous month- to month, total rainfall for the early part ofthe rainy season, October-November-December (OND), the mid to end of the rainy season, January-February-March JFM) andannual rainfall, for 16 stations spread on the entire Okavango Delta are analysed and assessed for correlations and any significant trends to proof any changes in rainfall. A homogeneity test was conducted using four different methods; the Standard Normal Homogeneity, the Buishand Range, the Pettit and the Von Neuman ratio to exami...

GMES & Africa Action Plan - Reviewed chapter on water resources management

GMES & Africa Action Plan chapters : workshop output of GMES & Africa Consolidation - Validation Workshop, Johannesburg, South Africa, 24 - 25 October 2013, 2013

Revenue from mineral resources has contributed to the improvement of the quality of life in sever... more Revenue from mineral resources has contributed to the improvement of the quality of life in several countries globally. The importance of mining in the SADC region is demonstrated by the amount of minerals produced; 40% of vanadium, 72% of the platinum group of metals, 40% of chromite, and 55% of diamonds of the global output. Mining contributes about 60% of the foreign currency receipts of the SADC region (www.sadc.int). Some of the major settlements providing much needed services have developed due to mining, e.g. Johannesburg, Francistown, Copperbelt towns of Zambia. Mining contributes significantly to government revenue in Southern Africa, e.g. 45% in -Botswana in 2004. The importance of the mining sector has been recognized at the SADC level through various initiatives aimed at the development of this sector, e.g. SADC Protocol on Mining, and attempts at harmonizing policies relevant to the development of the sector (UNECA, 2004). However, in the international arena, continued ...

Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, 2021

Abstract Cover crops are widely planted in orchards for a variety of reasons. These include suppr... more Abstract Cover crops are widely planted in orchards for a variety of reasons. These include suppressing soil erosion, nutrient cycling, phytosanitary purposes, general orchard aesthetics etc. However, there is need to balance these benefits against use of scarce resources such as water and nutrients. Currently no information exists on how different cover crop species use water in orchards and how they cope with drought stress. The aim of this study was therefore to compare the transpiration dynamics of various cover crop types in order to identify species with conservative water use rates. Studied species included: 1) two exotic legumes i.e. Lupine (Lupinus albus L.), and Common vetch (Vicia sativa), 2) three exotic grasses i.e. Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), Rye grass (Lolium perenne), and Kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestium) and; 3) grasses that are indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa i.e. African Lovegrass (Eragrostis capensis) and Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana). The crops were planted in pots under controlled greenhouse conditions. Transpiration rates were quantified using miniature stem heat balance sap flow gauges and by manual weighing. Drought stress was imposed by withholding irrigation at selected intervals and the responses were quantified through changes in the water relations of the plants. The study showed that exotic legumes had the highest daily water use which peaked at about 2.4 L per square metre of leaf area per day, followed by exotic grasses at 1.5–2.0 L/m2/d. The indigenous grasses used the least water ranging from 0.8 to 1.2 L/m2/d. The indigenous grasses largely displayed an isohydric response to drought stress by maintaining their leaf water status with increasing soil water deficit. The exotic species, on the other hand, showed risk taking behaviour (anisohydry) wherein both the transpiration and leaf water status decreased sharply as drought stress increased. Consequently, some exotic species failed to recover when stress was relieved. From a water use perspective, this study demonstrates that indigenous grass species are more appropriate as cover crops in South African orchards because of their low transpiration rates and the ability to cope with extended periods of water deficit.

The Laying Hen and its Environment, 1980

ABSTRACT We live in an age in which we can see the effects of science and technology influencing ... more ABSTRACT We live in an age in which we can see the effects of science and technology influencing just about every aspect of our lives. In most cases advances in technology have helped to reduce our workload and to improve the quality of our lives. Swim coaching is no different. Coaches who do not take full advantage of the benefits of technology and science will fall behind those in other programs as well as their own swimmers. Science and technology can make a significant difference in competitive swimming. This chapter provides a brief overview of how sport science and sports medicine contribute to swim performance. Whether your program has the luxury of having a team of sport scientists or sports physicians you can call on, or whether your program relies on you, as coach, to seek out the necessary specialists for your athletes, this chapter illustrates several ways to elevate performance levels in swimming through the use of science and scientific models.

The need for safe and adequate water by all human beings is well recognized. However, a close exa... more The need for safe and adequate water by all human beings is well recognized. However, a close examination o-f the accessibility, adequacy and the quality of water for the people of developing countries reveals a very sad story. In 1980 it was estimated that about 70% of the people in developing countries had no reasonable access to safe and adequate water supply. This means that even today, over half of humankind lacks one of the basic requirements for life. The term "reasonable access" means that a disproportionate time of those who draw water should not be spent fetching water, and "safe water” should be free of pathogens. Having realized the plight of the rural population in developing countries, the world community through the United Nations in 1970 aimed at providing reasonably accessible and safe water to 25% of the rural population by 1980. In 1978 the UN Conference on Water emphasized the importance of safe water supply and sanitation in controlling diseases...

International Journal of Hydrology Science and Technology

South African Geographical Journal

Non-perennial rivers (NPRs) account for more than 50% of the world’s river network and their occu... more Non-perennial rivers (NPRs) account for more than 50% of the world’s river network and their occurrence is expanding. Some rivers that were previously classified as perennial have evolved to be NPR...

South African Geographical Journal, 2021

ABSTRACT The study sought to assess the impacts of land use and land cover (LULC) changes on two ... more ABSTRACT The study sought to assess the impacts of land use and land cover (LULC) changes on two wetland systems (Makuleke and Nylsvley Nature Reserve) in the Limpopo Transfrontier River Basin (LTRB) in South Africa between 2014 and 2018. To fulfil this objective, multi-date Landsat images were used. Furthermore, the maximum likelihood classification algorithm was used to identify various LULC classes within delineated wetlands. The LULC changes were mapped from the two wetlands, with high overall accuracies, ranging from 80% to 89% for both study areas. The spatial extent of the Makuleke wetland declined by 2% between 2014 and 2018, whereas the Nylsvley wetland decreased by 3%. Built-up areas have increased slightly over the 2014 and 2018 period because of population growth and infrastructure development, which occupy a portion of the wetland. In Nylsvley wetland, it was evident that during the 5-year monitoring period, croplands increased steadily in the Nylsvley catchment. Overall, the results demonstrated a steady decline in natural vegetation cover in both wetlands. This information can aid in enforcing wetland legislations and LULC management practices that can help protect them from further encroachment and degradation.

ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 2020

Abstract Hydrological monitoring networks do not adequately cover non-perennial rivers in most pa... more Abstract Hydrological monitoring networks do not adequately cover non-perennial rivers in most parts of Africa partly because river flows do not frequently occur on these rivers. However, in the arid and semi-arid regions flows occurring on these rivers are an important resource that have to be managed judiciously. The lack of data on magnitudes, timing and frequency of non-perennial river flows constrain sustainable management of their water resources. The availability of moderate resolution satellite data (e.g. Sentinel-2 Multispectral Instrument and Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager) offers an opportunity to monitor the surface water availability specifically changes in surface areas covered with water in pools along these rivers. In this study, we investigated the use of remote sensing data to detect and monitor changes of water surface areas of pools along three non-perennial rivers and one perennial river in the Western Cape, South Africa, from 2016 to 2017, using Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2 datasets. We assessed a range of image pre-processing and image classification techniques to determine the most suitable method for surface water identification and pool area estimation along the selected rivers. The following indices were used; Normalised Difference Water Index (NDWI), Modified NDWI (MNDWI), Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Automated Water Extraction Index for shadowed (AWEIsh), non-shadowed regions (AWEInsh), and the Multi-Band Water Index (MBWI). The NDWI computed from Sentinel-2 TOA reflectance datasets was found to be the most suitable index for mapping pools, with an overall accuracy ranging between 60 and 86%. This index was used successfully to establish the variations of surface areas of pools covered with water along the Breede, Nuwejaars, Tankwa and Touws Rivers during the 2016–2017 period. The temporal variations of pool areas could be explained as expected by changes of rainfall and potential evapotranspiration. Overall, the study demonstrated the feasibility of using moderate resolution datasets to monitor pool changes of areas covered with water in non-perennial rivers, which contributes to improved management of water resources particularly in arid and semi-arid environments.

Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, 2020

This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the ad... more This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.

Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, 2020

Water is one of the most essential natural resource that sustains livelihoods. Freshwater consump... more Water is one of the most essential natural resource that sustains livelihoods. Freshwater consumption and demand have, spiralled over the years, due to population growth, agricultural and industrial intensification. Innovative water conservation techniques (greywater reuse, rainwater harvesting, seawater desalination and ground water extraction, etc.), especially in the face of climate change and climate variability are central in minimizing water shortages, hunger and poverty alleviation, as well as health challenges. Most of water conservation methods remain ineffective and have less adoption, due to associated costs, inaccessibility and technical expertise in addressing water challenges, particularly in developing countries. Greywater reuse, which approximately represents 43-70% of the total domestic wastewater volume remains as the alternative and effective source of water that can help reduce pressure on freshwater for food production and poverty alleviation in third-world countries. Great research strides have been demonstrated on greywater reuse for agricultural use, but much remains unknown with regard to adoption rates, especially in developing countries. This work provides a detailed review on greywater reuse in crop production with particular emphasis on community perceptions, challenges and opportunities, lessons from other countries and possible implications on food security. The study has demonstrated that greywater reuse is a common practice in both developed and developing nations as a coping strategy. However, it was observed that some communities remain cautious and sceptic on its use for home gardening purpose. This resource is regarded as unclean and unfit for food crop irrigation. Limited adoption rates seem to be due to limited information or awareness programs and platforms on the potential of greywater reuse as supplement for freshwater, especially in developing countries like South Africa. However, strategies i.e. installation of greywater systems, incentivising greywater use have seen a rise in the adoption greywater in developed world. There is a need to find possible ways on how strategies from developed countries can be adopted in developing countries to promote greywater reuse for home gardening purposes.

Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, 2018

Acacia longifolia invasions occurring on hillslopes and riparian zones in the Cape Agulhas region... more Acacia longifolia invasions occurring on hillslopes and riparian zones in the Cape Agulhas region of South Africa.

Sarua Leadership Dialogue Series Volume 2 Number 4, 2010

SARUA, in partnership with the University of Mauritius, hosted a Southern African Higher Educatio... more SARUA, in partnership with the University of Mauritius, hosted a Southern African Higher Education Leadership Programme to review the present contribution of higher education in southern Africa and to explore opportunities for scaling up existing initiatives so that it can make a meaningful impact on the way the region responds to climate change, adaptation and sustainability. This leadership dialogue sought to take advantage of increasing the momentum gained, the relationships formed, and the knowledge created by a number of recent initiatives, to explore the nexus between climate change, adaptation and higher education. The aim of the leadership dialogue was to determine the progress made in regard to integrating climate change into higher education teaching and learning, knowledge production and community engagement.

Hydrological Sciences Journal, 2015

Abstract This review assesses the potential of the African continent to contribute to the three m... more Abstract This review assesses the potential of the African continent to contribute to the three main targets of the new science decade of IAHS (Panta Rhei): understanding, estimation and prediction, and science in practice. The continent has an extremely diverse climate and physical environment, and is faced with many problems in the interaction between hydrology and society. While inadequate financial and institutional resources often constrain the pursuit of high-level scientific research, there is substantial hydrological research capacity within Africa. The topics covered over the past decade have partly anticipated some of the research themes adopted as part of the Panta Rhei initiative. African hydrological scientists should therefore be in a better position to make future contributions, largely because their research is already grounded in applications linked to societal needs. Some of the papers reviewed and included in the special issue of Hydrological Sciences Journal introduced in this paper reflect international partnerships, while others reflect emerging partnerships between institutions within Africa. Editor M Acreman

This paper assesses the variability of rainfall on the entire Okavango Delta. Due to the effects ... more This paper assesses the variability of rainfall on the entire Okavango Delta. Due to the effects of climate change as a result of global warming there is a concern of possibility of decline of rainfall over Southren Africa. Rainfall is a very important component driving the hydrological cycle and therefore the understanding of rainfall spatial and temporal variation is crucial for agricultural production and general water resources management. Time series of individual months, continuous month- to month, total rainfall for the early part ofthe rainy season, October-November-December (OND), the mid to end of the rainy season, January-February-March JFM) andannual rainfall, for 16 stations spread on the entire Okavango Delta are analysed and assessed for correlations and any significant trends to proof any changes in rainfall. A homogeneity test was conducted using four different methods; the Standard Normal Homogeneity, the Buishand Range, the Pettit and the Von Neuman ratio to exami...

GMES & Africa Action Plan - Reviewed chapter on water resources management