The impact of climate change and regime shifts on the lake dynamics of the Ethiopian Rift Valley

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the impact of climate change on the surface areas of lakes in the Ethiopian Rift Valley from 1985 to 2023. By employing Landsat satellite data and time series analysis, the research identifies notable shifts in lake hydrological dynamics and climatic conditions. The principal findings indicate a notable influence of climate change on the lakes' hydrology, with a consistent trend of decreasing surface areas observed for several lakes. It is noteworthy that Lake Abijata has experienced a reduction in surface area of over 30% because of a decline in annual rainfall and an increase in the average annual temperature, which reached 19 degrees C by 2020. Similarly, Lake Chamo and Lake Shala have experienced a notable reduction in their surface areas. Lake Shala has exhibited a 25% reduction over the course of the study period, which is likely attributable to a combination of reduced inflow and increased evaporation rates. In contrast, Lake Abaya demonstrated considerable variability, with an overall trend of a 15% increase in surface area over recent decades. This can be attributed to periods of increased precipitation and improved catchment management.