The investigation of fog frequency and occurrence patterns in the Central Namib as a possible alternative source of water supply to the Topnaar community along the Kuiseb River in the Namib Desert
In a country known for its aridity, the Namib is the driest part. Some of the poorest people in Namibia live here, one such a community is the Topnaar, a group of Nama speaking people that lives along the Kuiseb River in the Central Namib. The Kuiseb River, which is the major source of water for the more developed Central Namib, is being mined. The coast of Namibia receives virtually no rain, but precipitation caused by advection fog from the Atlantic ocean represent substantial quantities. If the collection of fog water in this area is teasible, this additional source: of water may improve the lives of people at present and support other kinds of development in the future. Indigenous plants and animals have already taken advantage of this water source, but man has not yet learned to use it for his own needs. The benefits of fogharvesting will be to provide additional fresh water where sufficient supply is limited. It also offers the potential development of even small-scale aqriculture. In a water limited environment, additional water from fogharvestig can only enhance the quality of life for the Topnaar community. To make a success of this project, the major considerations to be taken into account would be to analyze fog precipitation in its broadest terms. Above all, it would look into the regularity and quantity of fog precipitation, frequency and reliability, potential yields and potential users. These analyses can only be fully understood against the geomorphology and meteorological background of the study area. Fogharvesting technology is successfully applied along the coastal parts of Chile since 1987. Today several parts of the world use fog-harvesting technology. Meteorological conditions along the Namib coast are surprisingly similar to those in Chile to warrant considering a feasibility study here. Keywords: Namibia, Namib Desert, Kuiseb River, geo-ecology, climate, fog, fog harvesting, applied technology, water resource management, natural resource management, socio economy, water supplementation, ephemeral river GBB LIBRARY LOCATION: 333.73'688 AFR.
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The investigation of fog frequency and occurrence patterns in the Central Namib.pdf | 7.91 MB |