Determination of the Lukanga Swamps Flood Boundary using Landsat Imagery, Rainfall and Water Level Data

Alick R Mwanza^1, , Edwin Nyirenda² and Wilma Nchito³

¹Department of Geomatic Engineering, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia

²Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia

³Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia

Cite this paper:
Alick R Mwanza, Edwin Nyirenda and Wilma Nchito. Determination of the Lukanga Swamps Flood Boundary using Landsat Imagery, Rainfall and Water Level Data. Journal of Geosciences and Geomatics. 2019; 7(5):237-244. doi: 10.12691/jgg-7-5-3

Abstract

The Lukanga Swamp is a major wetland situated in the Central Province of Zambia. It is Zambia’s fifth largest wetland whose flood boundary fluctuates with rainfall. Despite one of their many uses being that of flood control, they are no exceptions to this natural phenomenon - flooding. Hence, this study aimed at determining the most probable flood boundary of Lukanga swamps using Landsat images and rainfall data. Seasonal rainfall amounts received over the study area for the period 1972 – 2002, as well as the water level data of the swamp was used to determine wettest years as a means of selecting Landsat imagery which depicted flooding. Rainfall was determined by interpolating rainfall from adjacent meteorological stations as there is no such station in the study area. The selected Landsat imagery was used for delineation of the swamp’s likely maximum flood extent using Remote Sensing and GIS software. The most likely maximum flood extent was found to be 11,891 km² at peak flooding.

Keywords:
Lukanga Swamps Wetland Landsat imagery Geographical Information System flood boundary rainfall interpolation image processing

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