ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS, ADAPTATION, AND VULNERABILITY
TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN EGYPT

  ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS, ADAPTATION.ppt (Size: 123.5 KB / Downloads: 1)

Introduction

The inhabited area in Egypt does not exceed 3.5% of the total area and is confined to the narrow strip which boarders the main course of the River Nile from Aswan in the south to Cairo in the north plus the Nile Delta which covers the area from Cairo to the shore line of the Mediterranean Sea between the cities of Damietta in the east and Rosetta in the west.
The main agricultural regions in Egypt are; Nile Delta, Middle and Upper Egypt.
The agricultural land area is determined by climate and water availability.
The country’s total area is relatively large, spanning 9 degrees of latitude (from 31.5 o N to 22.0 oN) and presents north-south gradient temperatures.
Temperatures increase form north to south.

Irrigation System in Egypt (1)

The flooding irrigation system in Egypt is a closed system, which starts with one single inlet of irrigation water at the Aswan high dam and ends in the north with the Mediterranean Sea and the coastal lakes which are indirect connection with the sea.
On-farm irrigation from distributary canals is carried out in more or less 80% of the areas by lifting. Gravity irrigation takes place only in Aswan and Fayoum Governorates. Almost all irrigation canals in the old lands are unlined.
The problems connected to these types of canals are:
1. Aquatic weed growth includes three different types: emergent, submerged and floating.
2. Seepage from irrigation canals is a function of the water level with respect to the adjacent land levels and with respect to groundwater elevation.
3. Unstable and oversized cross sections are caused by sedimentation, erosion of canal banks by water scoring and animal traffic.

Irrigation System in Egypt (2)

Water Distribution Control in Egypt
Water delivery to farmers throughout Egypt is based on extensive canal systems served by major canals which off take from the Nile upstream of the river, s seven major barrages.
Each main canal, sometimes with sub canals, feeds a number of canals and areas. Water is distributed within these command areas by secondary canals. These canals feed either tertiary canals, or in some cases Mesqas, which are small channels serving between fifty and five hundred feddans. It is from the Mesqas that individual farmers take their water supply. However many farmers take supplies directly from secondary canals.
Sectoral water demand for irrigation used in 1980/1981 was 29.4 BCM. It increased to 40.8 BCM in 1995/1996. The increase in water used was limited in other sectors (Municipal, industry, Navigation was decreased).