Assessment of Holocene surface hydrological connections for the Ounianga lake catchment zone (Chad)

A hydrological perspective to the recent sedimentary analysis conducted at Lake Yoa (Ounianga region, NE Chad) is proposed. The complex hydrological and hydrogeological situation alters the climatic stress. The potential paleo-water network and lake levels have been computed based on SRTM elevation information and ArcGis software. Results show that Lake Yoa is situated in a favorable location, and in addition to continuous input from the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System (NSAS), it could benefit from river input from distant recharge areas, including the Tibesti Mountains and a large catchment area in the Erdis. Water budgets for 6000 cal yr BP reconstructed conditions show that the maximum lake level (40 m above its present level) was probably maintained relatively easily by surface and subsurface water.