Floods account for more than a quarter of major natural disasters worldwide. These floods affect all regions of the globe (Ozer, 2008). The countries of West Africa have been affected by many natural disasters for a long time. In recent decades, there has been a significant increase in their frequency and intensity attributable to global warming (IPCC, 2012). Floods, droughts, disruption of rainy seasons and heat waves are the most tangible extreme weather events that affect West African populations (DARA, 2013).

The United Nations Environment Program has identified nineteen climatic “hot spots” in West Africa (UNEP, 2011). Benin is one of these hot spots and has been under serious threat in recent decades by flooding especially the periphery of coastal areas. Cotonou is one of the cities directly exposed to the risk of flooding. Recurrent flooding is linked not only to its geographic location, but also has grown in magnitude over time. Despite the damage caused by these floods, there is an increase in habitats in risk areas, especially around Lake Nokoué. These disasters will not be without consequences for the residents. In Benin, in 2009, displacement due to floods affected at least 20,000 people and, in September 2010, 150,000 people lost their homes (Ferris & Stark, 2012). So it is urgent to assess the risks of this phenomenon by the effects of climate change.

1) Centred annual temperatures reduced and smoothed average over 7 years

Figure 2 shows the variation of the centred annual reduced temperatures (blue curve) and the variation of the smoothed 7-year average (orange curve). When the reduced centred deviation is less than −1, there is a deficit and the temperature is in surplus if the deviation is hight than 1.

Anomalies corresponding to temperature deficits between 1953 and 1957 on one hand and between 1960 and 1962 on other hand can be observed. Subsequently, deficits were also recorded in 1964, 1965, 1974, 1976 and 1986. On other

hand, temperatures were in surplus in 1973, 1987, 1995 and 1998. The same pattern of surpluses is observed from 2000 to 2002, in 2006, from 2008 to 2011 and finally in 2013.

2) Test of homogeneity of the average annual temperature

Test Interpretation:

p-value (bilateral) = 0.0001.

HO: The data is homogeneous.

Ha: There is a date from which there is a change in the data.

Since the calculated p-value is below the significance level threshold alpha = 0.05 the null hypothesis HO must be rejected and the alternative hypothesis Ha must be retained. The risk of rejecting HO when it is true is 0.01%.

As we have a p-value less than 5%, we can say that the series presents a significant break (Ago et al., 2005).

Figure 3 shows us a very clear break in the annual temperatures observed in Cotonou over the period 1953-2013. We note a first period between 1953 and 1986 corresponding to a less warm period and a second relatively warmer period between 1987 and 2013.

3) Reduced centred rainfall

Analysis of Figure 4 allows us to note that Cotonou is characterised by a series of years with net rainfall deficits or excesses. There was a rainfall deficit in the 1970s, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1998, 2000 and 2001. Rainfall excesses were recorded in 1962, 1963, 1968, 1979, 1987, 1993, 1997 and 2010.

4) Test of rainfall homogeneity

Test Interpretation:

p-value (bilateral) = 0.415.

HO: The data is homogeneous.

Ha: There is a date from which there is a change in the data.

Figure 5 shows that since the calculated p-value is above the significance level threshold alpha = 0.05 the null hypothesis HO cannot be rejected. The risk of rejecting HO when it is true is 41.51%. As we have a p-value high than 20%, we can say that the series is homogeneous (Ago et al., 2005). So we can deduce that there is no break.

5) Studies of some rainfall indices

On the different rainfall indices calculated, we note that no index is statistically significant, except for the maximum number of rainy days (CWD) (Figure 6) which has a p-value of 0.084 which is somewhat close. The numbers of days with rainfall ≥ 10 mm, ≥20 mm and ≥25 mm (Figures 7-10) show a relatively downward trend in Cotonou over the period 1953 to 2013. Thereafter, the maximum daily and 5 consecutive days of maximum rainfall (Figure 10 and Figure 11) are declining. There is practically a very slight upward trend in the average rainfall per day in Cotonou over the period 1953-2013 (Figure 12). The maximum number of consecutive dry days shows an upward trend (Figure 13) and the trend in total annual rainfall and the number of rainy days remains stable (Figure 14 and Figure 15). It can also be noted that the number of days with precipitation ≥ 95th percentile (Figure 16) shows a trend that appears to be increasing, whereas the number of days with precipitation ≥ 99th and ≥99.5th percentile (Figure 17 and Figure 18) show a relatively stable trend.

6) Study of extreme rainfall events in Cotonou and its relation to flooding

Figure 19 shows that the rainfall corresponding to the return periods of 6, 10, 30 and 100 years are 140.8, 155.9, 187.2 and 220.7 mm respectively.

Figure 20 displays that the rainfall corresponding to the return periods of 6, 10, 30 and 100 years are 150.0 mm, 167.3 mm, 203.1 mm and 241.6 mm respectively.

We note that the rainfall corresponding to the return periods of 6, 10, 30 and 100 years are 143.2 mm, 159.3 mm, 192.5 mm and 228.2 mm respectively (Figure 21).

Figure 22 shows that the rainfall corresponding to the return periods of 6, 10, 30 and 100 years are 136.2 mm, 151.1 mm, 181.9 mm and 214.9 mm respectively.

The rainfalls corresponding to the return periods of 6, 10, 30 and 100 years are 131.9 mm, 144.7 mm, 171.2 mm and 199.5 mm respectively (Figure 23).

Figure 24 shows us that 10 abnormal rainfall events (greater than or equal to the 140.8 mm threshold) were recorded over the period 1953-2013. Taking into account the last thirty years between 1983 and 2013, only two abnormal rainfall events were recorded, none of which occurred in the last ten years (2004-2013).

7) Trends in the frequency of annual maximum rainfall in 24, 48 and 72 hours in Cotonou

The analysis of Figure 25 allows us to say that the maximum annual rainfall in 24 h, 48 h and 72 h is mainly recorded in the month of June. These heavy rainfalls concentrated in time are infrequent (<5%) from August to March, or even non-existent during the months of November and December, which correspond to the dry season.

8) Analysis of the relationship between the flooding of the Ouémé River in Bonou and the floods in Cotonou

Figure 26 shows that since the calculated p-value is above the significance level threshold alpha = 0.05. We cannot reject the null hypothesis HO. The risk of rejecting HO when it is true is 5.32%.Since we have a p-value between 5 and 20%, we can say that the break is not very significant (Ago et al., 2005). Thus we can deduce that the flow series is not perfectly homogeneous.

p-value (bilateral) = 0.053.

HO: The data is homogeneous.

Ha: There is a date from which there is a change in the data.

9) Analysis of the variation in the maximum coastline at Bonou and the number of overflow days of Ouémé at Bonou

After analysing Figure 27, it can be seen that when the hydrometric scale reaches 8 m, the river overflows at Bonou. On the graph, Ouémé did not overflow at Bonou in 30% of cases, with a minimum observed in the 1990s (10%) and a maximum in the driest decades of the 1970s and 1980s (50%). For the rest of the years in the period 1951-2010, the river overflowed (42 years out of 60%, or 70%). It should be noted that the hightest number of days of overflow was 111 days and has been recorded in 1963 and the maximum peak observed at Bonou is 10.23 m recorded in 2010.

10) Correlation between the peak high water level at Bonou and the number of days of overtopping

Analysis of Figure 28 shows a positive correlation between flood heights and the number of days of overflow of Ouémé River (R² = 0.70).

11) Correlation between the overflow of Nokoué Lake and that of Ouémé at Bonou

Figure 29 shows that the overflow of Ouémé coincides with the overflow of Nokoué Lake. This allows us to understand the influence that Ouémé at Bonou could have on Nokoué Lake in Cotonou.

The analysis of Figure 30 shows that there is a good positive correlation between the overflow of Ouémé at Bonou and the overflow of Nokoué Lake, confirming the influence of the overflow of Ouémé at Bonou on Nokoué Lake in Cotonou.

12) Analysis of the evolution of rainfall and water level in Nokoué Lake

Analysis of Figure 31 allows us to say that rainfall reaches a main peak in June and a secondary peak in October, corresponding respectively to the big and small rainy seasons in Cotonou. The curve for Nokoué Lake shows a low water period from December to July and a strong peak in October as well. It should be noted that the lake is still in low water level and does not peak in June, when the rainy season reaches its peak in Cotonou, but rises gradually to reach the big peak in October.

13) Analysis of the evolution of the flow at Bonou and the water level of Nokoué Lake

Figure 32 display that we have two curves that have a similar evolution. The flow of Ouémé at Bonou reaches a peak in September while the curve of the water level in Nokoué Lake reaches its maximum in October. It can therefore be deduced that the flooding of Ouémé River at Bonou precedes that of Nokoué Lake and that only the flow of Ouémé River controls the level of Lake Nokoué.

A break in the series of temperature data recorded in Cotonou over the period 1953 to 2013 was observed in 1987, splitting two homogeneous periods: one between 1953 and 1986 (27.1˚C) and the other relatively warmer by +0.7˚C between 1987 and 2013 (27.8˚C). This recent increase in temperature is global (IPCC, 2013) and is observed in the same order of magnitude elsewhere in West Africa. Cotonou is therefore definitely affected by global warming.

Moreover, the study of rainfall in Cotonou shows us that there is no break, and therefore no obvious change over the period 1953 to 2013. We carried out an analysis of the rainfall data by calculating 13 rainfall indices. None of these indices shows a statistically significant trend. Except for the index of the maximum number of consecutive rainy days (CWD) which is close (p-value = 0.084)

with a decreasing trend. The numbers of days with rainfall ≥ 10 mm, ≥20 mm and ≥25 mm (Rx10, Rx20 and Rx25), the daily maximum rainfall and the 5 consecutive days (Rx1 and Rx5) show a relatively decreasing trend. The 99th and 99.5th percentiles for extreme and very extreme rainfall events are stable. When it is known that the frequency of flood risk is increasing and that all these rainfall indices have shown a relatively stable or decreasing trend, it can be deduced that climate change does not have too much influence on flooding in Cotonou.

The graphs analysis characterising the return periods of abnormal (6 years), very abnormal (10 years), exceptional (30 years) and very exceptional (100 years) rainfall over the periods 1953-2013, 1953-1982, 1963-1992, 1973-2002 and 1983-2012 enabled us to understand that the different thresholds of torrential rainfall decrease over time and therefore, a priori, that extreme rainfall decreases. Taking the last 30 years over the period 1953 to 2013, only two abnormal rains (1997 and 2003) have been recorded and none in the last ten years. However, we found that floods are becoming more and more frequent in the study area. It is true that heavy rains are still observed today, but both their frequency and their return period are less important now than in the past. Nevertheless, while it is plausible from this analysis that the floods are not caused by the extreme daily rains recorded in Cotonou, it can be deduced that the floods in the study zone are caused by the accumulation of low intensity rains. However, it should be noted that Cotonou has experienced non-abnormal rainfall, which has nevertheless caused flooding in the study zone. The city experienced flooding in June 2007 and the maximum rainfall recorded during the month was 95.3 mm on 28 June 2007. Even if we take the cumulative rainfall for five consecutive days, i.e. from 24 to 28 June 2007, we obtain a rainfall of 129.1 mm, which corresponds to a return period of 4 years, and is therefore quite normal. Then let us also take the example of the recent flooding in Cotonou on 2 June 2015. The entire city and its surroundings were flooded, making the roads impassable. The maximum rainfall recorded that day was 118.4 mm (http://www.ogimet.com/), which is quite normal if we refer to the return period calculated over the period 1983-2012, the threshold of which was 131.9 mm. This rain corresponds to a return period of 4 years. The Beninese press in its entirety has relayed this flooding. As an example, the daily newspaper “24 h au Bénin” of June 3, 2015, states the following: “Would nature be against the current municipal council of Cotonou? There are many reasons to answer in the affirmative. Indeed, the floods that are often decried in Cotonou have resumed ... Almost all the streets of Cotonou were under water. The neighbourhoods of Akpakpa, Zogbo, Agla, Gbégamey and Mènontin suffered the fury of the waters. It took almost five (05) hours of rain to make Cotonou, the beloved but also hated city, unliveable for its inhabitants... Many point an accusing finger at those in charge of Cotonou’s town hall. For them, the city’s sanitation policy is a bitter failure ... In any case, water has driven many citizens from their dormitories”. However, the rain recorded in Cotonou on 02 June 2015 in 6 hours (00 h to 6 h) and 12 hours (00 h to 12 h) was respectively 35 mm and 105 mm (http://www.ogimet.com/). From then on, it is obvious that rain that is not abnormal creates floods in the study area. These low rainfall events associated with the nature of Cotonou’s soil, which has a sub-surface water table, can lead to flooding. In fact, the intensity of extreme rainfall is nowadays decreasing, but the frequency of flooding is increasing.

The various analyses and correlations that have been carried out with the flows of Ouémé River at Bonou, the shoreline of Nokoué Lake and the rainfall in Cotonou have enabled us to understand that the Ouémé River has a strong influence on the rise in the level of Nokoué Lake. And since we know that the Bonou station receives all the water from the large Ouémé watershed, we can expect a strong flow of river water at the Bonou station that directly influences the lake’s rise in level. This is confirmed by the variation curve of rainfall and the height of Nokoué Lake. Since Nokoué Lake reaches its maximum peak between September and October, when rainfall in Cotonou is lower, this corresponds to the great (and only) rainy season in the central and northern parts of the country, from which Ouémé receives most of the water. Thus, the lake's flooding is strongly influenced by the waters of Ouémé at Bonou. In fact, if Nokoué Lake, which is the last receptacle of water from Ouémé, overflows, it will occupy the entire flood plain which is already occupied by populations. It should also be pointed out that the lake is increasingly filled by the acadja system (branches deposited in the lake to serve as spawning grounds for fish), which could accentuate the overflow of Nokoué Lake. Cledjo and Ogouwale (2006) have shown that “acadjas decompose and are deposited in the bottom of Nokoué Lake” They also pointed out that “the accumulation of water hyacinth piles, household waste and the decomposition of the acadjas contribute enormously to the silting of the lake”. Thus, it is clear that the depth of Nokoué Lake has decreased sharply in recent decades. The filling of the lake will have a strong influence on flooding since the lake will no longer be able to contain the water from Ouémé River that feeds it.

In view of the work above, the study of climate indices shows that none of the indices is statistically significant. In fact, it can be seen that the indices in general have shown a trend that is either stable or declining. Nevertheless, there is a slight upward trend in indices such as the number of dry days, the average rainfall per rainy day and the 95th percentile characterising intense rainfall. The study of extreme rainfall led to the conclusion that floods are not related to local extreme rainfall events. The analysis of Ouémé river flows in Bonou and the variation of the coast of Nokoué Lake coupled with the rainfall in Cotonou allowed us to understand that the flooding of Ouémé has a strong influence on the flooding of the lake and directly on the study area.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Chokpon, A. E., Ozer, P., & Lawin, E. (2021). Assessment of Flood Risk in Cotonou Areas Surrounding Nokoué Lake Due to the Effect of Climate Change. Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 9, 262-279. https://doi.org/10.4236/gep.2021.93016