Surface water and groundwater relationships in a tropical river of Mali.

The annual average of rile groundwater levels in 27 wells is connected to the annual climate impact on the groundwater resources in the Bani river basin (Douna, 101 600 square kilometers). The groundwater level variations are well correlated to rainfall variations, and for the lowest levels of groundwater, the runoff stops in the dry season at Douna. The humid year of 1994 caused a rise in the groundwater level to the same level as 1981, together with a reduction of the depletion coefficient. But the runoff is still weak, showing that the rainfall-runoff relationships are modified over the long term. (C) 2000 Academic des sciences/Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.