Nyarko, Benjamin Kofi
The result of the research showed that potential areas likely to experience periodic floods with a
given input of rainfall are mostly below the 350-meter contour. It was also noted that the flood
experienced by an area is mostly dependant on rainfall intensity no matter the catchment area.
However other factors such as area, landuse, storage and runoff coefficient were identified as
contributory factors to flooding in the study area. It was also observed that about 45 percent of
the study areas fall within flood risk zone.
In search for a method to determine flood risk zones, the use of a hydrological model within a
geographic information system model is very effective if only the appropriate decision rule was
defined. It should also be noted that use of a geographic information model has some
difficulties. First, it demands special software and good knowledge in handling the software to
enable one analyse the data. Second, data input using the digitizer proved too tedious and
therefore prone to mistakes if care is not taken.
Lastly, to calibrate hydrological model for easy incorporation into the geographic information
system model can be very difficult.
Acknowledgement.
This paper is an aspect of my Mphil research works in the Dept of Geography & Tourism in the
Universty of Cape Coast. I am grateful to Professor L.A.Dei, Prof. Juerry E. Blankson and Dr Y.
Opoku-Ankomah for their ideas and constructive criticisms when I was preparing this paper. I
am also grateful to the senior members of the Department of Geography & Tourism for their
support and encouragement.
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