Wireless Sensor Networks: Some Insights Gained in West African Hydrology

We present recent observations gained through a robust wireless sensor network deployed in Burkina Faso in the southeastern Savanna over a five year period. The impact of land surface and cover change due to agricultural expansion are discussed relative to precipitation patterns. It is shown that the impact on forest and land clearing results in reduced surface heat fluxes and reduction in convective rainfall. In addition, the pattern of ground water recharge is controlled by water viscosity changes due to diurnal heating in ephemeral streams and the sensors allowed further exploration of the shallow ground water system.