Assessment of freshwater yields to the ocean along the intertropical Atlantic coast of Africa (1951-1989)

Yields of freshwater flowing into the Atlantic Ocean from West and Central Africa are computed from the data series of 33 rivers, between 1951 and 198 9. It also takes into account water yields originating from coastal catchme nts, wh ich represent 25% of the water yield and 19% of the 7.6 million squ are kilometers of total surface area studied. The total annual water yield to the Atlantic Ocean is about 2 700 billion cubic meters. During the perio d 1971-1989, total yield fell by 17.6% as compared to the 1951-1970s averag e. Runoff deficit has been decreasing since 1951 in West Africa, but not in Central Africa. ((C) Academie des sciences/Elsevier, Paris.).