2D and 2.5D modeling of the piezometric surface of the Pan-African basement aquifers in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of Cameroon using the Kriging method

2D and 2.5D modeling of the piezometric surface of the Pan-African basement aquifers in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of Cameroon using the Kriging method | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article 2D and 2.5D modeling of the piezometric surface of the Pan-African basement aquifers in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of Cameroon using the Kriging method Nana Oumarou Baba, Ewodo Mboudou Guillaume, Bon André Firmin This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6225207/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 07 Oct, 2025 Read the published version in Discover Water → Version 1 posted 9 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This study models the piezometric surface of Pan-African basement aquifers in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of Cameroon using a combined 2D and 2.5D geostatistical approach based on kriging. The integrated analysis of the thalweg surface (Zr) and the piezometric surface (Zp) provides insight into groundwater flow dynamics in a fractured basement context. Results indicate a preferential groundwater flow direction from southwest to northeast; both regional topography and underlying structural features influence this. The comparison between Zp and Zr reveals critical hydrogeological patterns: areas where Zp closely matches Zr (ΔZ 40 m) represent deep recharge or long-term storage zones. For instance, in upstream areas, Zp reaches 680 m while Zr remains around 630 m, yielding saturated thicknesses exceeding 50 m. The maximum observed piezometric gradient is approximately 26%, confirming sharp vertical transitions linked to structural controls. A strong empirical correlation (Rp² = 0.9961) between Zp, Zr, and the digital elevation model (DEM) enabled the formulation of a predictive equation for estimating theoretical piezometric levels. The kriged 2.5D surface further reveals local discontinuities, interpreted as fractures or lithological contacts affecting vertical and lateral flows. This modeling framework represents a robust decision-support tool for sustainable groundwater resource management. It helps in identifying optimal drilling targets in structurally favorable zones and helps monitor vulnerable areas at risk of seasonal depletion or contamination. The approach strengthens hydrogeological planning in tropical basement environments increasingly impacted by anthropogenic and climatic pressures. Piezometric surface Kriging interpolation Groundwater modeling Groundwater flow dynamics Saturated thickness Pan-African basement Thalweg surface Predictive equation Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files Datanoteof2Dand2.5Dmodelingofthepiezometricsurface.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 07 Oct, 2025 Read the published version in Discover Water → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 10 Jun, 2025 Reviews received at journal 08 Jun, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 08 Jun, 2025 Reviews received at journal 06 Jun, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 05 Jun, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 05 Jun, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 05 Jun, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 04 Jun, 2025 First submitted to journal 02 Jun, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6225207","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":466822380,"identity":"0eb947dd-706b-4e9e-ab01-ec066781a51d","order_by":0,"name":"Nana Oumarou Baba","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA+klEQVRIiWNgGAWjYJADNgbGBgY5EOvAA1K0GIO1JJCiJbEBxMSnxZz97MEPH9u2yZu395g9+LnDLn1+2OGHQFvs5HQbsGux7MlLlpzZdttwzpkz5oa9Z5JzN95OMwBqSTY2O4Bdi8GBHANp3rbbjDMkcswkeNuYczfOTgBpOZC4DZeW82+MfwO12IO0SP5tq083nJ3+Ab+WGzlmIFsSQVqAjMMJ8tI5BGy58cbMcsa528kzeI6VG8ueOW64QTqn4ECCAR6/nM8xvvGh7LbtDPbmbQ/f7qiWl5+dvvnDhwo7OVxasAUImCRWOQjIN5CiehSMglEwCkYCAAAaAmVL3XW1xwAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"","institution":"University of Maroua","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Nana","middleName":"Oumarou","lastName":"Baba","suffix":""},{"id":466822381,"identity":"3cabfaef-1b24-4a54-b838-d6b65a0325f8","order_by":1,"name":"Ewodo Mboudou Guillaume","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Maroua","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Ewodo","middleName":"Mboudou","lastName":"Guillaume","suffix":""},{"id":466822382,"identity":"193a3234-345c-4b7b-82b3-0cd92a009919","order_by":2,"name":"Bon André Firmin","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Maroua","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Bon","middleName":"André","lastName":"Firmin","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-03-14 10:23:23","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6225207/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6225207/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s43832-025-00269-z","type":"published","date":"2025-10-07T15:58:26+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":93419979,"identity":"abb0df6a-a08f-4344-a87e-99d4b9365510","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-10-13 16:09:11","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1783392,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"2Dand2.5DmodelingofthepiezometricsurfaceofthePanAfricanbasementaquifersintheSudanoSahelianzoneofCameroon.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6225207/v1_covered_3ebcf8da-0bfa-4219-b040-95bd5095dc7b.pdf"},{"id":84052548,"identity":"352111d7-876e-4ca6-b4d5-fe01dc611cab","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-06-06 08:41:39","extension":"docx","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":4903053,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Datanoteof2Dand2.5Dmodelingofthepiezometricsurface.docx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6225207/v1/4304f5db8cfc76e5c8a1e707.docx"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"2D and 2.5D modeling of the piezometric surface of the Pan-African basement aquifers in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of Cameroon using the Kriging method","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"discover-water","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"diwa","sideBox":"Learn more about [Discover Water](https://www.springer.com/43832)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Discover Water","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Discover Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Piezometric surface, Kriging interpolation, Groundwater modeling, Groundwater flow dynamics, Saturated thickness, Pan-African basement, Thalweg surface, Predictive equation","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6225207/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6225207/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThis study models the piezometric surface of Pan-African basement aquifers in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of Cameroon using a combined 2D and 2.5D geostatistical approach based on kriging. The integrated analysis of the thalweg surface (Zr) and the piezometric surface (Zp) provides insight into groundwater flow dynamics in a fractured basement context. Results indicate a preferential groundwater flow direction from southwest to northeast; both regional topography and underlying structural features influence this. The comparison between Zp and Zr reveals critical hydrogeological patterns: areas where Zp closely matches Zr (ΔZ\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;5 m) indicate discharge zones or resurgence areas, typically near thalwegs. In contrast, sectors with large Zp\u0026ndash;Zr differentials (\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;40 m) represent deep recharge or long-term storage zones. For instance, in upstream areas, Zp reaches 680 m while Zr remains around 630 m, yielding saturated thicknesses exceeding 50 m. The maximum observed piezometric gradient is approximately 26%, confirming sharp vertical transitions linked to structural controls. A strong empirical correlation (Rp\u0026sup2; = 0.9961) between Zp, Zr, and the digital elevation model (DEM) enabled the formulation of a predictive equation for estimating theoretical piezometric levels. The kriged 2.5D surface further reveals local discontinuities, interpreted as fractures or lithological contacts affecting vertical and lateral flows. This modeling framework represents a robust decision-support tool for sustainable groundwater resource management. It helps in identifying optimal drilling targets in structurally favorable zones and helps monitor vulnerable areas at risk of seasonal depletion or contamination. The approach strengthens hydrogeological planning in tropical basement environments increasingly impacted by anthropogenic and climatic pressures.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"2D and 2.5D modeling of the piezometric surface of the Pan-African basement aquifers in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of Cameroon using the Kriging method","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-06-06 08:41:34","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6225207/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2025-06-10T13:11:20+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-06-08T22:24:46+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"166399399448154079776632654390671423756","date":"2025-06-08T21:39:36+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-06-06T06:12:33+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"227733579399717506797894770738657729994","date":"2025-06-05T06:41:34+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-06-05T06:04:07+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-06-05T06:03:36+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-06-04T05:09:26+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Discover Water","date":"2025-06-02T08:27:33+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"discover-water","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"diwa","sideBox":"Learn more about [Discover Water](https://www.springer.com/43832)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Discover Water","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Discover Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"b6929aeb-6acb-4c1a-a984-aad3dbdb04fc","owner":[],"postedDate":"June 6th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-10-13T16:05:55+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-6225207","link":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s43832-025-00269-z","journal":{"identity":"discover-water","isVorOnly":false,"title":"Discover Water"},"publishedOn":"2025-10-07 15:58:26","publishedOnDateReadable":"October 7th, 2025"},"versionCreatedAt":"2025-06-06 08:41:34","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1007/s43832-025-00269-z","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s43832-025-00269-z","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-6225207","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-6225207","identity":"rs-6225207","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}