Modern sediment records of hydroclimatic extremes and associated potential contaminant mobilization in semi-arid environments: lessons learnt from recent flood-drought cycles in southern Botswana

Purpose The aim of this work was to identify and analyze the records of flood-drought cycles as preserved in the sediments of the Notwane reservoir, southern Botswana, in order to better understand how extreme events affect water and sediment quality. This work represents the first attempt to study the reservoir sediments in arid to semi-arid environments and suggests that they could be used as proxies for the characterization of the effects of flood-drought cycles. Materials and methods For the first time in an arid context like Botswana, sediments from artificial reservoirs were explored through correlating sediment records with the presence and quantity of pollutants in the reservoir’s wider arid and semi-arid catchment after the latest extreme flood event of 2017. Sediments from the Notwane reservoir were collected with a push corer to a maximum depth of 80 cm. Sediments were then analyzed for grain size distribution, organic matter content, and concentrations of heavy metals (Fe, Zn, Cu, Cr, and Pb). Concentrations of heavy metals from surface water and groundwater were compared with the metal profiles from the sediment cores and with rainfall series from the CHIRPS (Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Stations) database. Results and discussion The sediments from Notwane reservoir clearly showed two flood couplets characterized by fining upward beds. Water quality data from Notwane reservoir and the surrounding aquifer showed peaks of contaminants following rainfall. Although the couplets found in the sediment record were not always clearly coupled with peaks of metals, some correlation was found between the vertical distribution of metals within the sediments and the most recent sequence and the seasonal metal variation in water. Overall, trace metal contents were very low: < 1 mg L−1 for Cu and Zn and < 2 mg L−1 for Cr and Pb, well below the sediment quality assessment guidelines (SQGs), indicating that the above-average precipitations of the last 10 years did not noticeably contribute to the input of heavy metal contaminants in the reservoir sediments. Conclusions The 2016/17 Dineo cyclone flood was triggered by above-average rainfall, preceded by a 4-year period of severe drought. The deterioration of the basin during the drought has enhanced the effects of the flood, worsening the damages on structures and livelihoods. The lessons learnt from the Dineo cyclone in Botswana highlight the importance of integrated studies that combine hydrological data, rainfall series, and sediments. It is recommended to extend the research for longer time periods.