Assessing and mapping sediment yield response under climate projections in Songwe Watershed ,

Climate change creates considerable issues for watershed management, especially in areas prone to erosion and sediment production. The purpose of this study was to examine and map the sediment yield response to future climatic scenarios in the Songwe Watershed. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), which is integrated with Regional Climate Models (RCM) under Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) 8.5, was used to evaluate the possible consequences on sediment transport dynamics within the watershed. The simulated results from the four Regional Climate Models (CCLM4, HIRAM5, RACMO22T, and RCA4 RCMs) showed that sediment yields increased for future estimates from 2011 to 2100 under RCP 8.5, owing mostly to increased rainfall and altered hydrological cycles. The results reveal that the average annual sediment yield could increase by 30-50% under RCP 8.5. scenario. Sediment yield mapping highlights crucial hotspots, notably in steep terrain and places with minimal vegetation cover, that are extremely susceptible to erosion, providing useful insights for focused intervention measures. The study emphasized the need for adaptive watershed management methods to counteract the negative effects of climate change on soil erosion and sediment crusade.