Assessment of lake surface water dynamics in selected Ethiopian lakes using geospatial techniques

Lake water-level fluctuations, driven by climate change and human activities, threaten freshwater ecosystems globally, particularly in tropical regions. Ethiopia, home to 46 lakes, faces alarming declines in lake surface water area, endangering biodiversity and water security. This study assesses water-level changes in Ethiopian lakes from 1992–2022 using Landsat imagery and the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) on Google Earth Engine. A NDWI 0.3-threshold classified water features, revealing severe declines in seven lakes: Lake Haramaya experienced a 46.1% reduction in surface water area, Abijata (59.7%), Chelekleka (73.4%), Ziway (12.2%), Shalla (2.6%), Chamo (11.5%), and Tana (8.5%). Geospatial analysis highlights unsustainable water use and climate impacts as key drivers. Urgent conservation measures, including improved resource management and policy interventions, are recommended to mitigate further degradation. This research underscores the vulnerability of Ethiopian lakes and demonstrates the utility of remote sensing for monitoring hydrological changes in data-scarce regions.