Skip Navigation LinksHome > CABI Abstract
Title: Sea level rise affecting the Vietnamese Mekong Delta: water elevation in the flood season and implications for rice production.
Personal Authors: Wassmann, R., Nguyen Xuan Hien, Chu Thai Hoanh, To Phuc Tuong
Author Affiliation: Institute for Meteorology and Climate Research (IMK-IFU), Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, Kreuzeckbahnstr. 19, 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.
Editors: No editors
Document Title: Climatic Change

Abstract:

In this study, we assessed the impact of sea level rise, one of the most ascertained consequences of global climate change, for water levels in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta (VMD). We used a hydraulic model to compute water levels from August to November - when flooding is presently critical - under sea level rise scenarios of 20 cm (=Δ20) and 45 cm (=Δ45), respectively. The outputs show that the contour lines of water levels will be shifted up to 25 km (Δ20) and 50 km (Δ45) towards the sea due to higher sea levels. At the onset of the flood season (August), the average increment in water levels in the Delta is 14.1 cm (Δ20) and 32.2 cm (Δ45), respectively. At the peak of the flood season (October), high discharge from upstream attenuates the increment in water level, but average water level rise of 11.9 cm (Δ20) and 27.4 cm (Δ45), respectively, still imply a substantial aggravation of flooding problems in the VMD. GIS techniques were used to delineate areas with different levels of vulnerability, i.e., area with high (2.3 mio ha=60% of the VMD), medium (0.6 mio ha=15%) and low (1 mio ha=25%) vulnerability due to sea level rise. Rice production will be affected through excessive flooding in the tidally inundated areas and longer flooding periods in the central part of the VMD. These adverse impacts could affect all three cropping seasons, Mua (main rainfed crop), Dong Xuan (Winter-Spring) and He Thu (Summer-Autumn) in the VMD unless preventive measures are taken.


Publisher: Kluwer Academic Publishers


About CAB Abstracts
CAB Abstracts is a unique and informative resource covering everything from Agriculture to Entomology to Public Health. In April 2006 we published our 5 millionth abstract, making it the largest and most comprehensive abstracts database in its field.

Your institution may have a subscription to CAB Abstracts via CAB Direct. Please click here to explore the numerous records and resources available for your search on ‘%’





Searching for related material ...


We have searched our content for additional helpful material on % and the links below will take you to the results from some of our other sites:



Search CAB Abstracts Lite

About CABI
Established in 1910, CABI is a not for profit organisation, owned by over 40 Member Countries. Through partnership with these countries and our international network of people, we address local needs worldwide. Our activities encompass scientific publishing, research and communication, and our aim is to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and its application to real life.

We publish CAB Abstracts, a world-leading bibliographic database covering agriculture, environment, public health and nutrition, animal and plant sciences and tourism. We also publish multimedia compendia, books, journals and internet resources – bringing the most up to date scientific information right to researchers’ fingertips.


Our People
At the heart of CABI’s success are the people who make it happen. We have over 300 staff working from 10 locations around the world, all of them experts in their field. From publishing specialists, microbiologists, ecologists to pathologists, we have the expertise to make a difference.

You can beat heart disease any way you want to. Volunteer for the BHF