9:00 AM - 9:15 AM
[HTT15-01] Dynamic Flooding Trends in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta: A Two-Decade Analysis
Keywords:Vietnamese Mekong Delta (VMD), floods, sea level rise, Mekong dams
The fertile plain of the Vietnamese Mekong Delta (VMD) represents Vietnam's largest agricultural hub and stands as the second most significant global contributor to rice exports. However, this region faces heightened vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, sea-level rise (SLR), and anthropogenic interventions. Over the past two decades, alterations in VMD flooding have been influenced by SLR, land subsidence, and construction of hydroelectric dams upstream on the Mekong River. Utilizing Landsat imagery, our investigation extracted high-resolution data on the maximum annual flood area from 2001 to 2020, aiming to assess flooding trends in the VMD.
Our findings reveal an overall diminishing trend in the flooded area within the VMD. This trend is particularly pronounced in the upstream provinces, such as An Giang and Dong Thap, with average annual flood areas of 94.55 km2 and 77.02 km2, respectively. Conversely, coastal regions like Bac Lieu and Soc Trang exhibit an escalating inundated area increased by 14.15 km2 and 11.36 km2 per year, respectively. These observations underscore the pronounced impacts of both human activities and natural stressors on this vulnerable region. The outcomes of our study offer valuable insights for local authorities and planners, facilitating the formulation of adaptive measures to ensure the sustainable development of the VMD.
Our findings reveal an overall diminishing trend in the flooded area within the VMD. This trend is particularly pronounced in the upstream provinces, such as An Giang and Dong Thap, with average annual flood areas of 94.55 km2 and 77.02 km2, respectively. Conversely, coastal regions like Bac Lieu and Soc Trang exhibit an escalating inundated area increased by 14.15 km2 and 11.36 km2 per year, respectively. These observations underscore the pronounced impacts of both human activities and natural stressors on this vulnerable region. The outcomes of our study offer valuable insights for local authorities and planners, facilitating the formulation of adaptive measures to ensure the sustainable development of the VMD.