Application of GIS to evaluate saltwater intrusion on agricultural production in the Mekong Delta
Do, Phuong (2021)
Do, Phuong
2021
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2021120223163
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2021120223163
Tiivistelmä
The Mekong Delta has played an important role in the food production and socio-economic development in Vietnam. However, the region has witnessed different natural disasters intensified by climate change, which has caused heavy damages to livelihoods and agricultural production. Drought and saltwater intrusion are reoccurring events in the delta, and the dry season of 2019-2020 recorded a new milestone in salinity, along with a long drought and saline intrusion period at the beginning of 2020.
The objectives of the thesis were to provide an overview of drought and saltwater intrusion in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta in relation with the livelihood of residents, create a saltwater intrusion map of the delta for the dry season of 2019-2020 based on a geographic information system (GIS) interpolation method, assess the effects on the agricultural production and identify major causes to emphasize the urgency of proposing and implementing corrective and mitigation measures to minimize the damage and loss.
The thesis presents a literature review to provide general information on the drought and saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta. Kriging interpolation algorithm was used, based on the pre-measured salinity points, to create a saltwater intrusion zoning map for the delta. The study showed that in the dry season of 2019-2020, the Mekong Delta had an exceptional drought and saltwater intrusion event. According to the map, salinity decreased gradually from the coast into the mainland with the greatest concentration in the southernmost area. Approximately half of the agricultural production area and the population in the delta were forecast to be at risk of saltwater intrusion. This research method proved beneficial, in terms of simplicity and accuracy. Therefore, it was possible to apply it to studies related to saltwater intrusion in other areas. As for the complicated phenomenon of climate change, the assessment of salinity intrusion at higher specificity and accuracy needed aggregating many factors. It was considered to propose and implement corrective and mitigation measures, both constructional and non-constructional, to minimize the damage and loss from saltwater intrusion.
The objectives of the thesis were to provide an overview of drought and saltwater intrusion in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta in relation with the livelihood of residents, create a saltwater intrusion map of the delta for the dry season of 2019-2020 based on a geographic information system (GIS) interpolation method, assess the effects on the agricultural production and identify major causes to emphasize the urgency of proposing and implementing corrective and mitigation measures to minimize the damage and loss.
The thesis presents a literature review to provide general information on the drought and saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta. Kriging interpolation algorithm was used, based on the pre-measured salinity points, to create a saltwater intrusion zoning map for the delta. The study showed that in the dry season of 2019-2020, the Mekong Delta had an exceptional drought and saltwater intrusion event. According to the map, salinity decreased gradually from the coast into the mainland with the greatest concentration in the southernmost area. Approximately half of the agricultural production area and the population in the delta were forecast to be at risk of saltwater intrusion. This research method proved beneficial, in terms of simplicity and accuracy. Therefore, it was possible to apply it to studies related to saltwater intrusion in other areas. As for the complicated phenomenon of climate change, the assessment of salinity intrusion at higher specificity and accuracy needed aggregating many factors. It was considered to propose and implement corrective and mitigation measures, both constructional and non-constructional, to minimize the damage and loss from saltwater intrusion.