VietNamNet Bridge: Dr. Le Anh Tuan, the Institute for Research of Climate Change’s office chief, shared information about the consequences of climate change with VietNamNet on the occasion of World Environment Day 2009.What provinces in Vietnam will be severely hit by climate change?
The Red River and Mekong River Deltas will be affected the most, especially the Mekong River Delta, which has a low topography and suffers from the encroachment of sea water. If the sea level rises by 1 metre, ten provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta will be stricken. Accordingly, the area for agriculture will be narrowed, resulting in the fall of farm produce output and the incomes of local people. The soil will be downgraded. Unemployment and emigration will occur.
…Could you tell our readers about abnormal changes that have happened recently under the impacts of climate change?
Different scripts on climate change have been compiled and they show one thing: hotter weather, the early coming of the rainy season and the encroachment of sea water. As of March 2009, the dry season in the Mekong River Delta has had some abnormal phenomena: scorching sunshine during the day; however, there are out-of-season rains in some coastal provinces.
According to relevant agencies, the water flows of the Tien and Hau rivers in the Mekong River Delta in the dry season 30 years ago was 2,500cu.m per second but it fell to 1,600cu.m per second in 2006, a reduction of 36 percent. As the fresh water volume coming from upstream has decreased, sea water has encroached 60-70km into the mainland.
In recent years, the rainy season hasn’t obeyed the rules of the past. It often comes early, is heavier, and leaves late. In 2007 and 2008, the rainy season lasted until December and January of the next year, around one month later than previous years. This year, April had out-of-season rain while the rainfall in May was high….
Mekong Delta, seen from a satellite
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