Climate change is changing water and weather patterns worldwide, including in the delta area. Changes in these patterns will raise flood elevations, shorten the vertical distance between levees and floodwaters, and increase levee seepage and stability failures. The Bay Area has already experienced a sea level rise of approximately eight inches since 1850, and a continued rise could cause further damage to the region. The amount of sea level rise in the Delta depends on tides and regional land subsidence.
Impacts of climate change on Mekong Delta
Recent studies have shown that the Mekong delta plain is below local sea level. However, this does not necessarily mean that the delta will be under water. The Mekong plain is higher than the Hon Dau tidal datum, which is used to assess the level of water in the region. Furthermore, SRTM and MERIT data are referenced to EGM96 datum, and therefore show a higher elevation than the Hon Dau tidal datum.
As the Mekong River Basin is rapidly developing, it is vulnerable to the effects of climate change. These changes in the river basin will affect the flows of the river and the agricultural landscape in the region. Nonetheless, these changes can be mitigated through human interventions. For example, farmers in the region should adopt new farming practices to cope with climate change.
In the Mekong Delta, climate change has also resulted in a large number of displaced people. The increasing risk of floods in the region is a major contributor to this urbanization. Furthermore, climate change is linked to an increased risk of droughts. This has led to the displacement of nearly 24,000 people per year from Mekong Delta provinces.
Changing climate conditions may alter the level of seawater, which affects the delta’s elevation. This will affect how much time it takes for a delta to flood before it is permanently submerged. The Mekong delta elevation is currently lower than what the international research community has projected. This is particularly true for the southwestern region of the Mekong delta, which includes the provinces of Bac Lieu, Ca Mau, and Kien Giang.
Changing climate conditions can also affect the Mekong Delta’s surface elevation. Combined with land subsidence, climate change can significantly alter the delta’s elevation. A m SLR can cause up to 50 mm of land subsidence over the delta plain.
Impacts of climate change on rice yields
A few studies have evaluated the impact of climate change on rice production and the market for rice. The Furuya, Kobayashi, and Yamauchi (2014) study is one of the first to consider the responses of the rice market to climate change. The researchers used evapotranspiration as one of the variables to determine the impact of climate change on rice yields and farming areas.
Climate change impacts the yield of rice by reducing the amount of water available to the crop. This is due to an increase in the mean maximum and minimum temperatures as well as the changing rainfall pattern. Although climate change may reduce rice yields in the short term, other adaptations can help farmers offset the negative effects of climate change on rice yields. For example, farmers can invest in farming machines and irrigation facilities, improve their infrastructure, and improve their rice cultivars to resist disease. They can also use extension systems to help them adjust their crops to changing weather conditions.
The study found that increasing precipitation by 100 mm would decrease wet-season rice production by 0.2 t/ha. In contrast, a decrease in precipitation would result in a loss of 0.6 t/ha. Moreover, the spring crop is the most productive.
The study’s findings highlight the importance of assessing climate-related risks and adaptation strategies for rice cultivation in delta areas. The study used historical measurement data from various provinces and used a statistical model to compare the effects of climate change on rice yields. The resultant graph shows the response of measured rice yield to climate change.
A study in Vietnam found that an increase in temperature by one degree Celsius could cause a 0.38 t/ha reduction in wet-season rice yields. As a result, the model included thirteen endogenous and ten exogenous variables. Nevertheless, other variables were not included in the study.
Impacts of climate change on recreational facilities
The Delta is home to a variety of recreational facilities, including parks, marinas, scenic highways, trails, and waterways. The region also has many culturally significant sites. These sites are likely to be impacted by climate change. For example, floodwaters could significantly affect the water temperature and adversely affect sensitive fish species. The Delta’s recreational facilities may also be adversely affected by drought conditions.
Climate change also affects recreational activities, including backcountry skiing and snowmobiling. Increasing temperatures make physical activity in these environments less enjoyable. Climate change is projected to increase the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, such as sea-level rise and drought. This will impact outdoor recreation activities, including swimming and water activities.
The Delta is already experiencing climate change impacts from changing hydrologic patterns and sea-level rise. According to the vulnerability assessment, these impacts will continue to increase and become more severe over the next several decades. Other impacts will include more frequent extreme heat events, more extreme droughts, wildfires that threaten air quality, and flooding. In addition to environmental impacts, these impacts also affect people. For this reason, long-term recreation planning should take climate change into account.
The Delta Stewardship Council has a comprehensive approach to climate change vulnerability assessment and adaptation strategy. The initiative’s seven steps include reviewing climate change science, developing an inventory of assets, and analyzing risks and vulnerabilities. This will culminate in a comprehensive adaptation strategy for the Delta.
Need for new techniques and sensors
The Danube delta is the largest wetland in the European Union and a global biodiversity hotspot with a variety of species that are at risk. The area is also home to 500 million people, many of whom live in sprawling megacities. By conservative estimates, the delta’s ecosystem services and economic value are worth trillions of dollars. This makes it especially important to monitor climate change in the area.
Although global warming has only had a small impact on climate to date, the impact will be significantly larger in the future. Increasing sea levels and desertification have already made low-lying coastal areas particularly vulnerable. This climate change has also led to an increase in the number of environmental refugees and increased pressure on fresh water resources. And it is also affecting wetlands and tundra, and causing increased stress on these ecosystems.
The study found that remote sensing can provide high spatial resolution and high accuracy for monitoring water quality indicators. This information could be vital for identifying indicators that are impacted by wetland restoration, human activities and climate change. The team also identified three additional monitoring programmes: Globe Observer, ISeeChange and LEO Network. These apps allow individuals to document the changes they observe in their lives and report them to a central data centre.
The use of big data in environmental science has made it possible to collect a vast amount of information on global climate change and its effects. These data have been used to help scientists develop new models, increase knowledge and implement new laws to address these major adaptation risks.
Initiatives to save deltas
Coastal deltas are a prime example of dynamic landscapes that are extremely sensitive to changes in sea level. As such, they have gained ground in the debate over greenhouse warming. However, their vulnerability is not solely due to a rising sea level. The effects of climate change will also impact other aspects of the delta ecosystem, such as the landforming processes that sustain modern delta systems.
The first step toward saving deltas from climate change is to fill knowledge gaps. This requires improved observational techniques and sensors. Satellite-based fluvial discharge estimation is a promising new development, but more hydrological stations and tidal gauges are badly needed. In addition, biophysical and biogeochemical research of wetland processes must be expanded. Lastly, agricultural and industrial practices need to be assessed. This enormous effort should be undertaken by governments, using standardized methodologies and advice from international agencies.
Unfortunately, the cost of restoring deltas is prohibitively high. The Mississippi restoration plan, for example, will cost US$500 million to $1.5 billion per year. Even then, the plan will only stave off future land loss and cannot fully restore the vast wetlands that have been lost.
One way to save deltas from climate change is to develop a resilient agricultural system. The Delta has long been concerned about climate change, and has committed to aligning its actions with international sustainability initiatives. In 2017, it passed Science-based Targets (SBTs) and has exceeded all of its targets for three consecutive years. It also continues to improve its water efficiency and reduce water pollution. In addition, it has assisted high-risk suppliers improve their facilities.
