Impact of dams and climate change on suspended sediment flux to the Mekong delta

Bussi Gianbattista, Darby Stephen E., Whitehead Paul G., Jin Li, Dadson Simon J., Voepel Hal E., Vasilopoulos Grigorios, Hackney Christopher R., Hutton Craig W., Berchoux Tristan, Parsons Daniel R., Nicholas Andrew P.. 2021. Impact of dams and climate change on suspended sediment flux to the Mekong delta. Science of the Total Environment, 755:142468, 12 p.

Quartile : Q1, Sujet : ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Résumé : The livelihoods of millions of people living in the world's deltas are deeply interconnected with the sediment dynamics of these deltas. In particular a sustainable supply of fluvial sediments from upstream is critical for ensuring the fertility of delta soils and for promoting sediment deposition that can offset rising sea levels. Yet, in many large river catchments this supply of sediment is being threatened by the planned construction of large dams. In this study, we apply the INCA hydrological and sediment model to the Mekong River catchment in South East Asia. The aim is to assess the impact of several large dams (both existing and planned) on the suspended sediment fluxes of the river. We force the INCA model with a climate model to assess the interplay of changing climate and sediment trapping caused by dam construction. The results show that historical sediment flux declines are mostly caused by dams built in PR China and that sediment trapping will increase in the future due to the construction of new dams in PDR Lao and Cambodia. If all dams that are currently planned for the next two decades are built, they will induce a decline of suspended sediment flux of 50% (47–53% 90% confidence interval (90%CI)) compared to current levels (99 Mt/year at the delta apex), with potentially damaging consequences for local livelihoods and ecosystems.

Mots-clés Agrovoc : changement climatique, sédimentation fluviale, fossé à piégeage de sédiments, sédiments remis en suspension, sédiment, hydrologie, barrage, modèle de simulation

Mots-clés géographiques Agrovoc : Mékong, Viet Nam, Asie du Sud-Est, Cambodge, République démocratique populaire lao, Thaïlande, Chine

Mots-clés libres : Sediment transport, Large dams, INCA model, Mekong River, Climate Change

Agences de financement hors UE : Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, Natural Environment Research Council

Auteurs et affiliations

• Bussi Gianbattista, University of Oxford (GBR) - auteur correspondant
• Darby Stephen E., Southampton University (GBR)
• Whitehead Paul G., University of Oxford (GBR)
• Jin Li, State University of New York (USA)
• Dadson Simon J., University of Oxford (GBR)
• Voepel Hal E., Southampton University (GBR)
• Vasilopoulos Grigorios, University of Hull (GBR)
• Hackney Christopher R., Newcastle University (GBR)
• Hutton Craig W., Southampton University (GBR)
• Berchoux Tristan, CIRAD-ES-UMR TETIS (FRA)
• Parsons Daniel R., Loughborough University (GBR)
• Nicholas Andrew P., University of Exeter (GBR)

Source : Cirad-Agritrop (https://agritrop.cirad.fr/614328/)

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