image: Professor Stephen Darby on fieldwork. view more
Credit: University of Southampton
Research by the University of Southampton shows that a change in the patterns of tropical storms is threatening the future of the Mekong River delta in Vietnam, indicating a similar risk to other deltas around the world.
The study, funded by the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and undertaken in collaboration with the universities of Exeter (UK), Hull (UK), Illinois (USA) and Aalto University (Finland), found that changes in the behaviour of cyclones mean less sediment is running into rivers upstream of the Mekong delta, starving it of material vital for guarding against flooding. The findings are published in the journal Nature.
Deltas are landforms made from sediment washed into rivers and carried downstream. The sediment builds up where the river meets slow moving or still water, such as seas or lakes. Deltas naturally subside under their own weight, so a constant flow of new deposits is vital to offset these changes and prevent flooding which could be disastrous to agriculture and the environment.
Lead researcher Professor Stephen Darby of the University of Southampton said: "Our study is the first to show the significant role tropical storms play in delivering sediment to large river deltas. We show that although human impacts affect the amount of sediment in a river - cyclonic activity is also a very important contributing factor."
The Mekong is the world's third largest river delta at 39,000 square kilometres. It's home to 20 million people and has a large agricultural area which is dominated by rice and is vital to the economy of Vietnam.
The international team behind this latest research developed a new method of analysing archived measurements of water discharge into the Mekong River to detect sediment concentration dating back over two decades (1981-2005). Then, by modelling the water flows through the Mekong's channels, they were able to isolate the impact of changes in tropical storms on the river's sediment load. Their data shows that of all the sediment transported to the delta, one third is due to tropical cyclones. It also shows that the Mekong's sediment load has declined markedly in recent years -- largely due to changes in the location and intensity of storms tracking across the upstream rivers that feed the delta.
Co-Investigator at Southampton Dr Julian Leyland added: "Climate models predict that, even though tropical cyclones may intensify as our climate warms, the locations of their tracks may well move further away from the Mekong's catchment in the future."
Professor Darby commented: "These results are very significant because the Mekong's sediment load is already declining as a result of upstream damming and other human impacts such as sand mining. Understanding the role played by changes in tropical cyclone climatology gives us a broader knowledge of the threats facing this delta and others like it around the world."
The research has implications globally because other major rivers such as the Ganges (India/Bangladesh), Yangtze (China) and Mississippi (USA) have catchments that are regularly struck by tropical storms. Some 500 million people live and work in the world's major river deltas. This study indicates that changes in storm climatology, even in the river catchments far upstream of the deltas themselves, must also be considered when evaluating their future vulnerability to sea-level rise.
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Notes to editors
1) The paper in Nature, Fluvial sediment supply to a mega-delta reduced by shifting tropical-cyclone activity (DOI: 10.1038/nature19809) is available from Media Relations on request.
2) For interviews with Professor Stephen Darby, please contact Peter Franklin, Media Relations, University of Southampton Tel: 023 8059 5457 Email: p.franklin@southampton.ac.uk
3) Partner universities on the research project are Geography and Environment, University of Southampton, UK; Water and Development Research Group, Aalto University, Aalto, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, University of Hull, UK; Departments of Geology, Geography & GIS, Mechanical Science and Engineering and Ven Te Chow Hydrosystems Laboratory, University of Illinois, USA; Department of Geography, University of Exeter, UK.
4) NERC is the UK's main agency for funding and managing research, training and knowledge exchange in the environmental sciences. Its work covers the full range of atmospheric, Earth, biological, terrestrial and aquatic science, from the deep oceans to the upper atmosphere and from the poles to the equator. NERC co-ordinates some of the world's most exciting research projects, tackling major issues such as climate change, environmental influences on human health, the genetic make-up of life on Earth, and much more. It is a non-departmental public body. NERC receives around £330m of annual funding from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
5) For more information about Geography at the University of Southampton please visit: http://www.southampton.ac.uk/geography/index.page
6) Through world-leading research and enterprise activities, the University of Southampton connects with businesses to create real-world solutions to global issues. Through its educational offering, it works with partners around the world to offer relevant, flexible education, which trains students for jobs not even thought of. This connectivity is what sets Southampton apart from the rest; we make connections and change the world.
Journal
Nature