MegaDeltas (MD)
Climate Change Impacts and Needs in Asia-Pacific Region
MegaDeltas (MD)
Changes in Climate Factors
- Sea level rise
- Increase in extreme events (tropical cyclones, storm surges, etc.)
- Changes in precipitation
- Increases in atmospheric and water temperatures
Primary Impacts
- More severe flooding due to storm surge. Heavy rainfall
- Inundation of low-lying areas, submergence of swamps and wetlands
- Coastal erosion
- Salt water intrusion, increased salinity of rivers, bays, and aquifers
- Ecosystem changed (mangrove destruction, wetland ecosystem deterioration, etc.)
- Formation of oxygen-deficient water layers and increased frequency and intensity of red tides
- Increases in pathogens of water-borne diseases
Natural/Social Factors
- Mega-deltas formed by rivers with large river flows (flattopography)
- Ground subsidence by excessive groundwater withdrawal
- Reduced sediment discharge due to reservoir construction, etc., upstream
- Eutrophication
Secondary Impacts
- Loss of human life due to extreme events. Worsened health due to increase in disease, etc.
- Land loss (loss of habitable and industrial land)
- Increased risk of infrastructure destruction and damage
- Decreased productivity of productive centers and livability of habitable land due to increased flooding
- Decrease in water resources
Natural/Social Factors
- Concentration of population(in low-lying area where is under unsanitary condition and is not safe)
- Concentration of economic activities
- Concentration of infrastructure
- Increase of flood risk in urban area (poor drainage)
- Developed water transportation system
- Different levels of coastal protection
- Different levels of sanitary conditions
Needs and Changes
- Projection/assessment of impacts/vulnerability
- Measures against erosion and inundation (retreat by land use planning, defense by diskes, drain by improving infrastructure, etc.)
- Measures against flooding, storm surges, etc. (avoid/minimize damage)
- Conservation/securing of water resources
- Measures to conserve soil/water quality for agriculture/fisheries
- Sanitation measures (improve water treatment, enhance sanitation practices, etc.)