Climate Change and the Future Impacts of Storm-Surge Disasters

Southern Vietnam Impact Zones for 1 Meter Sea-Level Rise and Intensification of Storm Surges, and Likely Changes in Unprotected Shorelines

Predicted climate changed during the 21st century will result in a collision of larger cyclonic storms surges with growing populations, resulting in disasters of unprecedented size. As the climate change impacts become more pronounced, variations in coastal morphology will maginify the effects in some areas, while largely insulating other areas.  In a recently released paper exploring the implications of climate change for 84 developing countries and 577 of their cyclone-vulnerable coastal cities with populations greater than 100,000, Vietnam was projected to be particularly vulnerable, with 3 Vietnam cities in found to be potentially-deadly locals in the face of climate change enhanced storm impacts due to storm water drainage inadequacies and inadequate low-income urbanization.

According to the report, in the Southeast Asia region, Rach Gia was ranked as most vulnerable to future storm-surge impacts with an additional 27% of the Rach Gia land area anticipated to be flooded due to changes in storm surge and rain patterns. Nha Trang, Vietnam was listed at no. 7 and Hue, Vietnam as no.8,  on the most vulnerable Southeast Asia city listings. Both had an addition inundation prediction of 18% of the city land area.

Future Storm-Surge Impacts on Coastal Areas: Regional Top-10 Cities East Asia & Pacific

To read the full paper, click on the image below.