Sea Levels Rising...bangkok Sinking...

[NotNew2You]

It's been reported and known for years that Bangkok is slowly sinking into the ground. Due to excessive underground water pumping and building heavy tall buildings on its soft spongy soil, they city is slowly sinking into the mud. Combined with global warming and the concomitant rise in sea levels, Bangkok may sooner, rather than later, actually return to its former incarnation as the "Venice of the East."

Just the other day, the Post had an editorial again warning about all these issues, and stating that the city is sinking at a rate of up to 3 cm per year. That is a total of 1 meter in 30 years (assuming the rate of sinking remains constant). This, combined with the rise is sea levels, is a double wammy set to hit Bangkok. Along the Gulf coast, I have seen pictures of waves splashing-up on the outside of temples that were at one time quite a ways set back from the coastline. Higher sea-levels from global warming will also cause much more frequent and severe back-up and flooding in Bangkok and all along the Choa Phraya river basin. The Post reported these effects may occur as soon as 2025, or barely 15 years from now (or put another way, only half-way into your 30 year leases).

Do any of you "investing" in condos in Bangkok (especially any of the new riverside developments) think about this or are concerned about it? Do you ever feel these may be "sinking" assets and that someday both your condo and your investment may be "under-water?"

Edited August 17, 2008 by NotNew2You

[lopburi3]

That areas of Bangkok as subject to sinking has been known for many decades and most removal of groundwater has been banned long ago (the river provides most drinking water). The amount of sinking varies greatly from one area to another and is not caused by tall buildings (they do not sink - the roads and non pile supported building around them do). A few decades ago Bangkok flooded every year and Sukhumvit Road was often impassable along the coast.

Now if sea levels do substantially increase and no action is taken obviously Bangkok, and much of the world, will be at risk of flooding. But that assumes ice melt will only go to increase sea levels. As weather is likely to be changed greatly as this happens do not believe we have the knowledge to be sure what the overall effect will be - could it increase evaporation and rain over land areas and thus keep oceans at the same level?

Obviously for many this chance of future flooding is, and should be, a factor in there decision. For others it is probably not of a high priority.

[roygsd]

That areas of Bangkok as subject to sinking has been known for many decades and most removal of groundwater has been banned long ago (the river provides most drinking water). The amount of sinking varies greatly from one area to another and is not caused by tall buildings (they do not sink - the roads and non pile supported building around them do). A few decades ago Bangkok flooded every year and Sukhumvit Road was often impassable along the coast.

Now if sea levels do substantially increase and no action is taken obviously Bangkok, and much of the world, will be at risk of flooding.

But that assumes ice melt will only go to increase sea levels.

Hi,

Obviously you must be trying to scare people,

The recent announcement from the Thai Authorities confirmed that Global warming and the melting of the polar ice caps will not raise sea levels around Thailand

"because Thailand is too far away from the polar regions"!

You couldnt make it up.........

roy gsd

[NotNew2You]

The recent announcement from the Thai Authorities confirmed that Global warming and the melting of the polar ice caps will not raise sea levels around Thailand..."because Thailand is too far away from the polar regions"!

[lopburi3]

And this is a country where every worker has and knows how to use a water level. A mazing in deed.

[poshthai]

This might help reduce the pollution in bk lol

[Gary A]

If you don't believe Bangkok is sinking, take a ride towards Chachoengsao and you will see that the bridges are two meters higher than the road. The bridges are on pilings and have not sunk.

[Carib]

http://flood.firetree.net/?ll=13.9394,100....amp;z=9&m=4

Link to a Flood map site. It is almost he same as googlemaps, but her you can look at the effect of water level rising. Also you can add 1 meter of water ( or more) to see what happens.

There has been a thread a while back about water levels in the gulf and the guy who says that it will not have that much effect on the gulf/Thailand is actually right. Cannot find it.

Water doesn't behave around the world as we would expect it to do, like in a glass or swimming pool.

[londonthai]

this scientific study was about the whole gulf of thailand, even if the gulf won't be as much affected as the other parts of the world, but still bangkok sinks faster than the other cities around the gulf or any other city in the world.

the interactive map is not precise, because it measures not only the level of the ground but the height of the buildings as well - so areas with the high rise buildings will look like not affected by the floods. Look on the bangkok city centre, even by the river, they won't be affected with +7m of water, while the areas on the outskirts would be flooded with +5.

some years ago there were plans to pump down the river water underground, to replace the one still being taken up - not sure where it ended. My only hope, that international investors of the tube, rails and motorways would put pressure on the government to save their investments from sinking

[ace]

"The IPCC estimates that the global average sea level will rise between 0.6 and 2 feet (0.18 to 0.59 meters) in the next century (IPCC, 2007). "

An almost insignificant amount in fact, especially if you go for the lower end of the forecast.

Of more concern (by more than x100) than any global warming guess work:

"Bangkok is a city built on swampland. Because of the spongy under soil and the ongoing pumping of groundwater, scientists estimate that Bangkok is sinking roughly four inches every year. "

[hanumanix]

Any thoughts about buying Condos on the Chao Phraya related to rising Sea Levels? (I suspect that they have fairly good control over its level.)

[londonthai]

water level in the chao phraya river is only partially controlled by floading the fields in ayuthaya and ang tong provinces, so don't be surprised to have a meter or two of water around your appartment from time to time. As to future, things can be worse, as bangkok is sinking

[Lost in LOS]

think of your property as a lease, you just wont know how long the lease is

[onlooker]

Simply buy on the upper floors and you'll be fine in the Venice of the East