Severe Drought Looms Nationwide: Thailand

[webfact]

Severe drought looms nationwide

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- With last year's horrendous flooding still fresh in memory, coupled with almost daily rains in Bangkok and the suburbs, and reports of massive flooding in neighbouring countries, many wonder if Thailand is about to be hit by another catastrophic flood this year.

However, emerging information from various agencies shows the country is in fact facing dramatic meteorological swings.

Yes, most of the country is in for drought this year.

"I'm quite worried the country will face drought from October this year. The drought will likely drag on throughout the dry season next year, too. In that case, we won't have adequate water supply for farmlands in the Central region," Meteorological Department deputy director-general Somchai Bai-muang said.

He said rain might have been pouring down earlier this year but they were mostly in areas downstream of the large dams.

"If there's no storm to pour a huge amount of water into large dams over the next two months, most areas across the country will face shortages of water," Somchai said.

If it is not the living testimony of climate change, then what else could play a part in the growing variability between seasons and extreme weather events that intensify droughts and floods?A drought during the 2010 growing season caused Bt13 billion (US$450 million) in crop damage.

One year later, massive flooding in 2011 caused Bt1.200 trillion (US$40 billion) in damage that rippled through all sectors of the economy. This year drought is wreaking havoc but the extent of it is yet to be measured.

Concerned officials are meeting the challenge of water management as the country encounters high fluctuation in water supplies.

Royal Irrigation Department director-general Lertwiroj Kowattana said although it seems to have been raining heavily, the amount of rain was not excessive but at a level the country would normally witness annually from seasonal rains caused by southwesterly winds and storms.

He said this year, however, storms are bringing rains mostly to the upper Northern and upper Northeastern regions and to areas downstream of the dams. The Southern and most areas of the Northeastern regions are facing drought.

The amount of water in large dams such as Bhumibol and Sirikit stands at 47 per cent and 51 per cent respectively. Both dams hold water that can be used for agriculture, totalling 4.9 billion cubic metres, whereas demand normally reaches 10 billion cubic metres. Besides, the country also needs water for human consumption. The department must manage the water supply so the dams store an additional 5.1 billion cubic metres.

He said the department has been releasing water in large dams not to reduce excess water but for consumption and preserving ecological systems, sweeping out saline, and for agriculture.

He advised farmers not to rush to grow off-season crops until the rainy season ends as the country needs land to drain excess water.

Science Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi said the Cabinet was informed by officials that the country would not face flooding this year, so from next week water from large dams would be released, leaving levels at an optimum to prevent the consequences of drought.

The Cabinet earlier issued orders to have water in large dams released to 50 per cent of capacity to prevent a repeat of last year's mega-floods.

Bhumibol Dam chief Narong Thaiprayoon said the amount of rain flowing into the dam is unusually lower than normal. Previously, the dam had about 50 million cubic metres of water flowing in per day; now it has only 19 million cubic metres per day.

A similar situation is happening at dams in the Northeastern region such as Huay Luang Dam in Udon Thani and Nam Oondam in Sakhon Nakhon, which are carrying only around 50 per cent of capacity because it rarely rains in those areas. Ubonrat Dam in Khon Kaen and Chulabhorn Dam in Chaiyaphum show the lowest water level in 10 years.

Droughts that spread in the Northeast and Southern region have damaged crops, prawn and fish farms in many provinces.

More than 3,000 rai of chilli plantation in Nakhon Ratchasima have died from drought. Royal artificial rain operations have been working in Buri Ram after more than 1 million rai of rice farms were damaged by drought.

Surat Thani's seven districts have been declared drought-hit areas. Phattalung's eight districts have been facing the same scenario as residents struggle with a shortage of water for consumption.

Meanwhile, four planes under the Royal artificial rains scheme have flown over Nakhon Si Thammarat to save 300,000 rai of farm land that have long faced drought.

-- The Nation 2012-08-23

[theblether]

You spend all that money on flood prevention and look what happens

[FOODLOVER]

If only NASA could do some sort of climatological study of the Asian area to understand the local weather patterns better.

[Reasonableman]

If only NASA could do some sort of climatological study of the Asian area to understand the local weather patterns better.

NASA may be good, but it's unlikely the results of such studies would immediately change weather patterns... even at the behest of a megapower.

Edited August 23, 2012 by Reasonableman

[FOODLOVER]

If only NASA could do some sort of climatological study of the Asian area to understand the local weather patterns better.

NASA may be good, but it's unlikely the results of such studies would immediately change weather patterns... even at the behest of a megapower.

How does one change weather patterns? Boat propellers?

[Moruya]

If only NASA could do some sort of climatological study of the Asian area to understand the local weather patterns better.

NASA may be good, but it's unlikely the results of such studies would immediately change weather patterns... even at the behest of a megapower.

They can always parachute Rambo in. He knows SE Asia pretty well

[Thai at Heart]

Maybe they should think about growing something that doesn't need to sit in 6 inches of water to grow....

[Ricardo]

Science Minister Plodprasop said the Cabinet was informed by officials that the country would not face flooding this year, so from next week water from large dams would be released, leaving levels at an optimum to prevent the consequences of drought.

Erm ... run that past me, one more time ?

The Met Department DDG says that the rains are "mostly in areas downstream of the large dams", so the government intends to release further water from those large dams, which would then have less water remaining in them ?

Which lower-levels would somehow then be "optimum to prevent the consequences of drought" ?

Why the need to release water downstream from the dams now, when it's currently raining mostly downstream, and how does the resulting lower-level of water in the dams then optimise prevention of the consequences of drought ? Surely the more water you have in-reserve, the safer you are, from the consequences of drought ?

[softgeorge]

Well you have to give it to P.M Yingluk, she is true to her word.

“PM Yingluck promised no severe flooding in Thailand in 2012”

“CHAINAT, 13 June 2012 (NNT) – The prime minister has assured the public that the government will not allow the repeat of last year’s flood crisis in 2012.”

[OzMick]

Maybe they should think about growing something that doesn't need to sit in 6 inches of water to grow....

.......and gives a reasonable return on labour and investment without the need of massive subsidies.

[Sayonarax]

If only NASA could do some sort of climatological study of the Asian area to understand the local weather patterns better.

NASA is already on its way back. Why do you think Thaskin was doing in the US? Planting Trees? Hes going to suck up to Hilary Clinton.

Edited August 23, 2012 by Sayonarax

[necronx99]

Science Minister Plodprasop said the Cabinet was informed by officials that the country would not face flooding this year, so from next week water from large dams would be released, leaving levels at an optimum to prevent the consequences of drought.

Erm ... run that past me, one more time ?

The Met Department DDG says that the rains are "mostly in areas downstream of the large dams", so the government intends to release further water from those large dams, which would then have less water remaining in them ?

Which lower-levels would somehow then be "optimum to prevent the consequences of drought" ?

Why the need to release water downstream from the dams now, when it's currently raining mostly downstream, and how does the resulting lower-level of water in the dams then optimise prevention of the consequences of drought ? Surely the more water you have in-reserve, the safer you are, from the consequences of drought ?

You are not alone..

i do though blame the translators.

and the transformers, the're bastards too....

Edited August 23, 2012 by necronx99

[Moruya]

If only NASA could do some sort of climatological study of the Asian area to understand the local weather patterns better.

NASA is already on its way back. Why do you think Thaskin was doing in the US? Planting Trees? Hes going to suck up to Hilary Clinton.

Is there a video?

[Morakot]

You spend all that money on flood prevention and look what happens

Obviously any sensible flood prevention scheme is considering irrigation issues.

Edited August 23, 2012 by Morakot

[Ricardo]

Perhaps someone might like to build some new dams, downriver from where the rain now falls, and also for flood-control ?

Or is that too logical an idea ?

[thaicbr]

You spend all that money on flood prevention and look what happens

Thats because they have spent bugger all on new ways to STORE water. Especially in the areas that need it. Also the rice pledging is making an impact as more land is used for rice. Eg partially flooded.

sent from my Wellcom A90+

[Pib]

If only NASA could do some sort of climatological study of the Asian area to understand the local weather patterns better.

No need NASA...the govt uses psychics for weather predictions (and to pick winning lottery numbers).

[drdoom6996]

A drought thru the dru deason, Hmmmmm.

[how241]

Maybe they should think about growing something that doesn't need to sit in 6 inches of water to grow....

.......and gives a reasonable return on labour and investment without the need of massive subsidies.

+1

[TackyToo]

If only NASA could do some sort of climatological study of the Asian area to understand the local weather patterns better.

Forgot already what happened to all the warnings from other countries about the possibility of severe flooding in Thailand last year?

Outsider’s expertise is not valued over here unless you can use them to make cheap copies for sale…

[Skywalker69]

If only NASA could do some sort of climatological study of the Asian area to understand the local weather patterns better.

NASA may be good, but it's unlikely the results of such studies would immediately change weather patterns... even at the behest of a megapower.

How does one change weather patterns? Boat propellers?

No, but with 1000-2000 old DC-3 on 10.000 ft.

[ignis]

No different than the UK then, always rains in the wrong places, so short of water

[AleG]

From what I heard/read, the government plan for preventing flooding is to keep dams at a low level. Why they need 350 billion for that I don't know... but it would explain why only 700 million of that urgently! right now! emergency budget! was spent in the last year.

Also I got confirmation from someone doing irrigation research here in Thailand; it's not that experts don't know how to handle water, the people up top make decisions and expertise be damned.

[stevehaigh]

i'm quite surprised about the south having water problems, surat thani looks pretty green to me

the year to date rain fall is 1067mm http://www.tmd.go.th/programs/uploads/cdms/Daily/DailyObserved7AM-en.pdf

and the average by this time of year is about 750 http://www.climate-charts.com/Locations/t/TH48551.php

so it seams like we are over avarge

[Moruya]

If only NASA could do some sort of climatological study of the Asian area to understand the local weather patterns better.

NASA may be good, but it's unlikely the results of such studies would immediately change weather patterns... even at the behest of a megapower.

How does one change weather patterns? Boat propellers?

No, but with 1000-2000 old DC-3 on 10.000 ft.

I suggested that to Plodprasop and the wise old science minister said he thought it would work, but the planes would need to be tethered

[Maseratimartin]

My words last year when all blamed the government having caused the severe damages from flooding as the dams were filled to high...

You will never beat nature and cannot 100% predict what will happen. These dams were build to hold water for farming and as soo you should use them.

People who build to close to the water or in a river delta (Bangkok) should not blame their own faults on others!

[HUAHIN62]

OIH the translators or journalist got this one totally wrong. It's raining in the mountrains (upstream from the dams) and the the dams have enough water. The rainfall in the plains area (downstream from the dams) are however below average. They released water from the dams upstream to provide farmers with water downstream. They can't however release too much water as it will be needed in the dry season.

Unfortunately dams sites in the plains area are extremely limited. One site have been identified but it will put a part of a National park under water.

In areas where enough water is available in the dry season farmers plant a second crop which needs less water than rice. The biggest challenge is to improve the efficiency of irrigation in the dry season. For example flood irrigation is a cheap system but highly inefficient compared to drip irrigation. Thai farmers in general is too poor to upgrade the irrigation system. It will also be difficult to change the raining season crop as many paddy rice farms are in flood plains and are prone to flooding.

[MaxLee]

So, if Dam operators release water, then there is draught. And if there's a heavy rainy season and flood, dam operators keep the dam levels ultra high????

Edited August 23, 2012 by MaxLee

[SOTIRIOS]

.....schizophrenic....

[NanaFoods]

Maybe they should think about growing something that doesn't need to sit in 6 inches of water to grow....

.......and gives a reasonable return on labour and investment without the need of massive subsidies.

hmmm...

hemp ?