Final Hazards Report

After researching and reading about Thailand and how it is exposed to flooding, landslides, drought, earthquakes, tsunamis, heat waves, forest fires, and epidemics. Flooding is the natural hazard with the most significant impact on human life, livelihoods, and the economy of the country. The occurrence of droughts has increased in recent years. 

Sea level rise is another significant climate change risk for the country. Rising sea levels are expected to worsen the impact of storms and flooding and lead to permanent inundation in some areas of the country. Bangkok City, which stands only 1.5 meters (m) (4.92 feet (ft.)) above sea level, is expected to become one of the world’s worst-affected cities alongside Jakarta and Manila.  

One of the cities I haven’t seen affected by many natural hazards is Sa Kaeo. This city is a beautiful little town in Thailand where having a house won’t be a risk of being affected by flooding or other natural hazards. As you can see in the picture below, Thailand is experiencing a high risk of flooding in many parts of the country. 

According to the NOAA after flooding, the damage left behind can be devastating and present many dangers. So make sure to avoid floodwaters, avoid disaster areas, and stay tuned to your local news for updated information on road conditions. Ensure water is safe to drink, cook, or clean with after a flood and do not enter a flood-damaged home or building until you're given the All Clear by authorities. If you enter a flood-damaged building, be extremely careful. Water can cause floods to collapse and ceilings to fall.

 Works Cited

https://thinkhazard.org/e/2893-thailand 

https://floodlist.com/tag/thailand

https://reliefweb.int/report/thailand/thailand-flooding

https://www.google.com/search?q=flooding+in+thailand

Coastal Erosion

Coastal erosion is a major issue for Thailand on its 1,900-kilometer-long Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea beaches. The severely degraded terrain happened along a 200-kilometer stretch of shoreline at a pace of 5 meters per year on average. The impact affected public and government properties, as well as the country's socioeconomic status. Moreover, the deterioration of coastal resources such as beaches, sand dunes, mangrove swamps, and lagoons, as well as natural scenery.

Causes Of Coastal Erosion In Thailand

1. Coastal development initiatives for tourist and large-scale economic expansion have an impact on natural coastal processes, natural resource degradation, and coastal environment pollution.

2. The reduction of upstream sediment supply as a result of dams and upland degradation.

3. Off-season climate change affects the monsoon and the dynamics of natural coastal systems.

4. Improper land-use activities along the coast, as well as a lack of planning for efficiency and possible exploitation of coastal resources.

5. The impact of a small coastal protection structure might induce erosion in distant places.

 In the view of geo-environment, coastal problem includes beach pollution, coastal erosion, reduction of coastal wetland, and reduction in sedimentary supply. These problems point to increasingly polluted coastal environment caused by natural processes and human activities.

Works Cited 

http://www.dmr.go.th/

http://www.dmr.go.th/ewt

Extreme Weather

The weather in Thailand is considered so intense that the country is ranked ninth on the Global Climate Risk Index 2021 on nations most affected by “extreme weather events” between 2010 to 2019. Extreme weather is described as storms, wildfires, droughts, or other weather that is unusually severe and impactful.

The intense heat threat in Thailand is classed as high. This suggests that extended exposure to excessive heat, resulting in heat stress, is likely at least once in the next five years. The number of high hazards must be considered in project planning, design, and construction processes.  

Works Cited

https://thinkhazard.org
https://iwa-network.org

Mass Wasting Hazards

Landslide susceptibility is classified as high in Thailand. This indicates that because of the rainfall patterns, terrain slopes, geology, soil, land cover, and (potentially) earthquakes in this area, localized landslides are a common dangerous event. 

Based on this information, planning choices such as project siting, design, and construction methods must include the possibility of landslides. The landslide danger is one of Thailand's main natural disasters, causing massive loss of life and property. When catastrophic flooding and landslides occurred in Kathun district, Nakhon Sithammarat Province, southern Thailand in 1988, public awareness increased substantially, with approximately 230 casualties in Ban Kathun Nua.

                                                    

thinkhazard.org

http://www.dmr.go.th/

Volcanoes

     Volcanic eruption is another natural disaster that does not occur in Thailand because the country does not have any active volcanoes. Phanom Rung and Doi Pha Khok Hin Fu were active volcanoes millions of years ago, but they have been inactive for centuries. Thailand may be affected if a significant volcanic eruption occurs in a country such as Indonesia since volcanic ash would eventually make its way into Thailand on winds.

    One volcano that Thailand are concerned about is the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai. The volcano eruption in Tonga sent shockwaves and a tsunami into many countries, especially Pacific nations, prompting evacuation orders and tsunami advisories to be issued in some coastal areas. Although the Tonga tsunami has ceased, many in Thailand are concerned about potential impacts from future earthquakes.

    Dr. Seri Suparathit, director of the Climate Change and Disaster Center at Rangsit University, explained that the volcano eruption in Tonga sent a tsunami into the Philippines, but the wave height was only 10-20 centimeters, and it would take a tsunami wave height of 40 centimeters or more to affect Thailand.

Works Cited

http://inford.org

https://thainews

Earthquakes

 In the last two decades, three notable earthquakes have affected Thailand, resulting in extensive damage and/or loss of life.

Major historical earthquakes in Thailand between 1920 and 2020. (Source: AIR)

Thailand is situated away from sources that can cause large seismic events and is widely perceived to be in a low seismic hazard zone. Recent paleoseismological studies have confirmed, however, that Thailand is affected by 11 seismic fault zones and more than 50 active faults located inside or outside the country’s territory that can cause hazardous seismic ground shaking.

Thailand earthquake loss cost map. (Source: AIR)

Located on a stable portion of the Eurasian Plate, Thailand is broadly characterized by transtensional stress, and thus most significant seismic events are caused by normal or strike-slip motion. Low-frequency seismic waves can travel great distances, while high-frequency seismic waves tend to attenuate quickly over distance.

How to prepare for an earthquake:

I found this website (https://thinkhazard.org/en/report/240-thailand/EQ)where you can see how Thailand is preparing for Earthquakes.

http://www.cicc.chula.ac.th/eng/2012-04-26-04-23-32/111-likelihood-of-earthquakes-in-thailand.html

https://www.air-worldwide.com/blog/posts/2020/11/earthquakes-in-thailand-is-bangkok-at-risk/

Plate Tectonics

 Tectonic plates are pieces of crust that slowly move across the planet's surface over millions of years. Thailand sits on the Eurasian tectonic plate, which is flanked by the Indo-Australian and Pacific plates.

 Thailand is situated within the Eurasian plate that is surrounded by the convergent margins of the Andaman subduction zone in the west, the Sundra and Java trenches in the south, and the Philippine Trench in the east. A subduction zone is the place where two tectonic plates come together, crossing one another.

https://www.livescience.com/43220-subduction-zone-definition.html

http://www.cicc.chula.ac.th/eng/2012-04-26-04-23-32/111-likelihood-of-earthquakes-in-thailand.html