PROJECT #1998-05
Toward an Integrated Regional Model of River Basin Inputs to the Coastal Zones of Southeast Asia
| Project Leader |
Dr. Jeffrey E. Richey
School of Oceanography
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195, USA
|
Executive Summary
Initial Orientation Workshop
Integrated Regional Model of River Basin Inputs to the Coastal Zone
of Southeast Asia
Toh Sang Khongjiam Hotel, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand
14-17 July 1998
Background and Objectives of the Project:
The Integrated Regional Model of River Basin Inputs to the Coastal
Zones of Southeast Asia Project (also known as NAGA Model), has
aimed to implement a multi-scale (time, space) integrated regional synthesis
of changes in water resources of Southeast Asia as a function of changing
land use, land cover and regional climate. The project is planned for 2
years, starting from July 1998. Expected outcomes of this project will
include:
- A systematic synthesis of multidisciplinary information needed to
understand the combined effects of human and climate changes in river basins
of the region
- A set of systematic tools for prediction, scenario generation and
socio-economic evaluation
- A visualized processing tool for proactive interaction among interdisciplinary
scientists, water resource managers and policy makers, to be a basis for
the "decision supporting system" for river basin development and management
- Interactive and sustainable framework and network for model implementation
at different levels of users
The Results of the Initial Orentation Workshop, 14-17 July 1998
Report of NAGA Version 1
The Version 1 of the NAGA Model was developed by the University
of Washington team at 1 degree (~100 km) resolution due the limited quality
of available datasets. Preliminary testing the results of this course resolution
model with the observed water discharge and certain water chemistries of
some rivers in Southeast Asia indicated that the model was more satisfactory
in large watersheds than in small watersheds. Discrepancy between observed
and predicted was clearly due to resolution of the model.
The outline for NAGA Version 2
In the Version 2 more realistic and higher resolution data will
be used. The model will take into consideration the local specific issues
and the human dimension of the problem. This will require a regional network
and cooperation among partners at different levels to develop, verify and
implement the model. A step toward this achievement will be a workshop
in November 1998 among regional experts on river basins and the model developing
team.
The Program Elements
An information link between University of Washington in Seattle,
USA and Southeast Asia START facilities at Chulalongkorn University in
Bangkok, Thailand, will be the backbone of the program. This core will
be further expanded into a network of partners inside and outside of the
region. Funding from APN and START will be used to initiate and facilitate
communication and data/information transfer via this network. APEC Internet
Collaboration Center of the University of Washington will provide an additional
platform and resource for communication among all parties involved in this
program through a support from USAID. The technical development of the
model will be done in Seattle under a contract between the University of
Washington and the US National Science Foundation.
Potential Regional Partner
Government agencies, academic institutes, research institutes,
consultant firms, non-government non-profit organizations, mass media,
national and provincial policy planners and resource managers, international/regional
organizations, local/state governments and legislatures that deal with
water resource, water supply, living resources and fisheries, forestry,
pollution and environments, environmental data and information, agriculture,
and urban and land-use planning.
NAGA Modelling Workshop
The workshop is planned for November 17-19, 1998 in Chiang Rai,
Northern Thailand, where the NAGA Version 2 will be tested and verified
by regional experts from various basins in Southeast Asia, such as the
Mekong, Chao Phraya, Irrawadi, Red, Pearl, Cagayan, Magat, Citarum as well
as other smaller rivers and streams. Prior to this workshop, it is essential
that the UW team will upgrade the spatial resolution as well as add dynamic
components and human dimension to the model while SARCS and SEA START RC
will compile and digitize more regional data required to run the model.
Institutional and Human Networking
The sustainability of the of the river basin modelling after
funding from donor agencies is terminated will rely on regional experts
and their interactions with resource managers and policy makers at different
levels. The project, during the model development and verification steps,
will strongly emphasize on capacity building and create a regional framework
for model implementation. In addition, the project will also embed valuable
information from LUCC and SARCS-WOTRO-LOICZ case study sites in the region
into a regional scale water resource model for management and planning.
Initial Orientation Workshop
Integrated Regional Model of River Basin Inputs to the Coastal Zone
of Southeast Asia
Toh Sang Khongjiam Hotel, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand
14-17 July 1998
Workshop Objectives
(This workshop is an initial scoping workshop to be led by Jeffrey
Richey, School of Oceanography, University of Washington, USA.)
1. To introduce the high resolution model (~1 km), requirement of data
sets and other technical aspects related to model validation.
2. To define the data and information system and collaboration framework,
key persons, project organization and dissemination of the output and outcomes
of the project.
3. To do the reconnaissance survey of Mekong watershed for data sampling.
|
