Exploring new approaches to climate change adaptation in Thailand: The case of the Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan River Basins Jerasorn Santisirisomboon1*, David N. Yates2, Caspar Ammann2, Jaruthat Santisirisomboon1, Kansri Boonpragob1, Waranyu Wongseree1, Kwanruethai Sreesangchai1, Kamphol Promjiraprawat1, Prayat Lewan1, Yod Sukamongkol1, Siriwarin Petcharat1, Monchai Chobtham1, Songsak Chuaibumrung1, Ratchanan Srisawadwong1; and Auchariya Malakul1 1Ramkhamhaeng University Center of Regional Climate Change and Renewable Energy, Ramkhamhaeng Road, Hua Mak, Bang Kapi, Bangkok, Thailand 2National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder Colorado, USA *Corresponding author: jerasorn@ru.ac.th Abstract-The Phetchaburi and Prachuab Khiri Khan River Basins of Thailand, in which the Sirindhorn International Environmental Park is located, are undergoing dramatic changes, including development pressures, a changing climate, and increasing needs of this limited resource. A comprehensive water resources management plan is needed to ensure the sustainability of the resource in the face of these mounting pressures. This study explored the current and future climate of the region, developing a set of climate data that were used in an integrated water resource management (IWRM) model of the region. The future climate data set was developed using a regional climate model, the Regional Climate Model version 4 (RegCM4), resolved at 25 km grid resolution over the CORDEX-SEA domain up to the year 2040. Regional climate modeling provides finer spatial scales than are currently available from Global Climate Models (GCMs). The downscaling applied in this study using RegCM4 made use of the Representative Concentration Pathways 4.5 and 8.5 (i.e. RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5), under the framework of the Couple Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) of the World Climate Research Program, with the boundary forcing from the MPI-ESM- MR GCM. The future climate projection data from the RegCM4 model were then statistically downscaled to a 5-km resolution over the Phetchaburi and Prachuab Khiri Khan River Basins using an Artificial Neural Network (ANN). Future climate projections for the region suggest average temperatures will increase from by about 1.5oC by 2040 and 2oC by 2060, while rainfall is likely to decrease. The downscaled climate were applied to an integrated water resource planning model (IWRM) based on the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) system, where the relationships between water supply, water demand, environmental requirements, and groundwater were developed, which will allow decision makers to explore alternative management options 238 Proceedings of the International Conference on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Policy and Practice 27-29 June 2016, Cha-am, Phetchaburi, Thailand
Proceedings of International Conference on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for the Sustainable Development Goals : Policy and Practice 27-29 June 2016 at the Sirindhorn International Environmental Park, Cha-am, Phetchaburi, Thailand
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