Afsluitdijk to protect Bangkok against flooding
A closing dike based on the Dutch model around the Thai capital Bangkok floods to save. Cor Dijkgraaf of the consultancy firm Urban Solutions in Rotterdam came up with this idea. He notices that Thailand much interest in it. It is the best solution, says Dijkgraaf, to prevent Bangkok from disappearing into the sea.
The bustling metropolis of Bangkok is located between 0 and 1 meter above sea level. If sea levels rise as predicted, the Thai capital will eventually disappear into the waves. Scientists, including in Thailand itself, agree that something needs to be done.
Experience
Let Thailand benefit from the experience that has been built up in the Netherlands, says Cor Dijkgraaf of Urban Solutions. The Rotterdam consultancy has projected a Dutch-model dam in the Gulf of Bangkok over a distance of about XNUMX kilometres. Dijkgraaf acknowledges that further research is needed to see if it works. "But the benefits for Bangkok are great at first sight."
In the Thai capital, the threat comes from two sides. Not only is global warming causing sea levels to rise, but climate change is also leading to heavy rainfall for short periods, causing rivers to flood. 'The frequency of this will increase,' says Dijkgraaf. 'The combination of rising river water and rising sea water demands a strong response.'
Tsunamis
An Afsluitdijk can also form a barrier against possible tsunamis. 'Think of the volcanoes on Indonesian islands, such as Krakatoa. If such a volcano erupts again, a tsunami will enter the Gulf of Bangkok and pose a huge threat to Bangkok,' says Dijkgraaf. 'A large dam can then provide protection.'
Some Thai experts are skeptical about such a major environmental intervention. Geologist Thanawat Jarungsakul points out that the Gulf of Bangkok has a different ecological composition than the Dutch waters. "To protect life in Gulf, it is necessary to keep the water circulating," he says.
Half-open locks
The environmental effects of a possible closing dike have not yet been studied, and much depends on its feasibility. Such a dike will create a large freshwater lake, just as happened in the Netherlands with the former Zuiderzee.
'You shouldn't just make a decision, but research it carefully,' says Dijkgraaf. The transition from salt to fresh water takes years and can turn out very well. Intermediate solutions are also conceivable with sluices that you leave half-open, so that salt water can pass through, a solution that was chosen in Zeeland.
Overflow areas
A different solution is needed for flooding caused by downpours and the high water level in the rivers. The Dutch government designates uninhabited areas where the excess water can divert. Thailand is also thinking in this direction.
Protection against the sea requires a long-term approach. 'In the Netherlands we are used to seeing water as a major threat,' says Dijkgraaf. 'The government is already working on new measures, which means you can spread the work over forty years. Thailand should also start doing this soon.'
Source: Radio Netherlands Worldwide