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Authors
Thanapon Piman, Vanna Nuon, Sasikan Charoensatsiri, Aekkapol Aekakkararungroj and Nguyen Huong Thuy Phan
MRC. (2014). Climate change analysis in the Lower Mekong Basin: Review of availability of observed meteorological
data MRC Working Paper No. 52. Vientiane: Author.
Disclaimer
Although all effort is made to ensure that the information, opinions and analyses contained in this document are
based on sources believed to be reliable, no representation, expressed or implied, is made guaranteeing accuracy,
completeness or correctness.
The opinions contained herein reflect the judgment of the authors and are subject to change without notice.
The views and opinions expressed by the authors do not necessarily state or reflect those of the Mekong River
Commission, its agents or the Member Countries.
Neither the Mekong River Commission, nor the Member Countries and any agency thereof, their employees,
contractors, subcontractors or their employees, assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the consequences of
any third party’s use of the information, opinions and analysis contained in this report.
Seven Development Partners, including Australia, Denmark, European Union, Finland, Germany, Luxemburg, and
Sweden, provide financial support to the work of the Mekong River Commission’s Climate Change and Adaptation
Initiative. This particular project and its publication would not have been possible without their kind support to
which we owe our gratitude.
ISSN: 1688-1489
CONTENTS
2. Objective 2
References 28
We would like to express our sincere thanks to Dr Anthony Green for providing comments and
input to and reviewing this working paper.
We would also like to specially thank the Hydrology and Modelling team of the Information and
Knowledge Management Programme, and the Flood Management and Mitigation Programme
team in providing data and information necessary for the review to make this working paper
possible.
Numerous other individuals assisted in reviewing and providing comments to this working paper,
the generous intellectual contributions to which we owe our gratitude.
The Climate Change and Adaptation Initiative temperature, evaporation, etc.) are very
(CCAI) of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) important basic data for climate monitoring
was established in August 2009 as a regional and historical climate change analysis such as
collaborative initiative to support the Lower trend analysis as well as analysis of trends of
Mekong Basin (LMB) countries in adapting to extreme weather events. It is also necessary for
the impacts and new challenges of climate future climate change projections, particularly
change. Adopting a basin-wide integrated for downscaling results of General Circulation
approach consistent with Integrated Water Models (GCMs). Since the establishment of
Resources Management (IWRM) principles the Mekong Committee in 1957, the riparian
and the MRC 1995 Agreement, the CCAI countries have shared a significant amount
focuses on: (i) climate change impact and of meteorological and hydrological data for
vulnerability assessment, adaptation planning project development, design and operation.
and implementation in priority locations within The major products are the Lower Mekong
the LMB; (ii) knowledge and capacity building Hydrological Yearbook, which begun in 1962
at different levels (institutional, technical and and was published up to 2004 (MRC, 2004),
managerial capacity); (iii) regional adaptation and the hydro-met database. The hydro-met
strategy supporting national frameworks; and database was developed and updated under
(iv) regional partnership and collaboration for the MRC information system to support
sustainability of adaptation actions. sustainable water resources development and
management in the LMB according to the 1995
Through the consultation process during Mekong Agreement. However, the current
January to August 2012, the Programme Hydrological Yearbook (2004) and hydro-
Implementation Plan (PIP) of the CCAI met database in the MRC Secretariat (MRCS)
was agreed with the Member Countries. primarily stores data on flow and rainfall data,
Development of the CCAI database (Activity while other meteorological data (temperature,
1.1.1) and a basin-wide monitoring and evaporation, humidity, etc.) still have limited
reporting system on climate change and record and coverage.
adaptation (Activity 3.2.1) were identified
as prioritized activities for implementation To analyse climate change and its impacts,
during 2011-15 to build knowledge on long-term meteorological data are required
climate change and adaptation in the LMB to detect changes. Therefore, the aim of this
and provide information to other activities of review on the availability of meteorological
the CCAI as well as other MRC programmes data in the riparian countries from the
such as Basin Development Plan Programme MRCS and from global sources is to build
(BDP), Environment Programme (EP), Flood knowledge on the current status and gaps of
Management and Mitigation Programme meteorological data in the LMB for supporting
(FMMP), and Information and Knowledge climate change adaptation planning at
Management Programme (IKMP). different levels. The review also aims to help
MRC identify additional data requirements
Meteorological data (precipitation, from its Member Countries.
Table 3 shows the number of meteorological MRC also can obtain daily meteorological
stations and observed parameters in the data in the Upper Mekong Basin (UMB) from
GSOD dataset in the LMB. There are 100 the GSOD dataset. Around 20 meteorological
meteorological stations in this dataset, whose stations have long-term data available,
locations are presented in Figure 1. The data particularly on rainfall and temperature. The
in this dataset at many stations, particularly location of these meteorological stations
in Lao PDR and Cambodia, are not up-to- in the Upper Mekong Basin (UMB) and the
date and their records cover a very short time surrounding area is presented in Figure 5.
period of time. Around 64 stations have up-to-
date data till 2012. The sunshine duration and
solar radiation parameters do not include in
this dataset.
Table 3 No. of meteorological stations and observed parameters in the LMB (GSOD
dataset)
Number of stations
Observed parameters
Cambodia Lao PDR Thailand Viet Nam LMB
Rainfall 6 41 38 15 100
Mean air temperature 6 41 38 15 100
Max. air temperature 6 41 38 15 100
Min. air temperature 6 41 38 15 100
Mean dew point 6 41 38 15 100
Mean wind speed 6 41 38 15 100
Max. wind speed 6 41 38 15 100
Total no. of stations 6 42 38 15 100
The period of data availability varies from Most meteorological data in the MRC data
station to station, and with respect to portal except rainfall and evaporation data
parameters and sources of dataset. The number were recorded over a brief period of time (less
of years of available meteorological data from than 20 years) compared to that of the actual
different datasets are given in Annex I-III. The data available in the riparian countries (Annex
data from national line agencies are available II). Most rain stations have recorded data over
ever since they were first available to today, a 10-20-year period. Around 93 rainfall stations
whereas data from other sources, such as the have data recorded longer than 20 years and
MRC data portal and the GSOD, are part of the only 34 rainfall stations have data recorded
national dataset. The period over which the over 50 years. Most meteorological and
meteorological data was recorded is based on rainfall data in the MRC portal were updated
three datasets, which is summarised in Tables as at 2006 for Thailand, 2007 for Viet Nam
4 to 6. and 2008 for Cambodia and Lao PDR. Time
periods of meteorological data recorded from
Most of the meteorological data in the riparian each station and respective parameters in the
countries have been available for over 30 MRC data portal are summarised in Figures
years (Annex I). In more than 30 stations, the 6-14. Presently, IKMP is updating hydro-met
data have been available for over 50 years, data from 2008 up to 2012 with the riparian
particularly data on rainfall, temperature, wind countries in order to prepare the Hydrological
speed and direction, and relative humidity. Yearbook. The list of requested stations is
The sunshine duration and solar radiation presented in Figure 15.
data are mostly available in Thailand and Viet
Nam, while Lao PDR and Cambodia still have Around half of the meteorological stations in
limited instruments and data record. The data the LMB (53 stations) in the GSOD dataset have
from some meteorological stations in Lao PDR data records that cover less than ten years and
and Cambodia have been discontinuously that are not up-to-date (Annex III). Only 17
recorded. In Cambodia, most stations have stations, most of which are in Thailand, have
data gaps in 1970-1980 or 1975-1980 due to recorded data over a period of over 30 years.
the civil war. Nevertheless, the meteorological data in the
UMB based on the GSOD dataset are available
for more than 40 years and are up-to-date.
5. Relative humidity
No Station ID Name Country Year No. of years
1 19802 Kompong Cham Cambodia 2007-2008 2
2 100401 Kampot Cambodia 2007-2008 2
3 110413 Phnom Srouch Cambodia 1985-2002 18
4 110425 Pochentong Cambodia 2003-2008 6
5 110514 Prey Veng Cambodia 2003-2008 6
6 120404 Kompong Thom Cambodia 2007-2008 2
7 120502 Stung Trang Cambodia 2007-2008 2
8 120504 Kompong Cham Cambodia 1985-2001 17
9 120603 Kratie Cambodia 2007-2008 2
10 130305 Battambang Cambodia 1985-2001 17
11 130306 Airport/Siem Reap Cambodia 2002-2007 6
12 130325 Siem Reap Koktatry Cambodia 1984-2001 18
13 130501 Stung Treng Cambodia 2002-2007 6
6. Wind speed
No. Station ID Name Country Year No. of years
1 19802 Kompong Cham Cambodia 2006-2008 3
2 100401 Kampot Cambodia 2006-2008 3
3 110413 Phnom Srouch Cambodia 1984-2002 19
4 110425 Pochentong Cambodia 2006-2008 3
5 110514 Prey Veng Cambodia 2006-2008 3
6 120404 Kompong Thom Cambodia 2006-2008 3
7 120502 Stung Trang Cambodia 2006-2008 3
8 120504 Kompong Cham Cambodia 1984-2002 19
9 120603 Kratie Cambodia 2006-2008 3
10 130305 Battambang Cambodia 1984-2002 19
11 130306 Airport/Siem Reap Cambodia 1984-2002 19
12 130325 Siem Reap Koktatry Cambodia 1984-2002 19
13 130501 Stung Treng Cambodia 1984-2002 19
14 150503 Seam Pang Cambodia 1984-2002 19
15 150504 Pakse Lao PDR 1984-2002 19
16 160405 Savannakhet Lao PDR 1984-2002 19
17 160502 Seno Lao PDR 1984-2002 19
18 170203 Vientiane Lao PDR 1984-2002 19
19 170404 Thakhek Lao PDR 1984-2002 19
20 190103 Sayaboury Lao PDR 1984-2002 19
21 190202 Luang Prabang Lao PDR 1984-2002 19
22 130204 Aranyaprathet Thailand 1983-1987 5
23 150401 Ubon Thailand 1985-1994 10
24 160301 Roi Et Thailand 1985-1997 13
25 160401 Mukdahan Thailand 1985-1997 13
26 170101 Loei Thailand 1985-1993 9
27 170202 Udon Thani Thailand 1985-1994 10
28 170206 Nong Khai Thailand 1985-1996 12
29 170403 Nakhon Phanom Thailand 1985-1993 9
30 90501 Soc Trang Viet Nam 1978-2007 30
31 90503 Ca Mau Viet Nam 1978-2007 30
32 90507 Bac Lieu Viet Nam 1980-2007 28
33 100504 Rach Gia Viet Nam 1979-2007 29
34 100505 Chau Doc Viet Nam 1978-2007 30
7. Evaporation
8. Sunshine duration
No. Station ID Name Country Year No. of years
1 100401 Kampot Cambodia 1984-2001 18
2 110413 Phnom Srouch Cambodia 1984-2001 18
3 110425 Pochentong Cambodia 2006-2008 3
4 120504 Kompong Cham Cambodia 1984-2001 18
5 120603 Kratie Cambodia 1984-2001 18
6 130305 Battambang Cambodia 1984-2001 18
7 130306 Airport/Seam Reap Cambodia 1984-2001 18
8 130325 Siem Reap Koktatry Cambodia 1984-2001 18
9 130501 Stung Treng Cambodia 1984-2001 18
10 150504 Pakse Lao PDR 1998-2008 11
11 160405 Savannakhet Lao PDR 1998-2008 11
12 160502 Seno Lao PDR 2001-2008 8
13 170203 Vientiane Lao PDR 1998-2008 11
14 170404 Thakhek Lao PDR 1998-2008 11
15 190103 Sayaboury Lao PDR 1998-2008 11
9. Solar radiation