Climate Change Hotspots and Watershed Strategies Development for Central and Western Regions of Thailand 

Technology, Thailand 

Abstract: Climate change hotspots and watershed strategies development for the Central and Western regions of Thailand were studied using projected climate change hotspots derived from comparison of the near future climate (2015-2034) and the baselined year (1960-2012). The near future climate and the baselined year were analyzed by the GCM HadCM3-A1B scenario and the PRECIS-RCM models. The study areas consisted of 7 watersheds under Monsoon climate with large floodplains surrounding by mountains on the east and the west and an undulating topography in the north and flat terrain and Gulf of Thailand in the south. The hotspot was defined as areas where high temperature or high rainfall increasing as compared between the baselined year and the future climate. They were temperature hotspot, rainfall hotspot and landslide hotspot as a consequent of high amount of rainfall. The watershed strategy developed were: Strategy 1 Adapting to climate change that will affect watershed ecosystems, Strategy 2 Preparedness and management of natural disasters and climate change induced risks, and Strategy 3 Promote capacity development potential on management and adaptation to climate change in the watersheds. 

Key words: climate change hotspot, watersheds, strategies development, central and western regions of Thailand