Low Mekong River levels not China's fault says Mekong River Commission
By Jon Fernquest
There
has been a lot of speculation recently on whether the low
levels of the Mekong river are due to China's dams upstream. Today's article is written by the head of the Mekong River Commission to set the record straight.
The Shans who live along the Mekong in Burma are also suffering from the drought (Read article).
Today's article begins after the vocabulary.
speculation - ideas
that people have or talk about why something happened
or what might happen in the future
dam - a large concrete barrier at a point along a river that collects water to be used for electricity generation or irrigation (See Wikipedia)
Mekong Commission - an organisation formed after World War to coordinate and share between countries the resources of the Mekong River (See Wikipedia and website)
set the record straight - present the facts so that people know the truth
Shans - a group of Tai people related to the Thais who live in Burma near the border of Yunnan, China (See Wikipedia)
dam - a large concrete barrier at a point along a river that collects water to be used for electricity generation or irrigation (See Wikipedia)
Mekong Commission - an organisation formed after World War to coordinate and share between countries the resources of the Mekong River (See Wikipedia and website)
set the record straight - present the facts so that people know the truth
Shans - a group of Tai people related to the Thais who live in Burma near the border of Yunnan, China (See Wikipedia)
OPINION SECTION
Low river levels caused by extremely low rainfall
Jeremy Bird CEO, Mekong River Commission16-03-2010
As readers of this paper will know, much of northern Thailand and the Lao People's Democratic Republic, southwest China and some parts of Vietnam are in the grip of one of the worst dry periods in recent history. This is reflected in unusually low river levels throughout the Mekong basin as well as in other major rivers such as the Red River in northern Vietnam.
The implications of this, as recent media reports have correctly pointed out, are serious. Many people in this region already face poverty. Difficulties in access to water make livelihoods from farming and fishing more precarious for affected communities and raise the risk of disease from use of polluted sources. Low water levels have also severely disrupted river transport both for trade and tourism, further affecting livelihoods of people who depend upon the river.
grip
- to have a strong affect on something ได้รับผลกระทบ
in the grip of - something bad that can't be controlled is happening (example: drought, sickness)
basin, river basin - a large area of land with all rain falling there flowing into a big river or lake
Red River - a large river that starts in China and runs through northern Vietnam where it enters the sea (See Wikipedia)
implication of Y - a possible efffect or result of Y happening or being true
media - public ways of communicating news and information: television, radio, newspapers, magazines, the internet สื่อ
pointed out - showed to be true and important
poverty - the condition of being extremely poor ความจน
access - able to get something, the right or opportunity to have or use something สิทธิหรือโอกาสในการใช้
livelihoods - a source of money and income such as a job that allows you to buy the things that you need, ways to earn money to support a family (See glossary)
precarious - unstable and uncertain, not in control, may fail anytime
risk - danger, the possibility that something dangerous or unpleasant might happen ความเสี่ยง
disrupted - interrupted and prevented from continuing smoothly by creating problems ขัดขวาง
transport - to move people or things from one place to another ขนส่ง
trade - the buying and selling of goods การค้าขาย
in the grip of - something bad that can't be controlled is happening (example: drought, sickness)
basin, river basin - a large area of land with all rain falling there flowing into a big river or lake
Red River - a large river that starts in China and runs through northern Vietnam where it enters the sea (See Wikipedia)
implication of Y - a possible efffect or result of Y happening or being true
media - public ways of communicating news and information: television, radio, newspapers, magazines, the internet สื่อ
pointed out - showed to be true and important
poverty - the condition of being extremely poor ความจน
access - able to get something, the right or opportunity to have or use something สิทธิหรือโอกาสในการใช้
livelihoods - a source of money and income such as a job that allows you to buy the things that you need, ways to earn money to support a family (See glossary)
precarious - unstable and uncertain, not in control, may fail anytime
risk - danger, the possibility that something dangerous or unpleasant might happen ความเสี่ยง
disrupted - interrupted and prevented from continuing smoothly by creating problems ขัดขวาง
transport - to move people or things from one place to another ขนส่ง
trade - the buying and selling of goods การค้าขาย
Analysis of the Mekong River Commission's data reveals that the low water levels in the Mekong and its tributaries are the result of extreme natural conditions. Very low rainfall this dry season, following a particularly early end to the wet season in 2009, has led to river levels below those seen in at least 50 years.
For example, at Chiang Saen in northern Thailand close to the Chinese border, the 2009 wet season ended about one and a half months early and rainfall in both September and October 2009 was more than 30% less than average. Rainfall in Yunan province has also been low, with amounts consistently below average since August 2009.
data
- facts or information used for making calculations or decisions ข้อมูล
reveals - shows something new (that people did not already know)
tributaries - rivers or streams that flow into a larger river or lake ลำธาร หรือ แม่น้ำสายเล็ก ๆ
extreme - much more severe or serious than usual ที่ร้ายแรงมาก, ที่รุนแรงที่สุด
natural - found in nature (not made in a factory by humans) ตามธรรมชาติ
border - the official line separating two areas, regions or countries เขตแดน อาณาเขต
consistently - continuously; happening again and again in the same way อย่างต่อเนื่อง
reveals - shows something new (that people did not already know)
tributaries - rivers or streams that flow into a larger river or lake ลำธาร หรือ แม่น้ำสายเล็ก ๆ
extreme - much more severe or serious than usual ที่ร้ายแรงมาก, ที่รุนแรงที่สุด
natural - found in nature (not made in a factory by humans) ตามธรรมชาติ
border - the official line separating two areas, regions or countries เขตแดน อาณาเขต
consistently - continuously; happening again and again in the same way อย่างต่อเนื่อง
The reduced Mekong levels at the end of the wet season were typically at one-in-10-year lows. Coupled with very low rainfall afterwards, this means that levels at most mainstream measuring stations in Lao PDR and Thailand dropped below those for the 1992-1993 season, then the most extreme dry period on record. It is important to note that the conditions became more severe moving downstream from Chiang Saen to Vientiane.
Now let us consider the situation in the tributary rivers which are what feeds into and contribute to the flow in the mainstream. For example, flow in tributaries in northern Lao PDR such as the Nam Ou, north of Luang Prabang, are the lowest since our records began 50 years ago. These are natural conditions.
typically
- usually; normally อย่างเป็นแบบฉบับ
couple - combine, add to
mainstream - the main river that has many small rivers flowing into it
tributary - smaller rivers that flow into the larger river
feed - to give a supply of something to
flow (noun) - stuff moving from one place to another (example: the flow of goods out of the country, the flow of water along the Mekong from China to Cambodia)
records - pieces of information describing something written down or stored on a computer บันทึุก
on record - that has ever been written down and kept as information for the future
severe - very serious and worrying ที่รุนแรง ที่น่าเป็นห่วง
contribute - add to something (that already exists)
couple - combine, add to
mainstream - the main river that has many small rivers flowing into it
tributary - smaller rivers that flow into the larger river
feed - to give a supply of something to
flow (noun) - stuff moving from one place to another (example: the flow of goods out of the country, the flow of water along the Mekong from China to Cambodia)
records - pieces of information describing something written down or stored on a computer บันทึุก
on record - that has ever been written down and kept as information for the future
severe - very serious and worrying ที่รุนแรง ที่น่าเป็นห่วง
contribute - add to something (that already exists)
Where hydroelectric dams have been constructed, such as on the Nam Ngum, flows downstream tend to be higher as water stored in the wet season is released for hydroelectricity production in the dry season
In Thailand, many media reports place the blame for low Mekong levels on the mainstream Chinese hydropower schemes and yet they operate in the same way, to store water during the wet season that can be used during the dry season. In the next few years, the completed storage capacity of the Chinese dams will lead to increased dry season flows downstream, perhaps as much as 40% more in Vientiane. At the moment, however, those projects that have been completed are not sufficiently large to consistently deliver such benefits.
hydroelectricity - the
electricity produced by hydropower (See Wikipedia)
hydroelectric dams - dams used to create electricity (generate electricity)
hydropower - using the fast moving water in rivers to generate electricity (See Wikipedia)
energy - in physics the amount of work that can be performed by a force (See Wikipedia)
power - energy in the form of electricity produced in large quantities and used to operate lights, machines, and heating
source of power - the method used to create energy and electricity (power generation): coal, gas, hydropower, etc...
schemes - systems for achieving some goal
tend - to be likely to behave in a particular way or have a particular characteristic มักจะ
tend - to take care of someone or something รับใช้ ดูแล
released - made available to the public
blame Y for Z - to claim that Y is responsible for an accident, problem, or bad situation Z
place the blame on Y - claim that Y causes the problem
storage - the putting and keeping of things in a special place for use in the future การเก็บ
capacity - the total amount that can be contained ปริมาณสูงสุดที่จะรับได้
moment - a very short period of time; a particular time or occasionชั่วขณะ, โอกาสสำคัญ
at the moment - now
sufficiently large - large enough
benefits - goods things that can happen from an activity ผลประโยชน์
hydroelectric dams - dams used to create electricity (generate electricity)
hydropower - using the fast moving water in rivers to generate electricity (See Wikipedia)
energy - in physics the amount of work that can be performed by a force (See Wikipedia)
power - energy in the form of electricity produced in large quantities and used to operate lights, machines, and heating
source of power - the method used to create energy and electricity (power generation): coal, gas, hydropower, etc...
schemes - systems for achieving some goal
tend - to be likely to behave in a particular way or have a particular characteristic มักจะ
tend - to take care of someone or something รับใช้ ดูแล
released - made available to the public
blame Y for Z - to claim that Y is responsible for an accident, problem, or bad situation Z
place the blame on Y - claim that Y causes the problem
storage - the putting and keeping of things in a special place for use in the future การเก็บ
capacity - the total amount that can be contained ปริมาณสูงสุดที่จะรับได้
moment - a very short period of time; a particular time or occasionชั่วขณะ, โอกาสสำคัญ
at the moment - now
sufficiently large - large enough
benefits - goods things that can happen from an activity ผลประโยชน์
We are all aware of the negative effects that dams can bring on natural resources and the livelihoods of people that depend upon them. They have been widely reported in the media by independent commissions, project evaluation studies and community experience. But this should not be translated into a view that all problems can be attributed to dams. The natural Mekong river system is incredibly variable from year to year as the long history of floods and drought demonstrates.
aware
- knowing that something exists, or having knowledge or experience of a
particular thing ทราบ
negative - bad ที่เป็นด้านลบ
resources - things that you need to achieve something ทรัพยากรที่มีอยู่
natural resources - things like oil or trees or fish that humans get from nature (earth, ocean, air...) (See Wikipedia)
independent - separate and not connected, not influenced or affected by others เป็นอิสระ not taking help or money from other people พึ่งตนเอง
independent commission - group of people to make decisions that are not hired or controlled by others
project evaluation studies - a detailed study done before a project to look at what will likely happen from the project
community - local people, the people living in one particular area ชุมชน
community experience - the things that happen to people living together in a local area (they tell each other about)
translated into a view that - changed into a view or opinion that
X attributed to Y - claimed that Y was the cause of X
incredibly - in a way that is difficult to believe อย่างไม่น่าเชื่อ
variable from year to year - changes ever year (not the same)
drought - a period of time when there is very little rain and water available ความแห้งแล้ง
demonstrates - shows
negative - bad ที่เป็นด้านลบ
resources - things that you need to achieve something ทรัพยากรที่มีอยู่
natural resources - things like oil or trees or fish that humans get from nature (earth, ocean, air...) (See Wikipedia)
independent - separate and not connected, not influenced or affected by others เป็นอิสระ not taking help or money from other people พึ่งตนเอง
independent commission - group of people to make decisions that are not hired or controlled by others
project evaluation studies - a detailed study done before a project to look at what will likely happen from the project
community - local people, the people living in one particular area ชุมชน
community experience - the things that happen to people living together in a local area (they tell each other about)
translated into a view that - changed into a view or opinion that
X attributed to Y - claimed that Y was the cause of X
incredibly - in a way that is difficult to believe อย่างไม่น่าเชื่อ
variable from year to year - changes ever year (not the same)
drought - a period of time when there is very little rain and water available ความแห้งแล้ง
demonstrates - shows
There appear to be two main questions to ask in relation to upstream dams. First, did they in any way reduce levels below natural conditions? The underlying trend of flow recorded at Chiang Saen for the period from the end of the wet season 2009 indicates a similar pattern to previous dry years although with a more extreme slope due to the very low rainfall conditions. In early to mid January, there was an increase above this trend due to hydropower generation upstream which had the effect of delaying the onset of the extreme low flow conditions. However, limited storage upstream appears to have been a constraint to further supplementing low river flows.
Second, the question is whether there is any scope for release of water stored upstream from last year's wet season to raise the historically low water levels.
natural conditions - the
conditions that usually exist according to nature
underlying - the real or most basic cause or reason
trend - a gradual change or development that produces a particular result ทิศทาง แนวโน้ม
similar - almost the same, many parts or features are the same
pattern - a repeated general way that things happen
onset - the beginning of something, especially something unpleasant การเริ่มต้น กำเริบ
constraint - something that limits or controls what you can do (See glossary)
supplementing - adding to
release - to allow a substance to flow out from somewhere ปล่อย
historically low - low compared to all the levels it has been over long-periods of time (history)
underlying - the real or most basic cause or reason
trend - a gradual change or development that produces a particular result ทิศทาง แนวโน้ม
similar - almost the same, many parts or features are the same
pattern - a repeated general way that things happen
onset - the beginning of something, especially something unpleasant การเริ่มต้น กำเริบ
constraint - something that limits or controls what you can do (See glossary)
supplementing - adding to
release - to allow a substance to flow out from somewhere ปล่อย
historically low - low compared to all the levels it has been over long-periods of time (history)
This is where further information and discussion is required, but it is important to note that China also has a common interest in raising water levels if it can to alleviate the problems being faced on its river trade route through to northern Thailand. Low volumes of reservoir storage may currently provide little opportunity to act in this way.
common
- shared by two or more people ที่ร่วมกัน
common interest in Y - both will benefit from Y
interest - payments made for the use of another's money for a period of time
alleviate - make a bad situation better (or at least less bad), solve a problem or make a problem less severe
route - the path or way that planes, buses, trains, or ships travel regularly เส้นทางของรถ เรือ เครื่องบิน,etc.
trade route - a path that goods are sent along (produced in one place and sold in another)
reservoir - a natural or artificial lake where water is stored อ่างเก็บน้ำ
provide - to give someone something that they want or need
opportunity - a situation when it is possible to do something that you want to do (See glossary)
common interest in Y - both will benefit from Y
interest - payments made for the use of another's money for a period of time
alleviate - make a bad situation better (or at least less bad), solve a problem or make a problem less severe
route - the path or way that planes, buses, trains, or ships travel regularly เส้นทางของรถ เรือ เครื่องบิน,etc.
trade route - a path that goods are sent along (produced in one place and sold in another)
reservoir - a natural or artificial lake where water is stored อ่างเก็บน้ำ
provide - to give someone something that they want or need
opportunity - a situation when it is possible to do something that you want to do (See glossary)
More research needs to be done. The Mekong River Commission is engaging with China to better understand how dams and other human activities on the river impact on those downstream, as well as to model future changes, including the potential impact of climate change. A team of MRC modellers will be working with Chinese counterparts over the next weeks to exchange information and better analyse and understand both the current situation and longer term changes. These include increased dry season flow due to dam operations and the prospect of more extremes of flood and drought.
engaging
- working together with, communicating
impact - an effect or influence ผลกระทบ
model (verb) - create a simple technical or mathematical description of how something works (example: an environmental model of a river)
potential - possible, might happen in future ความเป็นไปได้
climate - the general weather conditions usually found in a particular place สภาพอากาศ
climate change - big changes in the climate such as increases in green-house gases in the atmosphere created by humans that have a negative long-term effect on the environment (See Wikipedia)
counterpart - another person who has a similar function, work, or position in another organisation or place
current - of the present time ปัจจุบัน
term - a period of time
longer term - for a longer period of time
prospect - the possibility that something might happen ความคาดหวัง ความหวังข้างหน้า อนาคต
flood - a large amount or number of something จำนวนมาก
impact - an effect or influence ผลกระทบ
model (verb) - create a simple technical or mathematical description of how something works (example: an environmental model of a river)
potential - possible, might happen in future ความเป็นไปได้
climate - the general weather conditions usually found in a particular place สภาพอากาศ
climate change - big changes in the climate such as increases in green-house gases in the atmosphere created by humans that have a negative long-term effect on the environment (See Wikipedia)
counterpart - another person who has a similar function, work, or position in another organisation or place
current - of the present time ปัจจุบัน
term - a period of time
longer term - for a longer period of time
prospect - the possibility that something might happen ความคาดหวัง ความหวังข้างหน้า อนาคต
flood - a large amount or number of something จำนวนมาก
The current low flow conditions are expected to continue through April and it is an issue that affects the tributaries of the Mekong as much, if not more, than the mainstream. There are certainly steps that can be taken in terms of conserving water and extending intake pipelines at water supply schemes so that they can use the water still available in the river. Countries of the region are not as familiar with drought management as with flood preparedness. Yet, with climate change effects likely to intensify both flooding and drought over coming years, it is an area where considerable attention is needed both at policy and practical levels.
expected
- believe will happen คาดว่า (จะเกิดขึ้น)
issue - a problem that people are discussing or arguing about, that needs to be considered ประเด็น
X in terms of Y - X is done by using Y or X is explained using Y
conserving - losing less, saving
extending - making longer
intake - water that goes into some place or thing (here: the intake of pipes)
familiar - know well from experience
intensify - to get stronger เข้มข้นขึ้น
considerable - large; of noticeable importance จำนวนมาก
policy - a set of plans or action agreed on by a government, political party, business, or other group a plan of action to guide decisions and achieve outcomes (See Wikipedia) นโยบาย
practical - useful for real people in real situations (not just ideas or "theory")
issue - a problem that people are discussing or arguing about, that needs to be considered ประเด็น
X in terms of Y - X is done by using Y or X is explained using Y
conserving - losing less, saving
extending - making longer
intake - water that goes into some place or thing (here: the intake of pipes)
familiar - know well from experience
intensify - to get stronger เข้มข้นขึ้น
considerable - large; of noticeable importance จำนวนมาก
policy - a set of plans or action agreed on by a government, political party, business, or other group a plan of action to guide decisions and achieve outcomes (See Wikipedia) นโยบาย
practical - useful for real people in real situations (not just ideas or "theory")
Jeremy Bird is CEO, Mekong River Commission
