Seminar Coastal Erosion and Shoreline Evolution in Vietnam: Untangling Processes by Dr. Patrick Marchesiello (IRD-LEGOS, France)

On March 26, 2025, the Centre of Asian Research on watEr (CARE) hosted a scientific seminar titled "Coastal Erosion and Shoreline Evolution in Vietnam: Untangling Processes", presented by Dr. Patrick Marchesiello from IRD - LEGOS, Toulouse, France.

Abstract:

"The long coastal strip along Vietnam is the scene of numerous problems known worldwide to scientists and engineers for affecting the vulnerability of populations. In particular, the lower Mekong Delta coastal zone is emblematic of the coastal erosion problem in tropical delta regions. Here, we first present the findings of a European - Vietnamese project aimed at better assessing the hierarchy of causality for observed erosion patterns: natural forces and local human activity, including reduction of river fluxes due to damming and sand mining, reduction of protective coastal mangroves in favor of agriculture and aquaculture, relative sea level evolution, particularly land subsidence due to groundwater extraction. Finally, we examine the role of sea-level variations, particularly on a seasonal scale, in determining the position of the coastline, warning against the possible misinterpretation of observations in terms of coastal erosion."

The seminar provided an insightful perspective on Vietnam's coastal dynamics and the complex interactions between natural processes and human activities, contributing to a better understanding of coastal resilience and sustainable management.

CARE sincerely thanks Dr. Patrick Marchesiello for his inspiring presentation and valuable scientific exchange.