Sea Level Rise, Hydrodynamics and Sediment Distribution in the Dong Nai-Sai Gon River Basin
A study co-authored by Dung Duc Tran (HAPRI Senior Research Associate) uses numerical modelling to examine the effects of sea level rise on hydrodynamics and sediment in the Dong Nai-Sai Gon River basin of Southern Vietnam. Its results indicate erosion upstream, a sediment balance midstream and deposition in the estuary and coastal areas, and the authors describe the work as providing predictive tools for sustainable sediment management and adaptation to sea level rise in estuaries.
Context
The study starts from the observation that sea level rise significantly impacts morphodynamics, altering hydrodynamics, sediment transport and riverbed morphology. Its setting is the Dong Nai-Sai Gon River basin in Southern Vietnam, with a focus on the Soai Rap River mouth.
Methods
The authors used an integrated numerical model (TELEMAC-2D–SISYPHE–TOMAWAC) to run simulations under three sea level rise scenarios: a baseline, a rise of 0.5 m and a rise of 1.0 m. They report results for three zones (upstream, midstream, and the estuary and coastal areas) and developed regression-based linear equations to describe sediment deposition relationships among those zones.
Key findings
The simulations indicate erosion in the upstream zone, a sediment balance in the midstream zone, and deposition in the estuary and coastal areas.
The authors developed regression-based linear equations to understand the sediment deposition relationships among the zones under varying sea level rise conditions.
The authors report new insights into sediment dynamics, providing predictive tools for sustainable sediment management and adaptation to sea level rise in estuaries.
The work also contributes to understanding regional morphodynamic responses to sea level rise and informs strategies for managing sediment resources in estuarine systems.
Keywords:
Sea Level Rise
Sediment Transport
Hydrodynamic Regime
Estuary Morphodynamics
Numerical Modelling
Vietnam
Link:
Citation:
Le, N. A., Thanh, P. N., Anh, D. T., Tran, T. N., Vo, Q. T., Can, T. V., Tran, T. T. T., & Tran, D. D. (2025). Impact of sea level rise on the hydrodynamic regime and sediment distribution in the Dong Nai-Sai Gon River basin of Southern Vietnam. Journal of Hydraulic Research, 63(2), 141-155.
