Journal Issue:
EnNRJ Vol. 18 No. 3

1

Journal Volume

Journal Volume
EnNRJ Volume 18
(2020)

Articles

Thumbnail Image
PublicationOpen Access
Effects of Climate Variability on the Annual and Intra-annual Ring Formation of Pinus merkusii growing in Central Thailand
(2020) Nathsuda Pumijumnong; Kritsadapan Palakit; Mahidol University. Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies; Kasetsart University. Faculty of Forestry. Department of Forest Management
The research clarifies which climatic factors induce annual and intra-annual ring formation in merkus pine (Pinus merkusii) growing in the low lying plains of central Thailand and reconstructs the past climate by using climate modelling derived from climate-growth response. Not only are climate variations longer than a century in central Thailand explained, but the study also explores for the first time the variability in climate using the formation of intra-annual rings in Thai merkus pines. The tree-ring analysis of wood core samples indicated that the pine stand was more than 150 years old with the oldest tree being 191 years old. The annual variation in tree growth significantly correlated with local climate variables, the number of rainy days in each year (r=0.520, p<0.01) and the extreme maximum temperature in April (r=-0.377, p<0.01). The regional climate of the Equatorial Southern Oscillation in March (EQ_SOIMarch) also highly correlated with the pine growth (r=0.360, p<0.01). The climate reconstruction indicated a declining trend in the number of rainy days during the 20th century and a decline in the number of rainy days was observed during the first and second decades of the 21st century, respectively, while the past climate reconstruction of maximum temperature in April and EQ SOIMarch indicated a decline during the previous century and an increase in this century. A multiple regression analysis indicated that the extreme maximum temperature, which declined at the beginning of the wet season and increased around the transitional period of the late rainy and the cold seasons, influenced the formation of intra-annual rings (r2=40.5%, p<0.05). It can be summarized that the number of rainy days increasing in each year associated with the declining temperature at the beginning of the wet season indicated a rapid growth in P. merkusii, while the anomalous temperature declining at the beginning and increasing at the end of the wet season was the main factor inducing the intra-annual ring formation. Therefore the activity of forest and planation management, especially in the watering at the beginning of the wet season when anomalous increased temperature occurred, shall be specified in the forest management plan in order to increase annual pine growth and wood formation.
Thumbnail Image
PublicationOpen Access
Factors Related to Coastal Communities’ Water-Related Natural Disaster Awareness, Preparedness, Resilience and Recovery in Three Cyclone Nargis Affected Areas in the Ayeyarwaddy Delta Region, Myanmar
(2020) Zay Yar Min; Kampanad Bhaktikul; Sayam Aroonsrimorakot; Saranya Sucharitakul; Allan Sriratana Tabucanon; Budi Eko Siswoyo; กัมปนาท ภักดีกุล; สยาม อรุณศรีมรกต; ศรัณยา สุจริตกุล; อรันย์ ศรีรัตนา ทาบูกานอน; Mahidol University. Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies; Mahidol University. Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities
Natural disasters have a negative impact on the socio-economy of a country. This cross-sectional analytical study determined the factors that influence coastal communities’ water-related disaster awareness, preparedness, resilience and recovery in Cyclone Nargis affected areas in Myanmar. A total of 390 respondents from the three townships most affected by Cyclone Nargis in the Ayeyarwaddy Delta Region were purposively selected. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 22.0. Associations between variables were analyzed by using binary logistic regression with p<0.05. Multivariate analysis was performed for the final model and interpreted with adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval. Among respondents, more than 75% were not only aware and prepared before the disaster but had recovered and demonstrated resilience following the disaster. The respondents who had problems recovering on the “financial” index were 0.5 times less likely to exhibit recovery (OR=0.558, 95% CI=0.346-0.899, p=0.016) in binary analysis. The respondents who had problems recovering on the “health” index were 0.3 times less likely to demonstrate recovery (OR=0.387, 95% CI=0.194-0.772, p=0.007) in multivariate analysis. It is recommended that awareness and disaster management education programs that shape behavioral change are initiated which target both rural and urban areas in Myanmar.

Availability

Collections