APPLICATION OF REMOTE SENSING FOR COASTAL HAZARD MONITORING IN TAM GIANG - CAU HAI LAGOON, VIETNAM

Stretching on the coastline of 70 km, the Tam Giang - Cau Hai Lagoon plays a very important role for the coastal ecology and socio-economic development of Hue region where was Vietnam's Ancient Kingdom Capital and recognized as a World's Cultural Heritage. Recently, coastal hazard in the lagoon have occurred seriously such as inlet movement and fill up, coastal erosion, flood and inundation, etc. These hazards have impacted on lagoon environment, resources, ecosystems, socio-economic and sustainable development of this coastal area. This paper present a case study using remote sensing data in combination with ground survey for monitoring the coastal hazards in Tam Giang - Cau Hai lagoon in recent decades. Analysis results find that during its natural evolution, the lagoon has been being in three situations of only one, two and three inlets. When inlets opened or displaced, coastal erosion have occurred seriously toward new balance condition. Flood and inundation occurs every rainy season in lowland plain around lagoon. The historical flood happened in early of November 1999 with six days long, created very terrible damages for Thua Thien Hue province. Remote sensing data with capability of regular update, large area coverage is effective provide real-time and continuous information for coastal hazards monitoring.