Mapping vulnerability of Binh Thuan coastal zone

Abstract

Binh Thuan coastal zone, nearly 192,9 km shoreline, is well known for residential, recreational areas and minor industries. Shoreline is vulnerable to accelerated sea level rise (SLR) due to its low topography and its high ecological. The present study has been carried out with a view to assess the coastal vulnerability of SLR. Coastal vulnerability map has been built to the calculating results of the place vulnerability index (PVI). The PVI is derived by summing the CVI (coastal vulnerability index) and CSoVl (coastal social vulnerability index) scores. CVI is calculated from nine variables: Geology, geomorphology, coastal slope(%), shoreline change rate (m/yr), mean elevation (m), shoreline direction, mean tidal range (m), wave height (m) and SLR (mm/yr). We use two socioeconomic variables for CSoVI which are socioeconomic variable and relative distance to coast. Results of the vulnerable areas analysis indicate that 120,73 km2 is at very high vulnerable, 84,96 km2 high, 109,23 km2 moderate, 113,99 km2 low and 232,20 km2 very low. The method in this study which combine CVI, CSoVI and PVI together is new protocol of coastal vulnerability assessment for Vietnam coastal zone due to future SLR.