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W. T. Woo et al.
that Malaysia take proactive steps now to minimize vulnerability to SLR by taking
appropriate climate actions.
Research on the South Florida area indicates strongly that seawater inundation by
storm surges and saltwater intrusion via groundwater diffusion into coastal groundwater will likely cause serious problems soon (Teh et al. 2013). This may lead to
permanent salinization of fresh groundwater around South Florida (Jiang et al. 2012).
The salinization of fresh groundwater will, in turn, have a negative impact on the
growth and productivity of plants, negatively impacting food security. This threat to
coastal groundwater resources and vegetation growth can be investigated scientifically by field monitoring, remote sensing technology and model simulations. And
appropriate climate action can be developed to allow coastal communities to devise
plans to cope with the potentially disastrous impacts of climate change. Achieving agricultural, food and water security, via climate action and adaption to climate
change, is critically important for safeguarding humanity. Understanding the coupled relationship between surface and subsurface water is crucial for achieving sustainable coastal water resource utilization, particularly under the threat of climate
change (Jiang et al. 2015). Research is conducted to avert this looming crisis by
integrating science (hydrology, plant biology), technology (ICT, big data, computer
simulations), engineering (coastal geophysics) and mathematics (model simulation,
theoretical analysis) to drive climate action plan for addressing the impending crises
posed by climate change (Teh et al. 2015). This research will inspire a new generation of young people and fresh graduates to undertake a sustained interest and
solid commitment in integrating multiple disciplines (STEM: Science, Technology,
Engineering, Mathematics) to seek long term solutions to real-world problems. An
integrated simulation model known as MANTRA has been developed by the authors
jointly with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to integrate surface and
subsurface hydrology, groundwater salinity and coastal vegetation growth dynamics.
This model has the capability to predict the short- and long-term pattern of soil water
quality and salinity changes and the potential impact on coastal vegetation in the
affected areas. This MANTRA model is driven by existing climate observations and
predicted future climate change scenarios (Teh et al. 2015). It might seem odd to
think that a country like Malaysia can ever face critical water crisis. However, dwindling usable water resources decimated by anthropogenic pollution and unsustainable
exploitation can pose a significant threat to water security. Increased salinity intrusion
into surface and subsurface freshwater sources due to climate change has the potential to aggravate the situation further. Water scarcity, soil degradation and the loss
of arable farmlands worldwide will have a profound influence on food security (Teh
and Koh 2016). About 1.5–2 billion people worldwide rely on groundwater as their
main sources of drinking water. Salt intrusion into aquatic ecosystems, consisting of
rivers, estuaries, wetlands and deltas, low-land agriculture farms (especially rice) and
coastal groundwater systems, can pose serious threat to freshwater resources. Climate
change might result in whole ecosystem regime shifts, reduce food production and
threaten livelihoods for critically affected regions. For instance, more than 20,000 ha
of rice paddy fields in Japan were flooded with saltwater following the 2011 Tohoku
tsunami. A year later, the soil in areas located within 3 km from the coast was still
W. T. Woo et al.
that Malaysia take proactive steps now to minimize vulnerability to SLR by taking
appropriate climate actions.
Research on the South Florida area indicates strongly that seawater inundation by
storm surges and saltwater intrusion via groundwater diffusion into coastal groundwater will likely cause serious problems soon (Teh et al. 2013). This may lead to
permanent salinization of fresh groundwater around South Florida (Jiang et al. 2012).
The salinization of fresh groundwater will, in turn, have a negative impact on the
growth and productivity of plants, negatively impacting food security. This threat to
coastal groundwater resources and vegetation growth can be investigated scientifically by field monitoring, remote sensing technology and model simulations. And
appropriate climate action can be developed to allow coastal communities to devise
plans to cope with the potentially disastrous impacts of climate change. Achieving agricultural, food and water security, via climate action and adaption to climate
change, is critically important for safeguarding humanity. Understanding the coupled relationship between surface and subsurface water is crucial for achieving sustainable coastal water resource utilization, particularly under the threat of climate
change (Jiang et al. 2015). Research is conducted to avert this looming crisis by
integrating science (hydrology, plant biology), technology (ICT, big data, computer
simulations), engineering (coastal geophysics) and mathematics (model simulation,
theoretical analysis) to drive climate action plan for addressing the impending crises
posed by climate change (Teh et al. 2015). This research will inspire a new generation of young people and fresh graduates to undertake a sustained interest and
solid commitment in integrating multiple disciplines (STEM: Science, Technology,
Engineering, Mathematics) to seek long term solutions to real-world problems. An
integrated simulation model known as MANTRA has been developed by the authors
jointly with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to integrate surface and
subsurface hydrology, groundwater salinity and coastal vegetation growth dynamics.
This model has the capability to predict the short- and long-term pattern of soil water
quality and salinity changes and the potential impact on coastal vegetation in the
affected areas. This MANTRA model is driven by existing climate observations and
predicted future climate change scenarios (Teh et al. 2015). It might seem odd to
think that a country like Malaysia can ever face critical water crisis. However, dwindling usable water resources decimated by anthropogenic pollution and unsustainable
exploitation can pose a significant threat to water security. Increased salinity intrusion
into surface and subsurface freshwater sources due to climate change has the potential to aggravate the situation further. Water scarcity, soil degradation and the loss
of arable farmlands worldwide will have a profound influence on food security (Teh
and Koh 2016). About 1.5–2 billion people worldwide rely on groundwater as their
main sources of drinking water. Salt intrusion into aquatic ecosystems, consisting of
rivers, estuaries, wetlands and deltas, low-land agriculture farms (especially rice) and
coastal groundwater systems, can pose serious threat to freshwater resources. Climate
change might result in whole ecosystem regime shifts, reduce food production and
threaten livelihoods for critically affected regions. For instance, more than 20,000 ha
of rice paddy fields in Japan were flooded with saltwater following the 2011 Tohoku
tsunami. A year later, the soil in areas located within 3 km from the coast was still