Rural Development 2000; Haruyama 2004). Rice is the main agricultural product of
the delta, and paddy fields and their concomitant villages extend to the shoreline.
Coastal erosion extends from the agricultural land or villages to the inland areas,
causing higher soil salinity, salty water wells, and crop damage.
In Vietnam, the data related to the natural hazards are not easily available. In a
previous study conducted by the authors (Murooka and Haruyama 2005), satellite
remote sensor data were used to assess coastal erosion risk in the Red River Delta.
In the current study, we will try to reconstruct the methodology to assess the coastal
erosion risk using satellite remote sensor data.
10.2 The Red River Delta
10.2.1 Geographical Settings
The Red River rises in China and flows southeast for about 1,300 km before
entering the Gulf of Tonkin. The extensive delta covers 17,000 km
2 . The Red
River Delta, a fluvial plain located in the crustal movement region, is in the northern
part of Vietnam.
Vietnam is the second largest rice exporting country in the world. The Red River
Delta has been cultivated for a very long period of time, and the population density is
the highest in Vietnam. Because of the excellent agricultural conditions, the Delta has
become the nation’s primary farming region. Agriculture land accounted for 37 % of
the entire Delta, forestry 25 %, and homestead land 7 % in January 2012 (GSO 2014).
Deltas are generally formed by the soil deposits of streams. The Red River has
expanded because the people have created embankments along its course to protect
against flooding. The delta has expanded a maximum of 80–100 m per year at the
Red River mouth during the last 70 years (Nguyen 1992). The Red River Delta was
affected by the tides and waves when the delta expanded (Hori 2012). The study
area is a wave-dominated system and is composed of a fine-grained tidal flat and
marsh sediments (Mathers and Zalasiewicz 1999).
There are many sand ridges in the southern Red River Delta. Because the sand
ridges are dry and slightly higher than the surrounding ground, they are conducive
to human settlement. The sand ridges are smaller and well developed in the inland
area and larger in the coastal area. Most of the sand ridges are in the area between
the Ninh Co River and the Red River.
10.2.2 Climate
The Red River Delta is affected by tropical monsoons during the dry and cold
winters. In summer, it is hot and humid with heavy rains or typhoons. The region is
a part of K€ oppen Cwa, warm, humid and subtropical with plentiful precipitation.
200
M. Murooka et al.
the delta, and paddy fields and their concomitant villages extend to the shoreline.
Coastal erosion extends from the agricultural land or villages to the inland areas,
causing higher soil salinity, salty water wells, and crop damage.
In Vietnam, the data related to the natural hazards are not easily available. In a
previous study conducted by the authors (Murooka and Haruyama 2005), satellite
remote sensor data were used to assess coastal erosion risk in the Red River Delta.
In the current study, we will try to reconstruct the methodology to assess the coastal
erosion risk using satellite remote sensor data.
10.2 The Red River Delta
10.2.1 Geographical Settings
The Red River rises in China and flows southeast for about 1,300 km before
entering the Gulf of Tonkin. The extensive delta covers 17,000 km
2 . The Red
River Delta, a fluvial plain located in the crustal movement region, is in the northern
part of Vietnam.
Vietnam is the second largest rice exporting country in the world. The Red River
Delta has been cultivated for a very long period of time, and the population density is
the highest in Vietnam. Because of the excellent agricultural conditions, the Delta has
become the nation’s primary farming region. Agriculture land accounted for 37 % of
the entire Delta, forestry 25 %, and homestead land 7 % in January 2012 (GSO 2014).
Deltas are generally formed by the soil deposits of streams. The Red River has
expanded because the people have created embankments along its course to protect
against flooding. The delta has expanded a maximum of 80–100 m per year at the
Red River mouth during the last 70 years (Nguyen 1992). The Red River Delta was
affected by the tides and waves when the delta expanded (Hori 2012). The study
area is a wave-dominated system and is composed of a fine-grained tidal flat and
marsh sediments (Mathers and Zalasiewicz 1999).
There are many sand ridges in the southern Red River Delta. Because the sand
ridges are dry and slightly higher than the surrounding ground, they are conducive
to human settlement. The sand ridges are smaller and well developed in the inland
area and larger in the coastal area. Most of the sand ridges are in the area between
the Ninh Co River and the Red River.
10.2.2 Climate
The Red River Delta is affected by tropical monsoons during the dry and cold
winters. In summer, it is hot and humid with heavy rains or typhoons. The region is
a part of K€ oppen Cwa, warm, humid and subtropical with plentiful precipitation.
200
M. Murooka et al.