Mekong River Commission


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5. The 2008 flood season

5.7 Conditions on the Cambodian floodplain and in the Delta

Consistent with the systematic diminishing of the magnitude 2008 flood downstream of Vientiane, daily water levels in Cambodia and the Delta were unexceptional during the season as can be seen from Figure 5.12.


Figure 5.12: Mean daily water levels in Cambodia and the Mekong Delta for 2008 compared to their long term daily average.

In 2008 the start and end of the flood season, defined as the period of the year when water levels exceed their long term average, were typical, except at Prek Kdam where the season did not end until the first week of 2009:

Table 5.6: Cambodian floodplain and Mekong Delta – onset and end dates of the 2008 flood season compared to their historical mean and standard deviation.
Site Onset of flood season End of flood season
  Historical average Standard Deviation 2008 Historical average Standard Deviation 2008
Phnom Penh 10th July 14 days 9th July 14th Nov 14 days 15th Dec
Prek Kdam
11th July
16 days
8th July 20th Dec
17 days
3rd Jan
Tan Chau
19th July
20 days
18th July 17th Dec
12 days 16th Dec
Chau Doc
23rd July
17 days
22nd July
19th Dec
12 days
19th Dec

Meanwhile, the maximum water levels achieved in 2008 fell well below the annual average figures:

Table 5.7: Maximum water levels reached during 2008 in Cambodia and the Mekong Delta compared to their long term average.
Site Period of Record
Annual maximum water level. (masl)
   
Historical average
Standard Deviation
2008
Phnom Penh Port
1960 – 2008
9.02
0.67
8.49
Prek Kdam 1960 – 2008
9.08
0.73
8.63
Tan Chau 1980 – 2008
4.30
0.54
3.73
Chao Doc 1980 – 2008
3.82
0.58
3.14

 


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