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Article
Increased Variability of Thailand's Chao Phraya River Peak Season Flow and Its Association With ENSO Variability: Evidence From Tree Ring δ18O
Geophysical Research Letters
  • Chenxi Xu, Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • Brendan M. Buckley, Columbia University
  • Parichart Promchote, Utah State University
  • S.-Y. Simon Wang, Utah State University
  • Nathsuda Pumijumnong, Mahidol University
  • Wenling An, Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • Masaki Sano, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature
  • Takeshi Nakatsuka, Waseda University
  • Zhengtang Guo, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Document Type
Article
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc.
Publication Date
4-18-2019
Disciplines
Abstract

We present a statistically robust reconstruction of Thailand's Chao Phraya River peak season streamflow (CPRPF) that spans the 202 years from 1804 to 2005 CE. Our reconstruction is based on tree ring δ18O series derived from three Pinus merkusii sites from Laos and Thailand. The regional δ18O index accounts for 57% of the observed variance of CPRPF. Spatial correlation and 21‐year running correlation analyses reveal that CPRPF is greatly influenced by regional precipitation variations associated with the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Periods of enhanced and reduced ENSO activity are associated with strong and weak ENSO‐streamflow correlation, respectively. At the longer timescale, the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) appears to modulate the ENSO‐streamflow correlations, with the most extreme flood events along the Chao Phraya River occurring during periods of increased frequency of La Niña events that coincide with extended cold phases of the PDO. The CPRPF reconstruction could aid management planning for Thailand's water resources.

Citation Information
Xu, C., Buckley, B. M., Promchote, P., Wang, S.‐Y. S., Pumijumnong, N., An, W., et al. (2019). Increased variability of Thailand's Chao Phraya River peak season flow and its association with ENSO variability: Evidence from tree ring δ18O. Geophysical Research Letters, 46, 4863–4872. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL081458