May 30th 2025, Dr. Adisorn Champathong, a Senior Expert on Hydrology from the Royal Irrigation Department of Thailand, visited the CAS-TWAS Center of Excellence for Climate and Environment Sciences. During his visit, Dr. Champathong delivered a presentation titled "Application of Hydrological Information to Reduce Flood, Drought, and Salinity Intrusion Damages in Thailand." The presentation was followed by a discussion with the researchers from ICCES.
Dr. Adisorn Champathong has been working at the Royal Irrigation Department for 28 years. He holds a master's in Water Engineering and Management from the Asian Institute of Technology (2009), and a doctoral degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Tokyo (2024). His current work focuses on hydrological information and forecasting, including water quality and salinity intrusion, to support water development, management, and disaster reduction in various basins of Thailand.
In his presentation, Dr. Champathong highlighted the increasing vulnerability of Thailand to water-related hazards such as floods, droughts, and salinity intrusion, which are exacerbated by climate change and shifting land use. He discussed the application of hydrological and meteorological data to reduce these risks through integrated water resources management. Case studies from Thailand were presented to illustrate key lessons learned
Dr. Champathong also discussed future climate projections (CMIP5, RCP 8.5), which suggest rising temperatures and rainfall variability. These projections reinforce the urgency for both structural and non-structural measures, enhanced monitoring, and public collaboration to build water resilience.
The visit provided an opportunity for researchers from ICCES to engage with Dr. Champathong, exchanging ideas and insights on the application of hydrological information for water management and disaster reduction. The visit was highly productive, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing between the Royal Irrigation Department of Thailand and ICCES. This discussion laid the foundation for future cooperation between the two institutions.
