PAPER REVIEW

Paper Title: The effects of Thailand’s Great Flood of 2011 on river sediment discharge in the upper
Chao Phraya River basin, Thailand
Authors: Butsawan Bidorn, Seree Chanyotha, Stephen A. Kish, Joseph F. Donoghue, Komkrit Bidorn,
Ruetaitip Mama

a. Journal Citation

JOURNAL: PUBLISHER:
International Journal of Sediment Research Elsevier
Vol 30 (2015) pp. 328 – 337
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsrc.2015.10.001
Impact Factor: 1.494
5-Year Impact Factor: 1.511

b. Purpose of Paper
Main Objective:
Examine the effects of Thailand’s Great Flood of 2011 on river sediment discharge in four major rivers
(Ping, Wang, Yom, and Nan rivers) that are main sources of sediment supply to the Chao Phraya Estuary

The main objective was attained by performing the following:

 Study the average river flow conditions and sediment characteristics of the four rivers: using
historical streamflow and sediment data collected by the Royal Irrigation Department (RID)

Member 1 Surname, Given Name M.I.

1
 Assess effects of the flood of 2011 on sediment discharge using river surveys: River surveys were
carried out to quantify river discharge, flow depth, flow velocity, suspended sediment, and bed
load for (a) Oct. 17-24, 2011 (during the flood) and (b) Oct 15-20, 2012 (1-yr after flooding)

Flooding in Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani Provinces in October (right), compared to before the flooding in July (left)

c. Importance of Problems Addressed

 Understanding that changes of flow characteristics due to the flood in 2011 would directly affect
sediment process in the four rivers and also affect the sediment supply to Chao Phraya Estuary
 Identifying the season for high sediment discharge in the four main rivers
 Recommending a guideline for more realistic sediment transport estimation, specifically bedload
to suspended load ratio

d. Success of Approach
 Specific bedload to suspended load ratio for Ping, Wang, Yom and Nan were determined

Member 1 Surname, Given Name M.I.

2
 Relationship between suspended sediment transport rate and streamflow of each river was
developed from regression analysis

 The total sediment transport rate per unit discharge (S T/Q) for the four rivers before and after the
great flood were estimated

Member 1 Surname, Given Name M.I.

3
 The effects of the Great Flood of 2011 on sediment discharge was evaluated for each river
 The ratios of bedload to suspended load were recommended as a guideline for more realistic
sediment transport estimation rather than using the traditional value of 30%

e. Alternate Approach
 Improve Figures: For Fig. 1, the study area may be presented better if the location of the dams
were highlighted. Also, the lower-right part of the figure shows the location of the river basin
with reference to the neighboring countries. However, this could not be easily appreciated by the
readers.

Member 1 Surname, Given Name M.I.

4
  Improve Figures: For Fig. 2, legends can be placed outside the plot area. Also, a separate axis for
the discharge rate during the flood events can be placed on the right.

Legends can be placed outside

of chart area

Separate axis for the discharge

METHODOLOGY
 Too early to conclude that the resulting bedload to suspended load ratio is reliable: Suspended
materials usually takes longer time to settle due to its size and weight. Therefore, the river
condition during the observation date may not be stable.
“For bed material transport in each river, when the suspended load is known, then the bed load
can be estimated from the bed-to-suspended ratios (Table 1). However, the 2011 sediment ratios
for all four rivers were different from the 2012 ratios, due to the difference in flow rates. The flow
rate in 2012 of each river was approximately the same as to the long-term average river
discharge, so the 2012 sediment ratio was used for estimating long-term bedload in each river in
the study.
 Additional river survey stations are recommended: This is to address the possible effect of the
dams in the bedload to suspended load ratio
 Results has a lot of potential when it comes to development of necessary measures to address the
effects of Thailand’s Great Flood of 2011

f. Conclusion
This paper examined the effects of Thailand’s Great Flood of 2011 on river sediment discharge in four
major rivers (Ping, Wang, Yom, and Nan rivers) that are main sources of sediment supply to the Chao
Phraya Estuary. However, the reviewer considers the need of river survey not only during and a year after
flooding. River survey conducted before the flood occurrence may play a vital role in the estimation of

Member 1 Surname, Given Name M.I.

5
the river sediment discharge. Overall, the paper presents an essential attempt in the estimation of the
sediment discharge for the four major rivers.

Member 1 Surname, Given Name M.I.