A Study of Drought Area and Drought Prevention in Satingphra Gulf Coast Area

Abstract

The purposes of this study were 1) to study drought influent factors of Satingphra gulf coast, 2) to allocate drought hazard areas of Satingphra gulf coast, and 3) to study drought prevention in Satingphra gulf coast area. Factors effecting drought: average annual rainfall (15 years: 1999-2013), number of rainy days in 15 years, land use, soil drainage, and the distance from the river to land were analysed together with correlated data of the community and drought area.    Questionnaires, interviews, and Geo-Informatics databases were employed to collect research data. Geographic Information System (GIS) was applied to analyse hazard factors and drought hazard areas.  The relationship between the community and drought hazard areas of Satingphra gulf coast was presented in form of percentage.

The research findings showed that the important factors of drought hazard in the study area were the amount of rainfall and days of rainfall in the study area and the neighbourhood. Distance from water source, soil drainage, and land use were the supplementary factors of drought hazard. The high hazard areas were almost of the southern part of the study area and some of the central

part of the study area because of low water storage in soil. The moderate hazard areas were found throughout the study area, especially sea shores and the central part of the study area. The low hazard areas were found throughout the northern and southern parts of the study area. Singhanakohn district was the lowest hazard area. Moreover, some of the northern part of the study area was the non-hazard areas.

The research findings of the relationship between the community and drought hazard areas of Satingphra gulf coast have also revealed that local people in the community which located in the hazard areas relied on their experience mostly; hardly rain for several days. The majority of people kept abreast of drought from television as it was the most convenient way. In addition, people from remote areas and those who did not have time for watching television were kept abreast of drought from local radio.

Besides, short-term and long-term preventive measures of drought in Satingphra gulf coast area should be provided. Information about drought and assistance from related organisations should be collected for evaluating and preparing suitable drought problem solving in the future.