7. The Role of Agro-environmental Educationand Water Resources
and Related Disasters in Thailand
Veerasak UDOMCHOKE1 and Prasert ANGSURATTANA2

WATER RESOURCES REGIME OF
THAILAND SURFACE WATERREGIME
There are 25 major watersheds that were
accepted by the National Water Resources
Committee of Thailand (Figure 1). Ping, Wang,
Yom and Nam are the four main watersheds inNorthern Thailand these watersheds drain thewater to the central part of Thailand at Nakhon
Sawan Province and join the Chao Praya River.
Chi and Mun watersheds are the major watersheds in the Northeastern part these converge into
the Mekong International River. The MekongRiver is the main watershed in Western Thailand.
Pasak watershed is located in between the Central
and the Northeastern parts and converge into the
Chao Praya River at Nakhon Sri Ayudhaya
Province. The Tapi watershed is the major watershed in the Southern part that drains into the Gulfof Thailand. These watersheds have different
rainfall amount ranging from 1,000mm to2,000mm annually due to their differences in geographic location and differences in the climatic
regions. The quantity/amount of surface water
resources, climatic condition and runoff potential
as well as rainfall runoff ratio of each watershedwere tabulated in Table 1,2 and 3 respectively.

Figure 1 Major 25 watersheds in Thailand.

GROUNDWATER REGIME
Groundwater is another necessary water
resource, which is highly influenced by the rainfall amount, topography and geology of thewatershed. The groundwater resources regimesin Thailand may be divided into 6 major parts; theNorthern, Northeastern, Central, Western, Easternand Southern. The amount of groundwater inconsolidated and unconsolidated sediment of eachpart of Thailand is shown in Table 4.

Annual runoff specific yield of the Southernwatershed are quite greater than the others due tothe higher rainfall amount of this area comparedto the other areas.

The comparison of groundwater recharge
with average rainfall and surface runoff for eachpart of Thailand is presented in Table 5. The stor-

Earth Technology Division, Faculty of Science,
Kasetsart University, Thailand
2
Bureau of the Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural
Aviation, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives
173Table 1 Average Runoff in Rainy Season Dry Season and Annual Runoff of other Main watershed.

74

Table 2 Summary of Climatic Condition in 25 Main Watersheds.

75

Table 3 Comparison Runoff from Natural Flows and Runoff from Rainfall Calculate (100%)

Table 4. Unconsolidated rocks areas and Consolidated rock area in Thailand

76age safe yield, of groundwater in each sedimentbasin of the flood plain area are summarized inTable 6.

The area of unconsolidated aquifer in the
Northern, Central and Southern parts are larger
than the other parts but the consolidated aquifer
in the Northeastern and Northern parts are greaterthan the others.

Table 5 Groundwater Recharge (compare with runoff) of other regions in Thailand.

Table 6. Groundwater Storage and Safe Yield for Other Basin in Thailand

77

ATMOSPHERIC WATER REGIME
The atmospheric waters are importantresources that should be known for both the spatial distribution and time distribution in order toinitially assess the rough amount of precipitationand evaporation of each of the watershed. Spatial
distribution was carried out in terms of the climatic regions.
The overall climate in Thailand was classified into four main regions A, B, C and D. The
main idea for classification was modified from
Van Der Eelaart, which comprised of the influence on monsoons period, rainfall amount evaporation amount and temperature. Zone A : The
Equatorial Climate include two sub zone A1 and
A2. Sub zone A1 is in region of high rainfall during long Southwest Monsoon comprise of thearea on the West Coast of the Southern Thailand(along Phuket Mountain Range) and on the coastof the Eastern Thailand (along Bantud Mountain
Range) as shown in Figure 2. Sub zone A2 is in
the region of high rainfall during long Northeast
Monsoon Season on the East Coast of theSouthern Thailand (Nakhorn Sri Thammarat and
San Kala Khiri Mountain Range). The zone B isin the Tropical Monsoon Climate with long rainyseason. There are five sub zone, B1 (high rainfall: windward of San Kham Phaeng Mountain
Range to the Southwest Monsoon), B2 (moderate
rainfall : windward of Phetchabun and San Kham
Phaeng Mountain Range and leeward ofTennessarim Mountain Range to the Southwest
Monsoon), B 3 (low rainfall area : leeward ofTennessarim Mountain Range to the Southwest
Monsoon), B4 (moderate to high rainfall and cooldry season : Chiangrai Valley) and B5 (mountainous with cool dry season in valleys : all mountain
range in the Northern and Western of Thailand).
Zone C were identified as Tropical Monsoon
Climate with Rainy and Dry season (5.5 to 6.6
humid months) and were classified into three subzone C1, C2 and C3. Sub zone C1 implied moderate to high rainfall area on the east of the Khorat
Plateau in the Northeast of Thailand, subzone C2
exists low rainfall : in the Central of Thailand andthe Southern of the Khorat Plateau. The Zone D
is the Tropical Monsoon Climate with long dry
season (4.5 to 5.5 humid months) comprise of

Figure 2 Topographic Map of Thailand Showing
the Orientation of Mountain Ranges

Figure 3 Climatic Regions Map of Thailand

78

low rainfall sub zone (D 1 along leeward ofTennessarim Mountain Range and on the Khorat
Plateau in the Northeastern Thailand) and very
low rainfall sub zone (D2 leeward of Tennessarim
Mountain Range). The Climatic Regions ofThailand is mapped as shown in Figure 3.

shown in Figure 4. Frequency and duration
analysis on the Synoptic Climatic Conditions ofThailand yielded nine Climatic Influents that willconduct heavy rainfall, drought and flooding. The
criteria on frequency and duration analysis are thethree years group of the same behaviour of rainfall amount such as in high rainfall amount(WET) medium rainfall amount (MED) and low
rainfall amount (DRY). Five seasons are classified for each topographic and physiographic feature of Thailand. The seasons are the Northeast
Monsoon Season (NM, during JAN, FEB, NOV,DEC), Summer Intermonsoonal Season (SIM,during JAN, FEB, NOV, APR), on set Southwest
Monsoon Season (OSM, during MAY, JUN),Southwest Monsoon Season (SW, during JUL,
AUG, SEP) and winter intermonsoonal Season(WIM, during OCT).

Time distribution of the precipitation of theoverall climatic region was carried out/analyzed
in terms of the synoptic climatic condition.
Three kinds of air mass move over Thailand
every year. Warm and moist marine time air massfrom South China Sea during the rainy season as
well as warm and moist marine time air massfrom Andaman Sea and warm and moist air massfrom Pacific Ocean. Another cool and dry air
mass from the upper part of Asia Continent. This
air mass and the Intertropical Convergence aswell as the Monsoon exist and play an importantrole in the climatic conditions of Thailand as

The details of nine Climatic Influences are
as follows :1. The Active High Pressure (AH) and Heat
Low (HL) condition (Active High Pressure(AH) and Heat Low (HL) condition
2. Convergence (Con) between warm andmoist air mass from South China Sea joinwith warm and very moist air mass fromAndaman Sea
3. Westerly Trough (WT) of warm air mass inthe temperate climate under the influence ofWesterly Wind
4. The influential movement of Tropical Storm(LOW & DEP) from Andaman Sea andSouth China Sea
5. The influence of Active Intertropical
Convergence Zone (AITCZ)
6. The influence of Weak Intertropical
Convergence Zone (WITCZ)
7. The Active Southwest Monsoon (ASW)
8. The Easterly Wind (EWIND) from South
China Sea to the continental low-pressurearea
9. The Southerly Wind (SWIND) from theGulf of Thailand to the continental lowpressure area
The summary of these climatic influences and their activities on each climatic regionof Thailand is presented in Table 7.

Figure 4 Monsoon and Cyclone Storms
dominating the Climatic Conditionin Thailand

79

Table 7 Summary on Synoptic Situation of Climatic Influents on five Conventional Season over 8
Parts and 4 Climatic Regions of Thailand.
NM

SIM

OSM

SM

WIM

Up-N
(B4-B5)AH+HL and CON

AH+HL and CON

AITCZ andLOW+DEPAITCZ andLOW+DEP ASWAITCZ andLOW+DEP

Up-NE
(C1)

AH+HL
LOW+DEPAH+HL, CON
and S-WIND

AITCZ and LOW+DEP
and CON

AITCZ andLOW+DEP ASW

LOW+DEP
AITCZ

Lo-N(B2-C3)

AH+HL

CON

AITCZ

AITCZ LOW+DEP
ASW

AITCZ andLOW+DEP

Lo-NE
(D1)

AH+HL andCON

AH+HL andCONS-WINDAITCZ
ASW and CON

AITCZ
ASW

AITCZ andLOW+DEP

CEN(C2-D1)

AH+HL
LOW+DEPAH+HL and CON

AITCZ
ASW

AITCZ
ASW

AITCZ AH+HL

EAST(B2 and B5)

AH+HL
LOW+DEP (Nov.)

AH+HL and CON

AITCZ
CON

AITCZ andASW

AITCZ and ASW

SSE
A2

AH
LOW+DEPAH and CON

ASW

ASW, WSW

AH and AITCZ

SSW
A1

AH
LOW+DEPAH and CON

AITCZ
ASW

WITCZ andLOW+DEPAH andLOW+DEPHYDROMETEOROLOGICALDISASTER IN THAILAND
The natural disaster in Thailand predominantly related with the hydro meteorological factors such as severe flooding and landslide due tolong heavy rain, severe drought due to lack ofrainfall and severe windstorm due to Tropical
Storm and Cyclone. Heavy rain accompany withwindstorm when they are generated by the
Tropical Storm (Figure 5). Droughts in the Dry
Season and in Wet Season are caused by lack ofrainfall for long period.
Flooding and Wind Storm
The nine climatic influences conduct bothsmooth and vigorous rhythm of the weather especially the Tropical Storm. The numbers of theregional Tropical Storm that generated in between
Latitude 0-25 oN and Longitude 90-115 oE during
1975 to 1990 are summarized and tabulated inTable 8. The numbers of Tropical Storm thatmoved over Thailand during 1951 to 1990 are
also shown in Table 9. The hydro-meteorologicaldisaster in Thailand can be explained in termcauses, lost of life and economic as lost follows :(Table 10)
In 1962 ; The Tropical Storm (LOW &DEP), Hariat, moved over the Talumpuk Spit at

Figure 5 Mean Annual Rainfall During
1971-2000 Thailands

Nakhon Sri Thammarat Province and conducted
Storm Surge to destroy 870 peoples lost of lives
and 16,170 peoples lost their houses.

80

Table 8 The Numbers of Regional Tropical Cyclone Originated in between Latitude
0 - 25 N and Longitude 90 - 115 E during 1975 to 1990
Originating
Area

Pacific
Ocean

South
China Sea

Gulf of
BengalAndaman
Sea

Philippines
Islands

1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990

4
1
4
11
4
8
7
6
4
5
8
6
6
7
9
4

8
7
5
4
5
6
8
3
9
6
12
8
3
6
8
12

1
3
2
1

1
2

1

2
2
4
3
2
3
1

1
1
1

Total

94

Year

Percent
37
Source : Dhammasaroch (1999)

Gulf ofThailand

2
1
1
2

1

Total

15
13
11
18
10
17
19
14
19
13
23
17
11
18
19
19

1

1

1
2
2
1
2

110

28

14

7

3

256

43

11

5

3

1

100

3

In 1975, Typhoon (LOW & DEP) passed
over the Northern Thailand yielded severe flooding in Chao Phraya Basin in the Central and Mun
Basin in the Northeast.
In 1983, Depression Herbert and Depression
Kim (LOW & DEP) passed over the Eastern and
the Central Thailand and caused very long term
flooding in Bangkok for 4 months.
In 1988, the strong Northeast Monsoon (AH)
moved to the Active Inter Tropical Convergence
Zone (AITCZ) in the Southern Thailand andcaused severe flooding and landslide all over theSouth of Thailand leaving 415 people dead and61,334 persons badly affected not to mention an
economic loss of US $ 340 million.
In the year 1989, Typhoon Gay (LOW &DEP) originated in the Gulf of Thailand andcaused the lost of 615 peoples, destroyed 46,958
houses and sunk 639 ships as well as US $ 230
million economic loss.
In 1995, many depression (LOW & DEP)
and AITCZ move over the North and Northeastof Thailand continually that created heavy rain in
the Ping, Wang, Yom and Nan Basin. Twomonths of flooding over the Lower Northern and
the Central Thailand cause the economic loss of
US $ 250 million and many people died.

1

In 2000, heavy rain (AITCZ) about 440 mm
during November 20 to 21 in the Southern
Thailand conducted severe flooding in Haadyai
District, Songkhla Province and caused lost of 26
lives and US $ 50 million economic loss.
In 2001, heavy rain about 281 mm due toActive Intertropical Convergence Zone (AITCZ)
situated over the Northern Thailand and caused
flash flood and debris flow to Wang Chin District,Phrae Province, then 36 people die and US $ 5
million of economic lost. The Uzangi Tropical
Storm moved over the Northeastern and theLower Northern Thailand cause flash flood andlandslide at Ban NamKho, Lom Sak District,Phetchabun Province and 45 peoples dead, US $15 million economic lost.
In this year 2002, heavy rain during August
2 to 3 from strong Active Intertropical
Convergence Zone (AITCZ) passed over The
Northern caused flash flood and Landslide at Ban
Sop Yuam, Mae Sa Riang District, Mae Hong
Son Province, 15 people dead and 10 people lost.
Heavy rain from AITCZ and the influence ofTropical Storm in China Sea and South China Sea

81

Table 9 Tropical Storm Move Over Thailand for Forty Years Period during 1951 - 1990
Month
Year

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

1951

Jul

Aug

1

1952

Oct

Nov

Dec

1
1

1953

Sep

1

Total
2

4

6

1

1

1954

1

1955

1

1

1

1956

1

1957

1

1

1

1

1

4

1959

1

1

1960

1

1

1958

1961

1

1

2

1

1

2
1

3

2

6

1962

1

1

1

1

4

1963

1

2

1

1

5

2

4

2

1964
1965

3

1966

5

1

1967

1

1968

2

1969

1

1

1970
1971

1

6
5

1

4

1

1

6

1

2

2

2

7

2
1

1

1

1975

1

1

2

1974

1

9

1

1

1973

2

3

9

1

1

2

1972

2

1

1

4

1

1

1

2

1

1

5
6

1

2

4
3

1976

0

1977
1978

1

1979

1
1

1980

1

1

2

2

1

5

1

4

1

1

2

1

1

1981

2
1

1982
1983

1

1984

1

1985
1986
1987

1
2

3

1

1

1

5
3

1

2

3

1

1

2

1

1

1988

1

1989

1

2

1990

1

1
1

4

2

3

Total

1

6

6

9

16

34

44

22

5

143

Average

0.03

0.15

0.15

0.23

0.40

0.85

1.10

0.55

0.13

3.58

Frequency (%)

1

4

4

6

11

24

31

15

4

100

Source : Meteorological Department (2001)

82

Table 10 Economic Lost, Dead and Impact on Hydo - meteorological Disaster during 1962 to 2001
Economic Lost
(US $ Million)

Dead(Persons)

Impact(Persons)

Commentary

1962

*

870

16,592

Nakorn Sri Thamarat

1972

*

7

*

1973

*

55

*

1974

*

30

*

1975

*

314

*

1978

0.5

*

*

1980

*

61

70,106

1981

*

77

2,025

Year

1982

*

32

18,051

1983

*

57

9,829

1984

*

35

1,556

1985

*

6

43

1986

*

37

343

1987

*

60

9,821

1988

340

415

61,334

1989

*

615

11,687

1990

*

41

6,867

1991

7

*

*

1992

5

*

*

1994

1

*

*

1995

236

*

*

1997

150

*

665 villages

Chumporn

2000

50

26

*

Songkhla

2001

5

36

*

Phrae

156

200,000 families

31 provinces

2001
15
Commentary : * no report
Source : Ministry of Interior (2001)

conducted heavy rain continually in the Northernand Northeastern and caused flooding over all theLower Northern, Central and Northeastern ofThailand same as in the year 1995. Forty-nine
Province was submerge under water and 41 peoples died and US $ 30 million economic lost.

Chumporn(Table 11), DR between 3 to 1 or annual rainfall
amount less than mean annual rainfall 5.1 to
15.0%, 15.1% to 25.0% and > 25.0% mean moderately drought, drought and severely drought
respectively. DR between 8 to 10 or annual rainfall amount greater than mean annual rainfall 5.1
to 15.0%, 15.1 to 25.0% and > 25.0% mean moderately wet, wet and severely wet respectively.

DROUGHTLong-term drought in Thailand were analyzed under the criteria on Rainfall Decile (RD),Generalized Monsoon Index (GMI), Annual
Rainy Day (ARD), Dry Period (DP) and in termof Low Flow (LF). The Rainfall Decide compriseof ten Decide Ranges (DR) those move aroundthe mean annual rainfall of the study site. The
Decide Range between 4 to 7 or ± 5% from themean annual rainfall imply normal rainfall year

The Generalized Monsoon Index (GMI) was
suggested by the Meteorological Department on
the total rainfall amount during the Southwest
Monsoon season compare with mean annual rainfall in term of GMI percentile range (GMIpct) as
shown in Table 12. The GMIpct range between 0
to 20, 21 to 30, 31 to 40, 41 to 60, 61 to 90 and
91 to 100 imply severely drought, drought, moderately drought, normal, higher than normal and83

Table 11 Decile Range, Total of Rainfall higher and lower than normal rainfall and Rain Condition
The Quantity of rain per year High - Low
more than (average, usual, normal) (%)

Rain Condition

1

Lower than usual 25

Severely drought

2

Lower than usual 15.1-25.0

Drought

3

Lower than usual 5.1-15.0

Moderately drought

4-7

More than or lower than usual 5.0

Normal8More than 5.1-15.0

Moderately Wet

9More than 15.1-25.0

Wet

Decile Range

10
More than usual 25.0
Source : Dhammasaroch (1999)

economic lost due to damage of agricultural products that farmers plant them in this season.
Drought in dry period always less economic lostthan in the wet period because of seldom fieldcrop plant in the dry period.

Table 12 Generalized Monsoon Index (GMI)
in term of Percentile Range (GMIpct)
GMIpctMoisture Requirement of Plant

91 - 100Higher than Plant Requirement

61 - 90

Higher than Normal

41 - 60

Normal31 - 40

Moderately Drought

21 - 30

Drought

Severely Wet

AGRO-ENVIRONMENTALEDUCATION

0 - 20
Severely Drought
Source : Dhammasaroch (1999)

More than hundred thousand have graduatedfrom the Kasetsart University in the branch ofagro-environment and related area during theearly 60’s ; this was the first institute who initiated agro-environmental education. Many academies created this kind of curriculum as well during the past two decades up to the present. The
curriculums on the agro-environmental area are
agricultural science, water resources science andengineering, forestry and watershed management,
environmental science and engineering. At present, there are more than two hundred thousand ofpeople who studied in this program and in related
fields. Next year, 2003, Thai government will ask
all schools to create a new curriculum for students adding the earth science studies in one of
the six basic sciences and computer subjects, thatall student have to study from primary level (level1-6) up to secondary level (level 7-12) in orderfor them to understand the relationships and interactions between water resources, meteorologicalresources, geological resources prior to the profession studies in the university level. The
Ministry of Environmental Resources will also
use new strategies for the villagers who live
within and nearby the watershed area. The participatory education or approaches will be implemented engaging the people living within thehigher than requirement of plant.
The number of Annual Rainy Day (ARD)marks at 100 days a year, lesser than 100 days ayear mean drought year, but greater than 100 daysa year mean wet year. The Dry Period (DP) mean
the time period with rainfall less 1 mm in fifteen
days. The Low Flow (LF) demark on the flow in
dry season if no LF imply drought if LF available
mean normal condition.
Droughts in Thailand were recorded in 1967,
1968, 1973, 1977, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1997
and 2002. From the record, two drought patterns
were identified. Drought due to no rain in the
Wet Season during July to August up to
September and drought due to long period of norain in the dry season during December to June
up to July were analyzed in term of repeated pattern. Droughts in wet period (during July toAugust or September) were recorded in 1968,
1972, 1979, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998 and2002. Droughts in dry period (during December
to June) are in 1967, 1973, 1977, 1983 and 1997.
Drought in wet period always causes very large

84

watershed area and the government officers whoare in-charge of taking care of the watershed
together with the non-government organizations
and also the people living within the town will
intensify the care of the watershed area. The
watershed area and the forest were established asa natural laboratory for them and the students.
Within this strategy the forest and the watershedarea practically belong to nature and to everyone,
which, is the major educational objective, which
hopefully will lead to sustainable use of resources
aiming at having only minor disaster in the future.

High Pressure (AH) and Heat Low (HL) condition, (Active High Pressure (AH) and Heat Low(HL) condition, Convergence (Con) between
warm and moist air mass from South China Sea
join with warm and very moist air mass fromAndaman Sea, Westerly Trough (WT) of warm
air mass in the Temperate climate under the influence of Western Wind, the influential movementof Tropical Storm (LOW & DEP) from Andaman
Sea and South China Sea, the influent of Active
Intertropical Convergence Zone (AITCZ), theinfluent of Weak Intertropical Convergence Zone
(WITCZ), the Active Southwest Monsoon(ASW), the Easterly Wind (EWIND) from South
China Sea to the continental low pressure area
and The Southerly Wind (SWIND) from the Gulfof Thailand to the continental low pressure area.
These Climatic Influents are the outstanding on
the Synoptic Climatic in both regional and seasonal of Thailand.

SUMMARY
The twenty-five major watersheds inThailand are the important water resources forboth surface water and groundwater. The amountof precipitation in Thailand ranges between 1,000
mm to 4,000 mm and the average is 1,200 mm.
The natural disaster in Thailand was generated by
the effect of atmospheric water resources, as wellas the physiogeography of the watershed area.
Two main N - S trending mountain ranges in theWestern and in between the Central and theNortheast are the major obstructers to the effectof the Northwest Monsoon and Northeast
Monsoon on the climate of Thailand. Four major
Climatic Regions were classified from the rainfall
amount, evaporation, annual mean temperatureand topography. There were the Equatiorial
Climate, the Tropical Monsoon Climate with long
rainy season, the Tropical Monsoon Climate withrainy and dry season (5.5 to 6.5 humid months)
and the Tropical Monsoon Climate with long dry
season.

The major natural disaster in Thailand comprise of flooding, windstorm and drought.
Tropical storms, Active Southwest Monsoon and
the Active Intertropical Convergence Zone. They
play the major role on windstorm and flooding
disaster. The long-term stationary situation of
Tropical Convergence Zone over the Southern ofChina and the Northern of Thailand cause severe
drought in the wet period of the Central andSouthern Thailand as well as very wet in the
Northern and Northeastern. Whenever the Active
Intertropical Convergence Zone moves down to
the Central and the Southern, The heavy rain willbe created and flooding and landslide will beoccurred. Drought in the dry period always
depends on the effect of El - Nino and Southern
Oscillation (ENSO) the very strong activity of
ENSO will cause the severe drought for long dry
period. In 1962 Tropical storm, Hariat, moveover the Talumpuk Spit of the Southern Thailand
as well as Typhoon Gay move over the Upper
Pant of the Southern. These two windstorms
caused many lost of many lives and abundanteconomic losses. Severe flooding and landslide
over all the Southern in November 1988 conducted by AH and AITCZ as well as severe
flooding overall the Lower Northern, the Central
and the Northeastern in 1995 and the same event
are happening in 2002. Severe drought in wet

The frequency and duration analysis of theinfluential factors on the climate in all seasons
were carried out. Five seasons were distinguished as the Northeast Monsoon Season (NM)during Jan, Feb, Nov and Dec). Summer
Intermonsoonal Season (SIM) during Mar and
Apr, On Set Southwest Monsoon Season (OSM)
during May and Jun, Southwest Monsoon Season(SW) during Jul, Aug and Sep and WinterIntermonsoonal Season (WIM) during October.
The Climatic Regions and Climatic Seasons wereintently related with the Climatic Influents thatcomprise of 9 components such as the Active85

periods occurred in 1968, 1972, 1979, 1982,
1986, 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2002 whereas dry
period drought were exhibited in 1967, 1973,
1977, 1983 and 1997.

ipatory approach where the villagers accompanied by the sub-district committee and the government officers, who are in charge of taking careof the environment, work hand in hand. The villagers themselves selected the sub-district committee. The teachers have to take care of the curriculum at the school level and then they work
together with the sub-district committee, theforester and the agricultural extension officers inprotecting their environment setting a good example for the next generation.
Question : Although there have been several
floods and droughts in Thailand as you presented,
they seem to be not in large-scale in Thailand’scrop production, it seems that it is not seriously
affected. Is this right?
Answer : The crop production is still affected by
the occurrence of floods and droughts, but yes,they are in small scale when compared to thegross production. This is due to the fact thatmajor droughts always occur in summer andmajor flood always exits in rainy season that wehave enough time and chance to do replanting
again in the dry season through irrigated water.
Question : Could you explain the education system for agriculture, forestry and environmental
protection in Thailand?
Answer : The education on agriculture andforestry in terms of environmental protection in
Thailand are mainly done in the Kasetsart
University and in some universities that started
within this decade. The government asks all students in school for all 12 levels to study the earthscience which are divided into four categories;
space resources, geological resources, atmospheric resources and hydrologic resources. These
are the basic sciences geared towards sustainableutilization of the environmental resources in the
future.
Question : How to determine the GMI?
Answer : The GMI (Generalized Monsoon
Index) is the percentile range of the rainfall during the monsoon season compared with the meanannual rainfall and the set criteria as shown in
Table 7.
Question : What kinds of non-structural countermeasures are being done in your country during
droughts.
Answer : Check dams are the non-structuralcountermeasures we have which are very efficient

The agro-environmental education in
Thailand is initially started nearly 60 years ago,the beginning of Kasetsart University. Many curricula on the natural resource development andconservation, land-use and sustainability, watershed management and development with sustainable yield were created extensively in many universities and colleges during the previous decade.
The Thai government plans to educate the students from primary school up to secondary school(12 levels) in earth science in terms of three categories; geological resources, hydrologicalresources, meteorological resources these are themajor base sciences for agro-environmental studies in the future. The participatory education will
be in placed with the idea of putting together thepeople living within the watershed area and thegovernment officers in charge of taking care of
the watershed area to work hand in hand towards
the sustainable use of water resources with theaim of having minor disasters in the future.

REFERENCES
Dhammasaroch S. (1999) The Impact ofNatural Disaster in Thailand. J. of
Hydrologist Assembly Vol. 3. 173-299 pp.
Kishor K. (2001) Disasters in Asia and The
Pacific : An Overview in Proc. of Asia Pacific Conference on Early Warning
Prevention, Prepareness and Management ofDisasters in Food and Agriculture June 12 15, Chiangmai, Thailand.
Meteorological Department (2001). Report on
the Thirty-Year Tropical Storms of Thailand.
Ministry of Interior Report (2001) The Natural
Disaster and Damage in Thailand.

THAILAND : DISCUSSION
Question : What agricultural and environmental
education programs are being implemented in
Thailand to increase public awareness of theimportance of the flood and drought control?
Answer : We have started the idea of the partic-86

for watershed areas where the severe situation oferosion and land use change often occurs. We
also have large pounding area for water storage inthe rainy season, whereas the shallow groundwaters are available for some places, which are
not severely affected by droughts.
Question : Could you explain the range of variation for the precipitation in a year in Thailand?
Answer : The range of variation of rainfall in all
year is differentiated into 3 seasons and 2 inbetween those three seasons. The main rainstorms are in rainy season in the southwest monsoon during July, August and September, whereas
the winter season during November to February
shows no more rain as well as the summer season
during March to April. The season prior to therainy season during May to June is characterized
by very low occurrence of rain as in the rainy season as well as in October prior to the winterperiod.
Question : What are the criteria of your climateclassification system? What are the value rangesof each of the parameters considered? How do
you decide the region and the sub-region divisions?
Answer : The main criteria for climatic zoneclassification are the monsoonal season, topogra-

phy, rainfall amount as well as evaporation andthe temperature variation of each zonal area. The
humid months are the major parameters to beconsidered for the climatic zoning as shown in
Figure 2 and the topography of the area as well as
the rainfall amount are the main key subjects todistinguish the sub-region division.
Question : Is the monsoon season different fromthe nine climatic influences as you indicated inyour paper? How do they connect? And what is
its connection also to the climate region mapping?
Answer : The connection between the climatic
region mapping and the climatic influence are theseasons and locations. They are of the same
objectives, but the climatic influence conducts thesynoptic event to the mapping area, which influences each synoptic condition for both space andtime during the year.
Question : Can you clarify and give reason for
Table 1?
Answer : Table 1 shows the synoptic condition interms of climatic influence for all year round fora period of twenty years climatic data for eachlocation and each season and sub-seasons interms of frequency and duration of occurrence inthe wet and dry and the season in between.

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