Flood Simulation in the Tidal Delta of the Mekong River by the SSARR Model

Abstract

ABSTRACT The SSARR model is applied to simulate flood levels in the Mekong river delta. The Mekong and Bassac rivers which are two main rivers and the Vaico river are interlaced together with canals and floodplains with storage. The flow exchanges between these rivers, and the tidal influences in their estuarial reaches make it necessary to utilize the backwater mode of the SSARR model in the simulation. In addition to the backwater mode, the diversion algorithm of the SSARR model is also used to take into account the over bank flow conditions. Since the river storages during the flood periods are considerable, the rivers have been divided into several storage reaches or reservoirs. The flow between these storage reaches depends on the water level differences between each pair. Moreover, the various flood plain storages are also represented by a network of interconnected storage reaches or reservoirs. The upstream boundary condition is the discharge in the Mekong river at Phnom Penh, and the downstream bo...