Spatial Distribution and Trends of Heat Stress in Vietnam

Abstract

This study investigated the spatial distribution and trend of heat stress in Vietnam using data from 68 meteorological stations between 1979 and 2018. Daily maximum wet-bulb temperature (TWmax), an indicator of heat stress, was computed based on the daily maximum air temperature (Tx) and relative humidity at 13:00 LST (RH13). The results indicate a strong positive correlation (>0.72) between daily TWmax and Tx and a weak relationship between daily TWmax and RH13. Tx and TWmax generally increased across most stations over the study period, while RH13 displayed both negative and positive trends. The heat stress thresholds for each station are defined using the 95th percentile values of TWmax during the baseline period 1979-1998. We found that most parts of Vietnam experienced an increase in heat stress days, with the interquartile range across all stations spanning from 0.8 to 4.2 days per decade. Among seasons, summer contributed the most (typically 52-80%) to the annual number of heat stress days in most sub-regions, except for the Central Highlands and the South, where spring contributed the most (44% and 41%, respectively). Overall, this study provides useful benchmark values for future research on heat stress in Vietnam.