Impact of climate change on sediment yield in the Mekong River basin: a case study of the Nam Ou basin, Lao PDR

This paper evaluates the impact of climate change on sediment yield in the Nam Ou basin, northern Laos. Future climate (temperature and precipitation) from four general circulation models that are found to perform well in the Mekong region and a regional circulation model are downscaled using a delta change approach. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool is used to assess future changes in sediment flux attributable to climate change. Results indicate up to 3.0 C shift in seasonal temperature and 27% (decrease) to 41% (increase) in seasonal precipitation. The results also indicate high uncertainties in the direction and magnitude of changes of discharge as well as sediment yields due to climate change. As the projected climate change impact on sediment varies remarkably between the different climate models, the uncertainty should be taken into account in both sediment management and climate change adaptation.