PDSI-based variations of droughts and wet spells in Thailand: 1951-2005

Temporal variations of droughts/wet spells in Thailand for the period 1951-2005 were examined on the basis of the gridded Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) data. PDSI is the most dominant index for drought monitoring, climatology and variability across different climates. The PDSI variations in Thailand were correlated well with the annual streamflow records, indicating that PDSI is a good proxy for monitoring and assessing droughts/wet spells and it can be further used as an index of annual-mean streamflow variations. An empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis of PDSI revealed a linear trend and an El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)-induced mode of multi-year variations as the leading pattern. The ENSO cycle and its shift toward more warm phases after about 1976 appeared to be largely responsible for interannual variations and the recent progressive dying trend in Thailand. From 1951 to 2005, there were also large interannual/decadal variations in the occurrence frequencies in severe/extreme droughts (PDSI< -3) and very/extremely wet spells (PDSI> 3) with the coherent jump occurred in the mid 1970s. Similar to the leading PDSI EOF1 mode, these annual occurrence frequencies were closely related to ENSO events which extreme events tended to happen more frequently during ENSO years. Patterns of EOF-derived PDSI variations were consistent with the observed surface temperature warming in Thailand. These results provide evidence that Thailand will experience the increasing risks of severe and extreme droughts/floods in the near future as a result of the combined effects of a more vigorous hydrological cycle and enhanced surface drying due to anthropogenic global warming and the anomalous oscillations of ENSO

LIBRA AS A DIGITAL CURRENCY AND ITS IMPACTS ON THE THAI ECONOMY

This qualitative research aims to study the acceptance of Libra and its impacts on the financial industry. Ten financial experts were interviewed. The questions used to measure expert opinion can be categorized into three groups: benefit, risk, and impact. The index of item-objective congruence was then used for content validation and Cronbach's alpha was used for a reliability test. The findings show that experts are concerned about whether Libra can be used to purchase goods and services like other real currencies at a high-level agreement, while they have less worry about personal information leaks and Libra being a channel for money laundering and financial crimes. Moreover, the experts are unsure whether Libra can increase access to financial transactions among people who have limitations cannot access the branch of the bank, leading to a decrease in inequality. Financial experts consider that financial institutions will lose income from money transfer and service fees; however, deposit and loan services might not be affected. Moreover, experts’ opinions show that financial institutions need to offer quicker and user-friendly services via smartphone applications, should adjust the interest rate and service fees in accordance with the Libra system, and make joint investments with Libra. The study suggests that public sectors can create legislation and amend laws to be able to deal with digital currency: hence the problems caused by Libra will be minimized. In addition, financial institutions need to develop a mobile banking system, and services, interest rates, and service fees need to be taken into account.

The translucent and yellow gummy latex of mangosteen by using the VFSS Measurement

The vibration frequency base on strain gage sensor (VFSS) has proposed to predict an internal translucent and yellow gummy latex in mangosteen fruit, this measurement were used nondestructive method by vibrate on 25,30,35 and 40Hz. The VFSS were obtained an evaluation of feature extraction base on time and frequency domain, which can classify by two scatter plot. From the experimental results, the first day (day1), WAMP and RMS is the best feature comparing with the other feature, there have percentage accuracy higher than the other day. From this result, this method can obtain the high classification accuracy. Keywords: Vibration Fruit base on Strain gage Sensor (VFSS), feature extraction, yellow gummy latex and translucent

The translucent and yellow gummy latex of mangosteen by using autoregressive coefficient method

A nondestructive measurement to predict an internal translucent disorder and yellow gummy latex in mangosteen fruit has proposed by using Vibration Frequency base on Strain gage Sensor (VFSS). This measurement were used vibrate with frequency  0 – 50 Hz The VFSS of 100 mangosteen samples were obtained an evaluation of various existed VFSS signal features base on time and frequency domains. From the experimental results, Auto-regressive (AR) coefficient was suggested to use as a feature for the VFSS measurement. We will be obtained the classification accuracy on good sample and device the sample into two groups.   Keywords: Vibration Fruit base on Strain gage Sensor (VFSS), Auto-regressive (AR) coefficient, feature extraction, yellow gummy latex and translucent

Trends in Thailand’s Extreme Temperature Indices during 1955-2018 and Their Relationship with Global Mean Temperature Change

Trends in Thailand’s extreme temperature indices and their relationship with global mean temperature (GMT) change are analyzed, based on longer quality controlled temperature data during 1955–2018. Widespread significant trends of extreme temperature indices with a clear warming evident in all indices are observed, consistent with the earlier results and general global warming. Changes associated with the upper tails of the minimum and maximum temperature distributions are the dominant feature of Thailand’s extreme temperature indices accounting for more than 65% of the total variance. Analysis of the probability distribution functions (PDFs) of combined extreme temperature indices further shows significant shifts in their distributions toward warmer conditions in the recent decades. The results suggest that daytime and nighttime temperatures in Thailand have become more extreme and that the changes are related to shifts in multiple aspects of the daily temperature distributions. With long-term temperature records, this study provides more confident and robust evidence of trends in Thailand’s temperature extremes occurred since the second half of 20th century. Another noteworthy finding is that most of Thailand’s extreme temperature indices show a distinct linear relationship with GMT, indicating that local-scale changes in temperatures and its extreme at local scale are related almost linearly to GMT change. The extrapolated values of the indices with strong linearity with GMT show substantial distinction with nearly 50% increase between 2 global warming levels set by Paris Agreement, highlighting that half a degree increase in GMT will lead to greatly increase in Thailand’s temperature extremes

Empirically Derived Equation from Simple Heat Index for Calculating Wet Bulb Globe Temperature: A Case Study of Thailand

The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) index is a standard for assessing environmental heat stress, but the requirement of expensive instrument with specialized maintenance is limited its use. This study aims to develop the empirical equation to estimate the WBGT from Heat Index (HI) calculated from portable temperature and humidity recorder (THR), based on the data collected at seven sites covering all regions of Thailand. Comparative analysis shows that the HI values calculated from THR (HITHR) are consistent well with those measured from the thermal environmental monitor (HIQT36) as evidenced by a highly positive correlation between them (r=0.97; p<0.01; n=4,303). These results suggest high reliability of the portable THR and its acceptance to be used instead of the standard QT36 device. Based on a simple linear regression developed to estimate WBGT from the HITHR, it was found that the model accounts for at least 90% of the variance of the observed WBGT (dependent variable). In addition, validation of the model with the statistical methods shows relatively small errors of the estimated WBGT values in comparison to the observed values. With this evidence, the developed empirical regression equation can be used to estimate WBGT with high accuracy and confidence. Simple and easier to use for the practitioners who are involved in public health works at community level, a heat monitoring tool kit consisting of a THR, WBGT chart and recommended actions were further developed based on the results obtained. This tool kit is a low-cost and simple device which can be used by various community-level stakeholders to prevent and reduce heat injuries and deaths of risk groups, especially the elderly. This tool is necessary in light of anthropogenic-induced warming and Thailand’s aging society

Updated Basis Knowledge of Climate Change Summarized from the First part of Thailand’s Second Assessment Report on Climate Change

Recent evidence and key issues on climate change in Thailand have been presented in the first part of Thailand’s Second Assessment Report on Climate Change (2nd TRAC). The report highlights key findings including 1) a significant country-wide warming of 1.30 oC over the past 48 years (1970-2017); b) significant changes in rainfall patterns at smaller spatial and finer temporal scales; c) significant changes in temperature and rainfall extreme events over the last four-five decades; d) a significant decrease in frequency of tropical cyclones entering Thailand; e) significant rise in sea level in the seas around Thailand at higher rates than the global average; and f) significant projected increases in temperature and rainfall in Thailand by 2100. The first part of the 2nd TARC provides a comprehensive and updated analysis of climate change impacts in Thailand that can be used as an authoritative reference for building understanding and awareness, as well as for designing adaptation and mitigation strategies. Moreover, it can serve as a repository for scientific information to support further research related to impact, adaptation and vulnerability to climate change. Regular assessment of national climate change impacts is essential to informing national policy and to allow policymakers to assess priorities and set meaningful targets in line with the country’s international obligations under the Climate Change Agreement