Phu Quoc Island locates in Gulf of Thailand, Southern Vietnam. Several years ago, due to the effect of climate change and the development of beach tourism, beach erosion in the Western beach occurred seriously. | Tạp chí CÁC KHOA HỌC VỀ TRÁI ĐẤT 36(1), 69-74 3-2014 MECHANISM OF BEACH EROSION AT THE WEST OF PHU QUOC ISLAND, SOUTHERN VIETNAM HUYNH TRUNG TIN1, LE HOAI NAM2, BUI TRONG VINH1 Email: httinvn@ 1 Faculty of Geology & Petroleum Engineering - HCMUT 2 Southern Branch of Center for Environment Consultancy and Technology - VEPA Received: June 15, 2013 1. Introduction 2. Natural condition Phu Quoc Island locates in Gulf of Thailand, Southern Vietnam. Several years ago, due to the effect of climate change and the development of beach tourism, beach erosion in the Western beach occurred seriously. Beach erosion has both damaged the coastal resident’s houses and affected to the socioeconomic in the area. Therefore, it is necessary to study about the cause to beach erosion, which can propose the mitigation method, ensure the stable development for the island. Study area is framed from Cua Can to Duong To beach, see Fig. 1 [7]. . Natural condition Tidal observation: Phu Quoc Island is affected by regular diurnal regime of the Gulf of Thailand with the difference between two tidal crests is around 1m. Highest water level is + and the lowest is around +. Wind: Western beach faces to the Gulf of Thailand, is called the “gateway” of the monsoon. The Southwest monsoon season is dominant. In history, maximum wind velocity gets 31 m/s [1]. Fig. 2 characterises the predominant winds at the Phu Quoc island in June and November 2010 [1]. Wave field: In the southwest monsoon season, wave height is higher than those in the Northeast monsoon season. Maximum wave height in the summer measured is 2 m. Average wave height is around - 1m. In the winter (NE monsoon season), maximum wave height measured is about m. Average wave height appears is m. Fig. 3 presents the average wave height and mean water level at Phu Quoc station from 1979 to 2010 [1]. Beach state: Figure 1. Study area Western beach with many straight and steep beaches are interrupted by .
