Changes in slow-onset climate events in Thailand

Slow-onset climate events (SOCEs) cause substantial impacts on human and natural systems, but research on exploring SOCEs and their effects is still limited. Therefore, changes of SOCEs in Thailand were statistically analysed based on a set of data including projected mean temperature, gridded altimetry sea level, salinity, and areal forest cover. Related information from available studies and reports was also compiled to complement our analysis. The important observed changes of SOCEs included (i) Thailand's mean temperature gradually rising towards the end of the 21st century, (ii) steady sea level rise accompanied by concomitant seawater intrusion, (iii) increasing areas of land degraded and affected by desertification, (iv) general decline in total forest cover with forest fires tending to increase over recent years, and (v) various plant and vertebrate species under multi-threats with most of them projected to considerably decline due to future climate change. Changes of SOCEs seem to have broad-ranging impacts on ecosystems and the well-being and health of Thai people. This study presented additional evidence and knowledge, responding well to the urgent needs to address SOCES in developing countries. To better avert, minimise and address loss and damage from SOCEs, however, future studies, especially quantitative assessment, are needed.