1. Full name: Luu Duc Dung                                           2. Gender: Male

3. Date of birth: 01/07/1983                                            4. Place of birth: Hanoi

5. Admission decision number: No 3614/QĐ-SĐH dated on 22/10/2009, signed by the President of Vietnam National University.

6. Changes in educational process: None

7. Thesis title: Impact of some environmental geological processes on the land use of the Ma estuaries, Thanh Hoa

8. Major: Soil and Water Environment                             9. Code: 62440303

10. Supervisors: Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Dinh Hoe and Assoc.Prof.Dr. Truong Manh Tien.

11. Summary of the novel findings of the thesis

Based on a consolidated analysis of some neo-tectonic, sedimentologic, topographical, geomorphological and historical data, the author has pointed to the complex characteristics and structures of the Ma estuaries. Endogenous factors associated with crustal faults and tectonic movements played a key role in establishing the features of the faulty estuary.

Combining the environmental geological data with historical records of changes in terrains, flows and activities of local residents of the Ma riverine basin, the author has shown that in addition to the complex structure, the Ma estuaries have been changed dramatically in terms of the land use with respect to the environmental geological impacts. Especially, the main branch of the Ma River shifted from the Lach Truong to the Lach Trao, whose transformation occurred concurrently with the confluence of the Chu River and the Ma River in accordance with the complete dehydration on the Au River. As a result, the northern areas of the Lach Truong estuary weakened its role in receiving majority of fresh waters and sediments of the Ma River, which was then shifted to its southern part, causing the basin to be eroded and saline. These transformations was triggered in the early of 13th century and ended in the early of 18th century.

Using quantitative observations and numerical model outputs, the author has indicated that the Ma estuaries have been exposed to various risks induced by environmental geological hazards. Specifically, the thesis has described the surface morphological variations of the Ma shorelines from 1989 to 2015 using satellite imagery analysis. The author also conducted an analysis on the effects of saline intrusions on branches of the Ma River during the period 1990 to 2012. From the out puts of an climate-driven ocean model, the author has computed the scale and impact of inundation risks due to projected sea level rise from 2010 to 2099 under different scenarios of climate change.

After studying the environmental geological characteristics of the Ma estuaries as well as the developmental planning of the Thanh Hoa City toward the year 2025in the vision of 2035, the author has highlighted the challenges of the land uses linked to the topographical and environmental risks deduced from given environmental geological analyses; and discuss the prospective for rational uses.

12. Practical applicability, if any:

The results of the thesis provided a sound scientific basis to assist policy makers to improve their territorial development plans, and to implement feasible projects in the future; which thereby allow them to adopt appropriate prevention and mitigation measures towards the sustainable development of Ma estuaries.

13. Further research directions, if any

Supplementing quantitative analyses of other environmental risks associated with land use in the Ma estuary; Reconstructing the maps of land use changes using the advanced decomposition and analysis of satellite images combining with a high resolution DEM model; and Applying the given comprehensive method to analyze the geological environmental characteristics in other estuaries.

14. Thesis-related publications:

[1] Luu Duc Dung, Hoang Van Dai, Nguyen Khanh Linh (2014), “Assessment of salinity intrusion in the lower of Ma estuaries, Thanh Hoa province”, Scientific and Technical Hydro-Meteorological Journal, No. 645 (September, 2015), page.36-40.

[2] Luu Duc Dung, Luu Duc Hai (2014), “Some environmental aspects in Thanh Hoa city development planning”, Journal of Construction Planning, No 70 (December, 2014), page.36-39.

[3] Luu Duc Dung, Hoang Van Dai (2014), “Inundation risk associated with sea level extreme during the 21th century at the Ma estuaries (Vietnam)”, Proceedings of the 19th IAHR-APD Congress 2014, Hanoi, Vietnam (ISBN 978604821338-1) – Section 5 Sustainable water resources.

[4] Luu Duc Dung, Hoang Van Dai, Hoang Anh Huy, Nguyen Khanh Linh (2015), “A trial simulation of indunation risks associated with sea level rise due to climate change at Ma estuaries, Thanh Hoa”, Scientific and Technical Hydro-Meteorological Journal, No. 660 ( December, 2015), page.12-19.