BASIC STUDY FOR MITIGATION MEASURES AGAINST A DRAWDOWN OF WATER LEVEL ACCOMPANYING DROUGHT IN THE PANAMA CANAL

Abstract

 A drawdown of water level in the Panama Canal due to accompanying drought becomes serious is-sue not only for Panama but also for Japan as it leads increase in toll surcharges for merchant ships. This study developed a Water and Energy Budget-based Rainfall-Runoff-Inundation (WEB-RRI) model in the Panama Canal and investigated the mitigation measure against a drawdown of water level accom-panying 2015 drought. We recognized that a water level difference of 39 cm, which is the difference between drought 2015 and 2014, can only be reduced to 30 cm, and And the mitigation effect is small even if new dam will be constructed. Therefore, not only the construction of new dam but also desalination of sea water etc., which proposed by the Panama Canal Authority should be considered. Furthermore, we also recommend to consider “inter-basin water transport” from wider area to function the canal without any interruption under climate change and to keeps the 2011 high water level.