Bay of Bangkok
{{Short description|Bay in the Gulf of Thailand}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name = Bay of Bangkok
| native_name = {{native name|th|อ่าวกรุงเทพ}}
| image = Bangkok Bay 100.51548E 13.10281N.png
| caption = NASA picture of the Bay of Bangkok
| image_bathymetry = Bay of Bangkok.svg
| caption_bathymetry = Map of the Bay of Bangkok
| location = Thailand
| coords = {{coord|13|04|N|100|30|E|type:waterbody|display=inline,title}}
| type = Bay
| inflow = Mae Klong
Bang Tabun
Tha Chin
Chao Phraya River
| outflow = Gulf of Thailand
| catchment =
| basin_countries =
| length = {{convert|100|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| width = {{convert|100|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| area = {{convert|8,640|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
| depth = {{convert|58|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| max-depth = {{convert|85|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| pushpin_map = Thailand
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| mapframe = yes
| website =
| reference =
}}
Image:Bangkok Bay 100.51548E 13.10281N.png picture of the Bay of Bangkok]]
The Bay of Bangkok ({{langx|th|อ่าวกรุงเทพ}}, {{RTGS|Ao Krung Thep}}, {{IPA|th|ʔàːw kruŋ tʰêːp}}, sometimes informally อ่าวตัว ก), also known as the Bight of Bangkok, is the northernmost part of the Gulf of Thailand, roughly extending from Hua Hin District to the west and Sattahip District to the east. Three of the major rivers of central Thailand empty into the bay - the Chao Phraya and its distributary Tha Chin, the Mae Klong and the Bang Pakong River. The bay forms the coast of 8 provinces, them being clockwise: Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi, Samut Songkhram, Samut Sakhon, Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Chachoengsao, and Chonburi.
There are some islands off the eastern shores of the bay, like Ko Sichang, Ko Lan and Ko Phai.Hydrographic Service of the Royal Thai Navy, Chart 142
Environment
The water quality of the Bay of Bangkok is rated as "very poor" by the Pollution Control Department.{{cite book|title=Thailand State of Pollution Report 2015|date=2016|publisher=Pollution Control Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (Thailand)|location=Bangkok|isbn=978-616-316-327-1|url=http://infofile.pcd.go.th/mgt/PollutionReport2015_en.pdf|accessdate=5 September 2017|archive-date=5 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905191033/http://infofile.pcd.go.th/mgt/PollutionReport2015_en.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{RP|54}}
Due to rising sea levels caused by climate change, coastal cities are at risk of flooding. In September and October 2023, Thailand began experiencing torrential rainfall.
Pattaya has frequently suffered from flooding. Under mayor Poramet Ngampichet, Pattaya has undergone drainage projects to reduce the flooding.{{Cite web |last=Panyadee |first=Tanakorn |date=2022-09-05 |title=Flooding after heavy downpour batters several areas in Pattaya |url=https://thepattayanews.com/2022/09/05/flooding-after-heavy-downpour-batters-several-areas-in-pattaya/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=The Pattaya News |language=en-US}} Flooding has caused Pattaya Beach to become eroded, washing large quantities of sand into the bay. Eroded sand is then replaced by the Marine Department of Thailand.{{Cite news |last= |first= |title=Heavy rain in Pattaya causes flooding, beach erosion |language=en |work=Bangkok Post |date= 10 October 2023|url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2661299/heavy-rain-in-pattaya-causes-flooding-beach-erosion |access-date=2023-11-09}}
= Marine life =
On 8 September 2023, following a series of monsoons, part of the Chonburi provincial coast experienced a plankton boom killing off numerous marine life such as ponyfishes, crabs, pufferfishes, and tilapias.{{Cite web |last=Top |date=2023-09-10 |title=Dead fish boom caused by sudden plankton bloom in Sri Racha |url=https://thethaiger.com/news/pattaya/sudden-plankton-bloom-in-sri-racha-leads-to-wave-of-dead-fish |access-date=2023-09-10 |website=Thaiger |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=ViralPress |date=2023-09-07 |title=Stomach-churning green sea kills thousands of fish on Thai beach |url=https://www.news-journal.com/stomach-churning-green-sea-kills-thousands-of-fish-on-thai-beach/video_4a3f07f5-5b53-5b84-8000-a77e00b7ce30.html |access-date=2023-09-10 |website=Longview News-Journal |language=en}}
The bay is also a habitat for Bryde's whales. In early November 2020, an almost perfectly preserved skeleton of a Bryde's whale was discovered on the coast of Ban Phaeo district, Samut Sakhon.{{Cite news |date=2020-11-27 |title=Thailand: Rare whale skeleton discovered |language=en-GB |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-55097088 |access-date=2023-12-01}} Carbon dating by a palaeobiological lab in the United States dated the skeleton to be about 3,380 years old.{{Cite news |last= |first= |title=Ancient whale skeleton gets fossil classification |language=en |work=Bangkok Post |date= 11 November 2022|url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2435064/ancient-whale-skeleton-gets-fossil-classification |access-date=2023-12-01}} The National University of Singapore said that the skeleton added to evidence of significant sea level changes around 6,000 to 3,000 years ago in the Bay of Bangkok.{{Cite news |last=Ratcliffe |first=Rebecca |date=2020-11-27 |title=Ancient whale skeleton found in Thailand holds clues to climate change |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/nov/27/ancient-40ft-long-whale-skeleton-discovered-in-thailand |access-date=2023-12-01 |issn=0261-3077}}
A survey by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources from 27 to 30 November of the coast of the Bay of Bangkok discovered the presence of three more Bryde's whales, increasing the population in the bay to nine.{{Cite web |title=Survey spots three more Bryde's whales in Thai waters |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2023/12/01/survey-spots-three-more-brydes-whales-in-thai-waters |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=The Star |date=December 2023 |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-12-01 |title=Survey spots three more Bryde's whales in Thai waters |url=https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40033406 |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=nationthailand |language=en}}
On 15 December 2023, 3D-printed artificial reefs were placed off Ko Sak island off Pattaya near Koh Lan.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-12-15 |title=Pattaya launches 3D-printed artificial reefs to boost marine conservation |url=https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/news/pattaya-launches-3d-printed-artificial-reefs-to-boost-marine-conservation-447783 |access-date=2023-12-17 |website=Pattaya Mail |language=en-US}} File:คลังสินค้าแหลมฉบัง.jpg
Climate
{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first=y
|single line=y
|collapsed = Y
|location = Bay of Bangkok (Bangkok Pilot Station), 1991–2020 normals)
|Jan high C = 29.2
|Feb high C = 29.6
|Mar high C = 30.2
|Apr high C = 31.4
|May high C = 31.6
|Jun high C = 31.2
|Jul high C = 30.6
|Aug high C = 30.5
|Sep high C = 30.6
|Oct high C = 30.7
|Nov high C = 30.4
|Dec high C = 29.2
|Jan mean C = 27.0
|Feb mean C = 27.8
|Mar mean C = 28.8
|Apr mean C = 29.9
|May mean C = 30.1
|Jun mean C = 29.8
|Jul mean C = 29.3
|Aug mean C = 29.1
|Sep mean C = 28.9
|Oct mean C = 28.7
|Nov mean C = 28.2
|Dec mean C = 26.9
|Jan low C = 25.0
|Feb low C = 26.1
|Mar low C = 27.3
|Apr low C = 28.1
|May low C = 27.9
|Jun low C = 27.6
|Jul low C = 27.4
|Aug low C = 27.1
|Sep low C = 26.4
|Oct low C = 26.1
|Nov low C = 25.9
|Dec low C = 24.5
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 14.8
|Feb precipitation mm = 16.3
|Mar precipitation mm = 28.8
|Apr precipitation mm = 52.1
|May precipitation mm = 126.5
|Jun precipitation mm = 105.3
|Jul precipitation mm = 89.6
|Aug precipitation mm = 109.8
|Sep precipitation mm = 217.8
|Oct precipitation mm = 185.0
|Nov precipitation mm = 32.3
|Dec precipitation mm = 8.2
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 1.5
|Feb precipitation days = 1.1
|Mar precipitation days = 2.1
|Apr precipitation days = 3.5
|May precipitation days = 8.5
|Jun precipitation days = 9.1
|Jul precipitation days = 8.6
|Aug precipitation days = 10.1
|Sep precipitation days = 13.8
|Oct precipitation days = 12.0
|Nov precipitation days = 2.9
|Dec precipitation days = 1.0
|year precipitation days = 74.2
|Jan humidity = 70.6
|Feb humidity = 74.3
|Mar humidity = 76.4
|Apr humidity = 75.8
|May humidity = 74.1
|Jun humidity = 73.3
|Jul humidity = 73.7
|Aug humidity = 74.4
|Sep humidity = 75.9
|Oct humidity = 74.8
|Nov humidity = 69.0
|Dec humidity = 66.8
|source 1 = World Meteorological Organization{{cite web
| url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-2-WMO-Normals-9120/Thailand/CSV/PilotStation_48457.csv
| title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020
| publisher = World Meteorological Organization
| access-date = 21 March 2024}}
}}
Economy
The coastline of the Bay of Bangkok is occupied by several major cities such as Hua Hin, Pattaya, Si Racha and Laem Chabang. Laem Chanang is one of the most of important ports in Thailand and can handle 7.7 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU).{{Cite web |title=Largest 15 Ports in Thailand - The Definitive List |url=https://bansarchina.com/largest-thailand-port/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=Bansar China |language=en-US}} North of Laem Chabang are the Si Racha oil terminals, which is a major port for oil importation into Thailand.{{Cite web |title=Sriracha Oil Terminals Port |url=https://shipnext.com/port/sriracha-oil-terminals-thsir-tha |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=SHIPNEXT |language=en}} Si Racha has a total capacity of 275,000 barrels a day.{{Cite web |title=Port of Sriracha Thai Oil Terminal, Thailand |url=https://www.findaport.com/port-of-sriracha-thai-oil-terminal |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=www.findaport.com}} Smaller ports include the Port of Koh Si Chang on Koh Si Chang. The bay also provides international access to the Port of Bangkok.
File:Pattaya beach on a sunny day in june 2017.jpg
Beaches on the bay play an important role in the economy of the area and in Thailand's tourism sector. Pattaya, a major tourist city in Chonburi province, contains several beaches with the most popular being Pattaya Beach.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-27 |title=Is Pattaya Worth Visiting? - Honest Guide {{!}} Travel Hiatus |url=https://travelhiatus.com/is-pattaya-worth-visiting-honest-guide/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |language=en-US}} Koh Lan is a popular island off Pattaya in the Bay of Bangkok, attracting around 2,500 visitors each day during Thailand's peak season before the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web |date=2020-03-05 |title=Let's Go to Koh Larn: A Visitor's Guide to Coral Island |url=http://www.thethailandlife.com/koh-larn-guide |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=The Thailand Life {{!}} Award-Winning Thai Blog |language=en-US}}
= Oil and chemical spills =
In May 2019, a fire onboard a South Korean ship at Laem Chabang caused a large-scale chemical spill, causing more than ฿100 million of damages.{{Cite web |date=2019-05-27 |title=Laem Chabang Port fire damage exceeds Bt100m |url=https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/30370084 |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=nationthailand |language=en}}
On 12 February 2023, an oil tanker docked at Laem Chabang began leaking around 2,000 litres of oil in the water.{{Cite news |last= |first= |title=Oil slick worry at Laem Chabang |language=en |work=Bangkok Post |date= 14 February 2023|url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2506100/oil-slick-worry-at-laem-chabang |access-date=2023-11-09}}
On 3 September 2023, an oil pipeline at the Si Racha oil terminals ruptured, polluting the water with 50–70 m³ of oil and creating a 5 km slick.{{Cite news |title=Oil leak off Si Racha, clean-up started |language=en |work=Bangkok Post |date=4 September 2023 |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2641214/oil-leak-off-si-racha-clean-up-started |access-date=2023-09-10}}
Proposed sea crossing
The 'Thai bridge' or 'Saphan Thai', is a proposed bridge-tunnel system that would span across the Bay of Bangkok from roughly Hua Hin in Phetchaburi province to Pattaya in Chonburi province. Its cost was estimated to be around ฿900 billion in 2020,{{Cite news |last= |first= |title=East-South 'Thai Bridge' project gains momentum |language=en |work=Bangkok Post |date= 5 October 2020|url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1996451/east-south-thai-bridge-project-gains-momentum |access-date=2023-11-13|last1= Theparat|first1= Chatrudee}} while its length around 80 to 100 km, making it longer than the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge, the current longest sea crossing.{{Cite web |date=2020-10-20 |title=Thai Bridge – A proposed sea bridge across the Bay of Bangkok |url=https://futuresoutheastasia.com/thai-bridge/ |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=futuresoutheastasia.com |language=en-US}} If constructed, it would save around 2–3 hours of travel time.{{Cite web |date=2020-10-07 |title=EECO board green lights study on projects linking Thai ports with other Asian land and sea routes |url=https://www.nationthailand.com/business/30395773 |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=nationthailand |language=en}}
The idea of the connection was approved in 2020 by the Centre for Economic Situation Administration (CESA). The policy committee of the Eastern Economic Corridor approved studies on the feasibility of projects to connect the Laem Chabang port to ports in Chumphon and Ranong on 7 October 2020, including the Saphan Thai. Chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, it saw that the crossing could be completed by 2023.{{Cite news |last= |first= |title=EEC panel okays feasibility studies on three new projects |language=en |work=Bangkok Post |date= 6 October 2020|url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/1997135/eec-panel-okays-feasibility-studies-on-three-new-projects |access-date=2023-11-13|last1= Theparat|first1= Chatrudee}}
The project has been proposed with a land bridge between Chumphon and Ranong across the Kra Isthmus, which was approved by the cabinet of Srettha Thavisin on 16 October 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-28 |title=Chinese, Saudi investors 'show interest' in Thailand's Land Bridge mega-project |url=https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/economy/40032324 |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=nationthailand |language=en}}