Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology

Project's information

Project's title	Research on the carbonate buffer system in coastal water bodies of the Northeast area and the intrusion of atmospheric CO2 into water bodies
Project’s code	VAST06.04/23-24
Research hosting institution	INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR ENERGY AND ENVIROMENT
Project leader’s name	Cao Thi Thu Trang
Project duration	01/01/2023 - 31/12/2025
Project’s budget	595 million VND
Classify	Grade A
Goal and objectives of the project	- Determine the characteristics of the carbonate buffer system and their changes according to the type of water bodies (bay - Ha Long Bay and estuary - Hai Phong estuary); - Simulate the intrusion of CO2 from the atmosphere into these water bodies according to climate change scenarios.
Main results	- Theoretical results: + Provided scientific data on the carbonate buffer system and their changes in components with time and spatial in water of Ha Long Bay and Bach Dang estuary. + The CO2 intrusion into seawater has been simulated according to current and climate change scenarios. The simulation results show that under the influence of climate change, the amount of CO2, HCO3-, DIC in the water of Ha Long Bay and Bach Dang - Nam Trieu estuary is increased slightly compared to current conditions and the pH value of water is decreased in these areas. + The results of the project have been published in prestigious domestic and foreign scientific journals, including 01 article published in SCIE journal, 03 articles published in the Vietnam Journal of Marine Science and Technology VAST2, 01 article participated in the Scientific Conference 50 Years of Achievements and Challenges in Marine Science and Technology Research. The project topic has supported 1 PhD student in the process of conducting her doctoral thesis and contributed to the training of 1 master student. - Applied results: The project has provided information on the characteristics of the components of the carbonate buffer system in the seawater of Ha Long Bay and Bach Dang estuary, from which the absorb CO2 from the atmosphere of the water body can be calculated. The project has initially simulated the intrusion of atmospheric CO2 into the water body. These results can be applied to further studies related to climate change, establishing regional and global atmospheric CO2 models. The results of the project are published in prestigious domestic and foreign scientific journals and are valuable references for students and researchers related to the field of climate change in general and green house gas in particular.
Novelty and actuality and scientific meaningfulness of the results	- Provided a data set on the carbonate buffer system in the coastal waters of Ha Long Bay and Bach Dang estuary and simulated the intrusion of CO2 from the atmosphere into the water body. - Discovered the characteristics of the studied water bodies: Ha Long Bay is a CO2 sink while the Bach Dang estuary only is a CO2 sink in the dry season; in the rainy season, it is a CO2 source into the atmosphere.
Products of the project	- Scientific papers in referred journals (list): 1. Cao Thi Thu Trang, Pham Thi Kha, Le Van Nam, Dinh Hai Ngoc, Do Tien Long, Nguyen Thi Anh Huong, Pham Thi Ngoc Mai, Nguyen Van Minh, Pham Van Quang, Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, 2025. CO2 partial pressure and air-sea CO2 flux in the Bach Dang estuary (Hai Phong city, Vietnam). Ocean Science Journal, (2025) 60:20, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12601-025-00215-z. 2. Dinh Hai Ngoc, Duong Thanh Nghi, Pham Thi Kha, Le Van Nam, Cao Thi Thu Trang, Nguyen Dac Ve, 2024. The variation of organic carbon concentrations in the surface water in Cua Luc Bay, Ha Long Bay, Vietnam. Vietnam Journal of Marine Science and Technology 2024, 24(3) 281–288 3. Pham, T. K., Cao , T. T. T., Le , V. N., Dinh, H. N., & Tran, A. T. (2025). Variation of carbonate buffer and air- water (CO2) flux in Ha Long Bay. Vietnam Journal of Marine Science and Technology, 25(3), 321–330. https://doi.org/10.15625/1859-3097/21871. 4. Cao Thị Thu Trang, Pham Thi Kha, Le Van Nam, Dinh Hai Ngoc, Do Tien Long, Nguyen Thi Anh Huong, Pham Thi Ngoc Mai, Nguyen Van Minh, Pham Van Quang, Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, 2025. The carbonate chemical characteristics in seawater in Ha Long Bay (Quang Ninh Province) and Bach Dang estuary area (Hai Phong City). Paper was presented at the Scientific Conference 50 Years of Achievements and Challenges in Marine Science and Technology Research April 18, 2025. - Patents (list): - Technological products (describe in details: technical characteristics, place): The research and technology development products include 04 reports: + Report on the assessment of the study of carbonate buffer system in seawater. + The data set on the investigation and survey on carbonate buffer system components in coastal water bodies of Hai Phong estuary and Ha Long Bay. + Report on the characteristics of carbonate buffer system in seawater of Hai Phong estuary and Ha Long Bay. + Report on simulation of the intrusion mechanism of atmospheric CO2 into water bodies under current and climate change scenarios, the increased CO2 emissions scenario. These products are archived at the Institute of Science and Technology for Energy and Environment - Other products (if applicable): + Support training 01 PhD student. + Training 01 master student (not yet defended)
Images of project