New evidence shows #China's dams on the upstream of the #Mekong were a key contributor to the severe #drought in #Thailand, #Laos, #Cambodia, & #Vietnam. The upper Mekong received higher-than-usual rainfall and held back the water. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/13/world/asia/china-mekong-drought.html

2/ For details on how #China's upstream dams restrict water to the lower #Mekong & contribute to #drought, @aikunming @regankwan & I translate the data and provide context here: https://www.stimson.org/2020/new-evidence-how-china-turned-off-the-mekong-tap/#3-major-changes

3/ Many suspected #China's dams contributed to #Mekong #drought, but because China restricts public access to water flow & dam operations data it was hard to prove. Eyes on Earth provides independent satellite data showing how water has been restricted since 1992