Coastal flooding in Bangladesh
- Created by: beebsbubbly
- Created on: 11-05-21 11:08
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- Coastal flooding in Bangladesh
- Physical causes
- River floods: Snow melt in the Himalayas combined with monsoonal rain leads to peak discharge in the 3 major rivers
- Storm surge floods: Caused by cyclones being funnelled into the Bay of Bengal
- Low lying river delta: 80% of the country is on the river delta and subsidence further lowers the land
- Subsidence occurs due to natural compaction of the river delta
- Tropical storms: Bring strong winds to an area so increase the risk of storm surges
- Human causes
- Deforestation
- In the Himalayas it has meant that more snow melt reaches the rivers faster
- Along the coastline, mangrove deforestation reduces the protection from storm surges and coastal flooding
- Dense population: One of the most densely populated countries in the world so many people live in areas at risk from coastal flooding
- Population lives below sea level: 75% of the country is less than 10m above sea level
- Subsidence: Natural subsidence is being accelerated through drainage, dredging and channelisati-on
- Global warming: Causing both sea level rise and more frequent and intense tropical storms, increasing the risks of storm surges
- Higher sea level increases river flooding as major rivers will flow more slowly
- Deforestation
- Consequence
- Social
- In 1970 a storm surge killed half a million people
- A 1.5m rise in sea level could displace 15-17 million people
- Wetter environments by the sea and rivers could become breeding grounds for diseases like malaria and cholera
- Loss of farmland due to flooding and salt contamination would cause food shortages
- The coastal flooding caused by Cyclone Sidr in 2007 affected 3 million households
- Environment
- Country most at risk from sea level rise
- 40% of all recorded storm surges have occurred here
- The mangroves of the Sundarbans ecosystem could be lost
- About 40% of the country's farmland could be lost if there is a 65cm sea kevel rise
- Economic
- The main port of Chittagong would be out of action due to sea level rise
- Loss of farmland will reduce the country's GDP
- Cyclone Sidr and its storm surge caused $1.7 billion in damage
- The damage to schools and hospitals following the 2004 floods was about $7 billion
- Social
- Management
- Coastal Climate Resilient Infrastructure project of 2012 focussed on long term climate-proofing of Chittagong
- Improved road connections, raised embankments, created raised market areas, constructed and improved cyclone shelters and provided training in climate resiliance
- Helped alleviate poverty, adapted to climate change, reduced disaster risk
- Disturbed people and habitats, removed vegetation, relocation of some people
- Supported by the Asian Development Bank
- Flood satellite imaging systems are a short term strategy
- Loaned $60 million by a UN agency
- Monitors cloud cover, hydrographs and rainfall patterns across river basins
- Aims to give more warning of floods
- Coastal Climate Resilient Infrastructure project of 2012 focussed on long term climate-proofing of Chittagong
- Physical causes
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