Bangladesh Coastal Flooding Flashcards
What is coastal flooding?
Coastal flooding normally occurs when dry and low-lying land is submerged by seawater.
What factors determine the scale of a coastal flooding event?
The scale of a flooding event is the result of the elevation of floodwater and the topography of the coastal land exposed to flooding.
What natural phenomenon can lead to widespread coastal flooding during storms?
Strong winds can drive storm surges on land.
How have climate change and population rates affected flood events?
Climate change, sea-level rise, and an increase in population rates have intensified flood events.
Name the three paths through which seawater can flood land.
- Direct flooding
- Overtopping of a barrier
- Breaching of a barrier
Is coastal flooding primarily a natural event or influenced by human activities?
Coastal flooding is largely a natural event, however, human influence can exacerbate coastal flooding.
What human activities can increase the risk of coastal flooding?
- Extraction of water from groundwater reservoirs
- Removal of vegetation, such as mangrove forests
- Construction of engineered protection structures like sea walls
What is the impact of sea walls on coastal flooding risk?
Sea walls alter the natural processes of the beach, often leading to erosion of adjacent stretches of the coast, which increases the risk of flooding.
What geographical features contribute to coastal flooding in Bangladesh?
Bangladesh lies on the floodplain of three major rivers: the Brahmaputra, Meghna, and Ganges.
What is a significant human factor contributing to coastal flooding in Bangladesh?
Bangladesh is one of the world’s most densely populated countries, with an estimated population of about 169 million in 2019.
Fill in the blank: Coastal flooding can be exacerbated by _______ from groundwater reservoirs.
[extraction of water]
True or False: The removal of vegetation can reduce coastal protection.
True
What role does subsidence play in coastal flooding?
Subsidence increases the risk of flooding by lowering the elevation of land.
What are storm surges?
Storm surges are abnormal rises in seawater level during storms, driven by strong winds.
What percentage of Bangladesh’s land is below sea level?
About 10% of the land is below sea level.
What was the date Cyclone Sidr struck the Bay of Bengal?
15 Nov 2007
What was the height of the storm surge caused by Cyclone Sidr?
6 metres
Which areas suffered the greatest death tolls during Cyclone Sidr?
Coastal areas
What infrastructure was damaged by high winds during Cyclone Sidr?
Housing, roads, bridges, and other infrastructure
What was the estimated total cost of the damages caused by Cyclone Sidr?
US$1.7 billion
What caused extensive flooding of low-lying areas during Cyclone Sidr?
The storm surge breached coastal and river embankments
What happened to electricity supplies and communications during Cyclone Sidr?
They were knocked out
Fill in the blank: Drinking water was contaminated by _______.
debris
What raised the risk of disease following Cyclone Sidr?
Destruction of sanitation infrastructure
