Bangladesh Coastal Flooding

Question 1

What is coastal flooding?

Answer 1

Coastal flooding normally occurs when dry and low-lying land is submerged by seawater.

Question 2

What factors determine the scale of a coastal flooding event?

Answer 2

The scale of a flooding event is the result of the elevation of floodwater and the topography of the coastal land exposed to flooding.

Question 3

What natural phenomenon can lead to widespread coastal flooding during storms?

Answer 3

Strong winds can drive storm surges on land.

Question 4

How have climate change and population rates affected flood events?

Answer 4

Climate change, sea-level rise, and an increase in population rates have intensified flood events.

Question 5

Name the three paths through which seawater can flood land.

Answer 5

• Direct flooding
• Overtopping of a barrier
• Breaching of a barrier

Question 6

Is coastal flooding primarily a natural event or influenced by human activities?

Answer 6

Coastal flooding is largely a natural event, however, human influence can exacerbate coastal flooding.

Question 7

What human activities can increase the risk of coastal flooding?

Answer 7

• Extraction of water from groundwater reservoirs
• Removal of vegetation, such as mangrove forests
• Construction of engineered protection structures like sea walls

Question 8

What is the impact of sea walls on coastal flooding risk?

Answer 8

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.

Question 9

What geographical features contribute to coastal flooding in Bangladesh?

Answer 9

Bangladesh lies on the floodplain of three major rivers: the Brahmaputra, Meghna, and Ganges.

Question 10

What is a significant human factor contributing to coastal flooding in Bangladesh?

Answer 10

Bangladesh is one of the world’s most densely populated countries, with an estimated population of about 169 million in 2019.

Question 11

Fill in the blank: Coastal flooding can be exacerbated by _______ from groundwater reservoirs.

Answer 11

[extraction of water]

Question 12

True or False: The removal of vegetation can reduce coastal protection.

Answer 12

True

Question 13

What role does subsidence play in coastal flooding?

Answer 13

Subsidence increases the risk of flooding by lowering the elevation of land.

Question 14

What are storm surges?

Answer 14

Storm surges are abnormal rises in seawater level during storms, driven by strong winds.

Question 15

What percentage of Bangladesh’s land is below sea level?

Answer 15

About 10% of the land is below sea level.

Question 16

What was the date Cyclone Sidr struck the Bay of Bengal?

Answer 16

15 Nov 2007

Question 17

What was the height of the storm surge caused by Cyclone Sidr?

Answer 17

6 metres

Question 18

Which areas suffered the greatest death tolls during Cyclone Sidr?

Answer 18

Coastal areas

Question 19

What infrastructure was damaged by high winds during Cyclone Sidr?

Answer 19

Housing, roads, bridges, and other infrastructure

Question 20

What was the estimated total cost of the damages caused by Cyclone Sidr?

Answer 20

US$1.7 billion

Question 21

What caused extensive flooding of low-lying areas during Cyclone Sidr?

Answer 21

The storm surge breached coastal and river embankments

Question 22

What happened to electricity supplies and communications during Cyclone Sidr?

Answer 22

They were knocked out

Question 23

Fill in the blank: Drinking water was contaminated by _______.

Answer 23

debris

Question 24

What raised the risk of disease following Cyclone Sidr?

Answer 24

Destruction of sanitation infrastructure

Question 25

True or False: The death toll from Cyclone Sidr was higher than expected due to poor forecasting.

Answer 25

False

Question 26

What improved the death toll outcome during Cyclone Sidr?

Answer 26

Improved forecasting and warning systems

Question 27

What happened to roads and waterways during Cyclone Sidr?

Answer 27

They became impassable

Question 28

What type of water was many wells flooded by during Cyclone Sidr?

Answer 28

Salt water